US lawmaker Lantos hails passage of study abroad legislation

Washington, June 6 (UNI) Congressional Committee on Foreign Affairs chairman Tom Lantos has hailed the passage of a bill which establishes a foundation in the name of former US Senator Paul Simon to expand opportunities for US college students overseas.

''This legislation opens the door for every American student to learn and live overseas, regardless of economic background,'' the Democratic lawmaker said in a statement yesterday.

As an economics professor in California, Mr Lantos led a study abroad programme for students throughout the state. In crafting the bi-partisan legislation which was passed yesterday, he aimed to promote cultural exchange and to help curtail growing anti-American sentiment in other countries.

''Today, our nation faces a deficit of cultural knowledge that is an impediment to our efforts to fight the global war on terrorism, and to keep America competitive in a global economy,'' Mr Lantos said added that our foreign affairs agencies are hard-pressed to find recruits who have first-hand understanding of critical cultures and languages.

The Senator Paul Simon Act will rectify this deficit by vastly expanding the talent pool of young Americans with global skills, making it an essential diplomatic tool for promoting our security, he said.

The legislation creates a new, slim government entity to expand the number of American students studying abroad annually. It mandates a five-fold increase in the number of students who go abroad during their college careers, bringing the total number of students participating in international exchange to one million per year within the next decade.

UNI