H.R. 9971 — Advancing International and Foreign Language Education Act

This section expands authorized uses of grants for national language and area centers and programs to include support for the beginning, intermediate, or advanced study of a foreign language related to a graduate student's area of specialization.

This section establishes a program authorizing the Secretary to conduct research on US international and foreign language education capacity and to award competitive grants to institutions of higher education, nonprofit libraries, educational organizations, prior title VI grantees, and partnerships. It supports studies assessing foreign language course supply and gaps, degree production, faculty numbers, study abroad participation, employer demand, program outcomes, specialized materials development, and systemic barriers in K-12 and higher education systems, as well as creation of a national standardized database documenting strengths, gaps, trends, and program results.

This section renames Part B of title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965 from business and international education programs to global business and professional education programs. It expands the findings in section 611 to cover international and global skills across business, educational, and other professional communities; awareness of economic internationalization and other professional areas important to national interest in the 21st century; linkages among business and professional fields, higher education capacities, and public and private organizations; and use of other professional organizations to connect institutions of higher education with businesses or professions. It adds security to the purposes and extends them to other professional fields and personnel in an international global economy.

This section revises the program for professional and technical education for global competitiveness under the Higher Education Act. It expands eligibility for grants and contracts to institutions of higher education, consortia of such institutions, or partnerships with corporate or nonprofit entities. It directs the Secretary to award funds competitively to support curricula that integrate foreign language proficiency, international and area studies, study abroad, and global business content across undergraduate and graduate programs in fields such as business, science, technology, engineering, health, energy, agriculture, and law. It requires grantees to link with corporate, government, and nonprofit communities to expand global engagement capacity and provide internships or employment for students with international skills, while mandating evidence of project sustainability, non-supplanting of prior activities, and inclusion of diverse perspectives.

This section defines "community college" as a junior or community college under section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act, "heritage student" as a postsecondary student born in the United States to immigrant parents or who immigrated early, proficient in English but raised speaking one or more languages of the country of origin, and maintaining affinity with that culture and language, and "minority-serving institution" as an eligible institution under section 371(a).

This section authorizes such sums as may be necessary to carry out Title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965 for fiscal year 2027 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years. It terminates sections 609 and 614 of that title.