Sens. Young and Baldwin Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Equip Students with High-Demand International Skills
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) introduced a bipartisan bill to reauthorize Title VI of the Higher Education Act. The Advancing International and Foreign Language Education Act will ensure that American students have access to quality international and foreign language education programs that meet the needs of our nation.
“It’s important that our students are equipped with high-demand international skills and that our institutions of higher education can also successfully prepare students. That is why we must increase investment in international and foreign language education,” said Senator Young. “This legislation will allow Hoosier students to be economically competitive amidst workforce challenges in the 21st century.”
“Wisconsin is home to world class universities and our international education system lives up to our state motto, ‘Forward.’ That is why I’m joining Senator Young in supporting the reauthorization of the Title VI program to continue the growth of our international education system,” said Senator Baldwin. “This effort is working to satisfy the increasing demand for qualified workers throughout the world. At the same time, we must continue to strengthen international programs like Title VI within Wisconsin’s educational institutions to foster innovation that enhances our local economies and small businesses. In promoting both of these goals, I am looking forward to supporting this legislation in committee.”
Title VI provides resources for universities across the country, including Indiana University (IU), to develop quality and innovative international programs of strategic interest related to the Middle East, East and Central Asia, Russia, Eastern Europe, Africa and other world areas. This bill advances national security, invigorates global competition and expands access to underserved students. Partnerships between universities and government strengthen and preserve our national and international foreign language education infrastructure.
“Hoosiers throughout the state will reap the benefit of the programs supported in Senator Young’s bill,” said Michael A. McRobbie, President of Indiana University. “A wide array of Indiana organizations – from the Indiana National Guard, which relies on IU’s Title VI programming to train Service members, to local K-12 school districts, which send their teachers to language and training workshops sponsored by IU’s Title VI centers – will be greatly helped by the Senator’s legislation.”
“This is a forward looking bill that will harness proven strategies and spur innovation in the comprehensive international education system that produces graduates to meet our nation’s growing demand for global competence in the workforce,” said Guido Podesta, Vice Provost and Dean of the International Division at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Click here to view the full text of the bill.