Higher Education for Freedom Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to make competitive grants to eligible institutions to prepare elementary, middle, and secondary school history teachers and to strengthen postsecondary programs in fields related to the founding of the United States, free institutions, and Western civilization.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1209 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1209
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
June 9, 2005
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 school
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, sponsor lectures,
seminars, and conferences, 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 school, middle school, 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.
In 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, constitutional government, 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 meaning given the
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 principles 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
principles 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 2006; and
(2) such sums as may be necessary for each of the
succeeding 5 fiscal years.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6304)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6304-6305)
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