Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8834
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-14: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-18T20:46:12Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation This bill establishes the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program within the Department of State. Its main goal is to significantly increase the number of U.S. undergraduate students who study abroad, with emphasis on low-income students, students of color, and nontraditional destinations such as developing countries, to better prepare graduates for the global economy.
Key Provisions Outlined
- Findings: Notes that only about 10% of U.S. college students study abroad, with lower rates among minority, first-generation, community college, and disabled students; references the earlier Lincoln Commission recommendations; and highlights a 91% drop in participation during the 2020-2021 pandemic year, with numbers still below pre-pandemic levels.
- Purposes: Expand access to study abroad, ensure participant diversity matches the U.S. undergraduate population, increase participation in nontraditional destinations, and encourage colleges to commit to more programs.
- Program Establishment: Renames the existing IDEAS Program (or successor) as the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program and enhances it under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961.
- Objectives: Within 10 years of enactment, achieve 1 million U.S. undergraduates studying abroad annually; align participation demographics with the broader student population; and shift more activity to nontraditional destinations, especially developing countries.
- Competitive Grants: Authorizes the Secretary of State to award grants to colleges or consortia (groups including at least one college) for detailed plans that support direct student costs, sustain increases, and include health, safety, and security protocols based on State Department advisories.
- Priorities: Gives preference to minority-serving institutions, certain under-resourced colleges qualifying for federal strengthening programs, and programs with significant world language components.
- Implementation: Requires incorporating Lincoln Commission recommendations on direct student support, diversity, and quality control; mandates consultation with diverse colleges and policy experts.
- Reporting and Funding: Requires an annual report to the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs Committees; authorizes such sums as necessary for fiscal year 2027 and beyond.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced The bill renames and expands the current IDEAS Program into a named, goal-oriented initiative with new statutory objectives and a structured competitive grant process. It adds explicit priorities for underrepresented institutions and destinations, plus requirements for health/safety guidelines and annual congressional reporting. No major alterations are made to unrelated statutes.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases administrative responsibilities for the Department of State in grant oversight, program renaming, and reporting.
- Citizens: Provides expanded financial and institutional support for study abroad, particularly benefiting low-income, minority, and first-generation students.
- International Relations: Could foster greater U.S. student exposure to developing countries and world languages, potentially strengthening cultural diplomacy and global workforce skills.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. undergraduate students, especially from underrepresented groups.
- Institutions of higher education and consortia applying for grants.
- The Department of State (as administrator).
- Congress (through oversight and appropriations).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The legislation operates under existing executive authority for educational exchanges and raises no apparent constitutional issues. It includes safeguards for student safety aligned with federal travel and health guidance. Politically, the bill emphasizes broad access and diversity goals without mandating specific funding levels.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-14: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2026-05-14: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-14: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-14 — PDF (11 pages)