Political Quotes

“I rise in support of H.R. 3077, the International Studies in Higher Education Act. H.R. 3077 updates international and foreign language studies programs by ensuring these programs reflect the current international climate and national security needs. The bill also emphasizes coordination between these programs and homeland security interests, while ensuring the programs continue to enrich higher education by enhancing international knowledge. As a former Member of the Intelligence Committee I authored legislation encouraging American students to study foreign languages and join the federal government in national security capacities. It is vital to our entire national security that we address our foreign language deficiencies and support educational initiatives that amend this problem. Our lack of highly-trained linguistics experts seriously hampers our ability to fight the war on terrorism and this legislation provides incentive to focus these programs on the reality of the situations our men and women in uniform face overseas. It is important that we build a critical base of future leaders both in government service and in higher education who have cultivated international relationships and worked and studies alongside experts of other countries. I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 3077.”