To ensure that significantly more students graduate college with the international knowledge and experience essential for success in today's global economy through the establishment of the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program in the Department of State.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · May 14, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
This bill establishes the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program within the Department of State to significantly expand international education opportunities for American college students. The program renames and enhances the existing IDEAS Program, with a goal of reaching one million undergraduate students studying abroad annually within ten years while ensuring participation reflects the diversity of the U.S. student population. The Secretary of State will award competitive grants to colleges and universities, either individually or through consortiums with nonprofits, to support study abroad programs with priority given to minority-serving institutions and schools with world language components, while particularly encouraging students to study in developing nations and nontraditional destinations. Grantees must demonstrate detailed plans for expanding access, particularly for low-income and underrepresented students, along with established health and safety protocols. The bill authorizes such funding as necessary for fiscal year 2027 and beyond, with the Secretary of State required to submit annual reports to Congress on program implementation.
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