How A "Study Abroad" Bill Becomes Law

Remember that cartoon “How A Bill Becomes Law” from your junior high civics class? Me neither, but that’s ok. The point was that your voice matters.

Did you know that only one percent of all U.S. undergraduates study abroad each year? That amounts to just over 200,000 students a year. Not that impressive when you consider the breadth of international knowledge required in today's global society.

That’s why Global Experiences and other members of NAFSA, the nation's largest association for international educators, recently spent a day on Capitol Hill meeting with Members of Congress and Senators to talk about study abroad.

You can help too! The Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act will be voted on in the next few weeks in the House of Representatives and the Senate. An extremely important bill for anyone interested in study abroad, national security, language learning or international business, the legislation provides that, within 10 years of enactment:

• Not less than one million U.S. undergraduate students will study abroad annually; and


• The demographics of study abroad participation will reflect the demographics of the U.S. undergraduate population; and


• An increasing portion of study abroad will take place in nontraditional study abroad destinations and especially in the developing countries.

Please help us to promote study abroad by writing your Members of Congress and Senators regarding the Simon Study Abroad Act (H.R. 1469 in the House of Representatives and S. 991 in the Senate)!

Click here to learn more about these bills and to submit an online letter of support to your Representatives.

- posted by Mike

Global Experiences provides customized international internships, teaching English abroad certification courses, fashion experiences, high school service learning programs and other unique international experiences.