Support the Simon Act
Study abroad should be the norm, not the exception, for undergraduate students.
The Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act of 2007 is a visionary bill to address today’s need for more Americans to know more about the rest of the world as a basic part of their undergraduate education. The goals of the Simon Act are to
- Increase participation in quality study abroad programs.
- Encourage diversity in student participation in study abroad.
- Diversify locations of study abroad, particularly in developing countries.
- Make study abroad a cornerstone of today's higher education.
In late June 2008, a letter was sent by the members of NAFSA to the Senate in support of the Simon Act, referencing the recent support from the former 9/11 Commission chairs and urging the passage of the legislation this year. Each Senator received an individually addressed copy of the letter.
Since NAFSA’s conference in Washington D.C. at the end of May, four new cosponsors have signed onto the Senate bill, S.991: Senators Cardin (D-MD), Dole (R-NC) , Murray (D-WA), and Feinstein (D-CA). If you live in any of these states and haven’t already taken the opportunity to thank them for their support, please do so now.
Lastly, Senators Durbin and Coleman are currently looking to increase support for this initiative by increasing the number of cosponsors on the bill to more than half the Senate. Iif your Senators are not yet signed on to the legislation, please contact their offices and ask them to cosponsor S.991.
Learn more about the Simon Act
