September 25, 2008

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez introduces H.R. 7036 the United States and the World Education Act that calls for $ 200 million annually in new federal funding for the professional development of prospective, future and in-service teachers in international education. Section 7 (6) defines international education as: “education subject matter related to world history, regions, cultures, and geography, as well as foreign languages, contemporary world issues, international relations, international economics, international and non-governmental organizations, and the technology and communications mediums related to such subject matter”.

H.R. 7063 is based on a resolution drafted by Ron Herring, Executive Director of the California International Studies Project and a member of the Board of Directors of the Phillip and Sala Burton Center for Human Rights. The legislation incorporates his 30 plus years of experience in professional development of California teachers to prepare our youth for the global challenges they face. The resolution was presented at a conference on May 9, 2008 at California State University, Fullerton and endorsed by the Board of Directors of the Phillip and Sala Burton Center for Human Rights on June 4, 2008.

Mr. Herring’s resolution was based on a February 2006 report by the Committee for Economic Development, Education for Global Leadership, the Importance of International and Foreign Language Studies for U.S. Economic and National Security.

H.R. 7063 is a companion bill to the Teaching Traditional American History Act passed by Congress in the early days of the G.W. Bush Administration that authorizes $115 million annually for professional development of American history teachers with the goal “to teach American history as a separate academic subject and not as a component of social studies”. H. R. 7063 authorizes $ 200 million annually for a broader range of subjects including foreign languages.

H.R. 7063 is urgently needed in California where over 25% of our residents were born outside the United States and over 25% of our economy is involved in international trade. With the historic concentration of congressional leadership in California the Phillip and Sala Burton Center for Human Rights is urging the California Congressional Delegation to take the lead in passing H.R. 7063 and appropriating the requested funds. To this end, with the assistance of Board Member Chuck Mack, we met with Congressman George Miller, Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee on July 10, 2008. At the meeting Chairman Miller stated that professional development of teachers is an appropriate use of federal funds.

Following our meeting with Chairman Miller, and with the assistance of Margee Ensign, Dean of the School of International Studies at the University of the Pacific we met with Congressman Buck McKeon, Ranking Member of the House Education and Labor Committee.

The Phillip and Sala Burton Center for Human Rights is now urging other organizations to support H.R. 7063. On September 17, 2008 Art Pulaski, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO sent a letter to Chairman Miller urging the Chairman to authorize and appropriate the requested funds in the current session of Congress.