Sec. 404. Foreign Affairs Bridge Program
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/bill/118/s/5581/is/section-404A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
In this section, the term eligible recipient means an institution— that is— a Historically Black College or University; a Hispanic-serving institution; a tribally controlled college or university; an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian-serving institution; or an institution of higher education, including community colleges and trade schools, that serves populations that are underrepresented in the Department of State or USAID; and where the majority of its student population are members of a population that is underrepresented in the Department of State or USAID.
The Secretary and the Administrator are authorized to award up to 6 grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible recipients to establish a Foreign Affairs Bridge Program (referred to in this section as the Program ) to enhance the international competitiveness of the United States by expanding international affairs’ talent pipelines and recruitment cohorts for individuals between 18 and 26 years of age from throughout the United States. The purposes of the Program shall be— to recruit and select a cohort of not fewer than 50 post-secondary school students at eligible institutions to interact with and learn from experienced United States foreign affairs practitioners; to inform Program participants of various internship, fellowship, language training, international exchange, and employment opportunities at the Department of State, USAID, and other international affairs agencies; to deepen Program participants’ knowledge of foreign affairs and United States foreign policy and relevant educational and language training, including for specific languages and skillsets; and to include plans for comprehensive 3- to 5-year programs that include support for— scholars to study abroad for a semester or a year; paid internships during the summer or during an academic semester; intensive academic or language training programs, such as summer institutes or other programs that support entry into an international affairs career; and paid fellowships or stipends for graduate study, including law school and doctoral degree programs, upon completion of post-secondary education or certification.
Each eligible recipient desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. Eligible recipients receiving a grant under this section may provide stipends of up to $5,000 to low-income students enrolled in the institution to defray the cost of their participation in the Program, including travel, living, and educational expenses necessary for such participation.
Eligible recipients receiving a grant under this section may provide stipends of up to $5,000 to low-income students attending law school at the institution, including students enrolled in dual degree programs, to defray the cost of participation in the Program, including travel, living, and educational expenses necessary for such participation. Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the following 5 years, the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes the activities of the Program during the most recent academic year, including— disaggregated demographic data of the individuals participating in the Program, including— the State in which the participant graduated from high school; and the institution of higher education in which the individual is enrolled at the time of such participation; and the number of individuals who are considering careers in the Department of State, USAID, the Peace Corps, or other international affairs agencies after participation in the Program.
There is authorized to be appropriated, for each of the fiscal years 2025 through 2035, $2,000,000 for grants authorized under this section.