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108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1515
To establish and strengthen postsecondary programs and courses in the
subjects of traditional American history, free institutions, and
Western civilization, available to students preparing to teach these
subjects, and to other students.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 31 (legislative day, July 21), 2003
Mr. Gregg introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish and strengthen postsecondary programs and courses in the
subjects of traditional American history, free institutions, and
Western civilization, available to students preparing to teach these
subjects, and to other students.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Higher Education for Freedom Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Given the increased threat to American ideals in the
trying times in which we live, it is important to preserve and
defend our common heritage of freedom and civilization and to
ensure that future generations of Americans understand the
importance of traditional American history and the principles
of free government on which this Nation was founded in order to
provide the basic knowledge that is essential to full and
informed participation in civic life and to the larger vibrancy
of the American experiment in self-government, binding together
a diverse people into a single Nation with a common purpose.
(2) However, despite its importance, most of the Nation's
colleges and universities no longer require United States
history or systematic study of Western civilization and free
institutions as a prerequisite to graduation.
(3) In addition, too many of our Nation's elementary and
secondary school history teachers lack the training necessary
to effectively teach these subjects, due largely to the
inadequacy of their teacher preparation.
(4) Distinguished historians and intellectuals fear that
without a common civic memory and a common understanding of the
remarkable individuals, events, and ideals that have shaped our
Nation and its free institutions, the people in the United
States risk losing much of what it means to be an American, as
well as the ability to fulfill the fundamental responsibilities
of citizens in a democracy.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to promote and sustain
postsecondary academic centers, institutes, and programs that offer
undergraduate and graduate courses, support research, and develop
teaching materials, for the purpose of developing and imparting a
knowledge of traditional American history, the American Founding, and
the history and nature of, and threats to, free institutions, or of the
nature, history and achievements of Western Civilization, particularly
for--
(1) undergraduate students who are enrolled in teacher
education programs, who may consider becoming school teachers,
or who wish to enhance their civic competence;
(2) elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers in
need of additional training in order to effectively teach in
these subject areas; and
(3) graduate students and postsecondary faculty who wish to
teach about these subject areas with greater knowledge and
effectiveness.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
(1) Eligible institution.--The term ``eligible
institution'' means--
(A) an institution of higher education;
(B) a specific program within an institution of
higher education; and
(C) a non-profit history or academic organization
associated with higher education whose mission is
consistent with the purposes of this Act.
(2) Free institution.--The term ``free institution'' means
an institution that emerged out of Western Civilization, such
as democracy, individual rights, market economics, religious
freedom and tolerance, and freedom of thought and inquiry.
(3) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the same meaning given
that term under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1001).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Education.
(5) Traditional american history.--The term ``traditional
American history'' means--
(A) the significant constitutional, political,
intellectual, economic, and foreign policy trends and
issues that have shaped the course of American history; and
(B) the key episodes, turning points, and leading
figures involved in the constitutional, political,
intellectual, diplomatic, and economic history of the
United States.
SEC. 4. GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS.
(a) In General.--From amounts appropriated to carry out this Act,
the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible
institutions, which grants shall be used for--
(1) history teacher preparation initiatives, that--
(A) stress content mastery in traditional American
history and the principals on which the American
political system is based, including the history and
philosophy of free institutions, and the study of
Western civilization; and
(B) provide for grantees to carry out research,
planning, and coordination activities devoted to the
purposes of this Act; and
(2) strengthening postsecondary programs in fields related
to the American founding, free institutions, and Western
civilization, particularly through--
(A) the design and implementation of courses,
lecture series and symposia, the development and
publication of instructional materials, and the
development of new, and supporting of existing,
academic centers;
(B) research supporting the development of relevant
course materials;
(C) the support of faculty teaching in
undergraduate and graduate programs; and
(D) the support of graduate and postgraduate
fellowships and courses for scholars related to such
fields.
(b) Selection Criteria.--In selecting eligible institutions for
grants under this section for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall
establish criteria by regulation, which shall, at a minimum, consider
the education value and relevance of the institution's programming to
carrying out the purposes of this Act and the expertise of key
personnel in the area of traditional American history and the
principals on which the American political system is based, including
the political and intellectual history and philosophy of free
institutions, the American Founding, and other key events that have
contributed to American freedom and the study of Western civilization.
(c) Grant Application.--An eligible institution that desires to
receive a grant under this Act shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation.
(d) Grant Review.--The Secretary shall establish procedures for
reviewing and evaluating grants made under this Act.
(e) Grant Awards.--
(1) Maximum and minimum grants.--The Secretary shall award
each grant under this Act in an amount that is not less than
$400,000 and not more than $6,000,000.
(2) Exception.--A subgrant made by an eligible institution
under this Act to another eligible institution shall not be
subject to the minimum amount specified in paragraph (1).
(f) Multiple Awards.--For the purposes of this Act, the Secretary
may award more than 1 grant to an eligible institution.
(g) Subgrants.--An eligible institution may use grant funds
provided under this Act to award subgrants to other eligible
institutions at the discretion of, and subject to the oversight of, the
Secretary.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
For the purpose of carrying out this Act, there are authorized to
be appropriated--
(1) $140,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; and
(2) such sums as may be necessary for each of the
succeeding 5 fiscal years.
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