Community College Educational Exchange Act
Sponsored By: Representative Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a federal program to expand international exchanges at U.S. community colleges and vocational schools and fund capacity‑building so those institutions can host and send students, scholars, and technical experts.
Show full summary
- Students and scholars: Would provide scholarships for students, scholars, and technical experts to spend up to one academic year at eligible institutions and would support hybrid models and short-term exchanges to increase accessibility.
- Community colleges and postsecondary vocational institutions: Would get grants, technical assistance, toolkits, and faculty training to build or grow study-abroad and exchange programs and to strengthen their ability to partner with foreign institutions.
- Workforce and priority sectors: Would target capacity-building and exchanges to 11 workforce-focused sectors, including agriculture, engineering, information technology, water and environmental resilience, health, and tourism, to align training with workforce needs and U.S. economic and national security interests.
The bill also requires outreach, application support, and consultative reporting to Congress to guide country priorities, partnerships, and program expansion.
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Grants to grow study abroad at two-year schools
If enacted, the State Department would fund a capacity-building program for eligible two-year and vocational schools. It would give small grants, training, and toolkits to start or grow study abroad. It would support hybrid virtual and short in-person exchanges and programs tied to STEM and technical jobs. It would include outreach and advising for underrepresented students. The State Department and USAID would offer application help and, on request, feedback after a rejected grant, as practicable.
One-year exchange scholarships at community and vocational schools
If enacted, the State Department would offer scholarships for students, scholars, and technical experts. Awards could cover up to one academic year at eligible U.S. community colleges or postsecondary vocational schools. Training would need to be in the bill’s listed sectors. Applicants would need to attend an eligible institution as defined in the bill.
Who qualifies and target fields for exchanges
If enacted, the bill would set who qualifies and which fields agencies would focus on. Eligible schools would be U.S. junior or community colleges and postsecondary vocational schools that meet criteria and have, or are eligible for, State or USAID programs. Junior or community colleges could not award a bachelor’s degree and must offer at least a two-year program; vocational schools must provide gainful-employment training, meet HEA standards, and exist at least 2 years. The bill would define “educational exchange” by referencing the 1961 exchange law and name relevant federal agencies. Agencies would be told to prioritize 11 areas: food systems and agriculture-led growth; microenterprise and entrepreneurship; early childhood education; engineering; information technology; media; social services, health, and public safety; tourism and hospitality; water, sanitation, and hygiene; water security; and environmental resilience.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]
MD • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/25/2025
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 7/25/2025
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/25/2025
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
LA • D
Sponsored 7/25/2025
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/25/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/25/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov