On February 13, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act. This is a step forward for this bill to establish study abroad as a national priority. The bill passed the House last year and has garnered strong bipartisan support in the Senate. It will now to to the Senate floor for a vote.

The goal of the Simon Act is to "Establish an innovative public-private partnership to create a more globally informed American citizenry." This will be accomplished by:

Increasing participation in quality study abroad programs.
Encouraging diversity in the student population who studies abroad.
Diversifying locations in study abroad, particularly in developing countries.
Making study abroad a cornerstone of higher education.

We at Abroadco are active supporters of this legislation and encourage you to contact your senators to express your support as well. To learn more how to do this, please visit the NAFSA: Association of International Educators website, http://www.nafsa.org/public_policy.sec/commission_on_the_abraham.