Lateefah Simon: “the National Security Education Program has been temporarily suspended. The consequence is that an estimated 324 U.S.…”

“the National Security Education Program has been temporarily suspended. The consequence is that an estimated 324 U.S. graduate and undergraduate student finalists are anxiously waiting to hear whether they will be able to study and conduct research in critical national security areas of the world. These students are waiting because a change in the service obligation was attached to the FY 1996 Defense Appropriations Bill to require NSEP award recipients to "be employed by the Department of Defense or in the Intelligence Community." Previously, students could fulfill this requirement by working in any branch of the federal government or higher education. The current service obligation is unworkable. However, I agree that there should be a return of investment to the Department of Defense for its support of the National Security Education Program. To this end I am offering an amendment that will improve this program by better targeting the service obligation to meet national security needs and to increase program accountability. The continuation of the National Security Education Program is vital to fill the existing gap in America for linguists and country specialists in critical areas of national security.”