§ 226. — Cooperative public and private sector program for providing scholarships to students from the Caribbean and Central America.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 20USC226]
TITLE 20--EDUCATION
CHAPTER 12--FOREIGN AND EXCHANGE STUDENTS
Sec. 226. Cooperative public and private sector program for
providing scholarships to students from the Caribbean and
Central America
(a) Statement of purpose
It is the purpose of this section to encourage the establishment of
partnerships between State governments, universities, community
colleges, and businesses to support scholarships for talented socially
and economically disadvantaged students from eligible countries in the
Caribbean and Central America to study in the United States in order
to--
(1) improve the diversity and quality of educational
opportunities for such students;
(2) assist the development efforts of eligible countries by
providing training and educational assistance to persons who can
help address the social and economic needs of these countries;
(3) expand opportunities for cross-cultural studies and
exchanges and improve the exchange of understanding and principles
of democracy;
(4) promote positive and productive relationships between the
United States and its neighbor countries in the Caribbean and
Central American regions;
(5) give added visibility and focus to the ``scholarship
diplomacy'' efforts of the United States Government by leveraging
the monies available for this purpose through the development of
partnerships among Federal, State, and local governments and the
business and academic communities; and
(6) promote community involvement with the scholarship program
as a tool for broadening and strengthening the ``American
experience'' for foreign students.
(b) Establishment of scholarship program
The Administrator of the Agency for International Development shall
establish and administer a program of scholarship assistance, in
cooperation with State governments, universities, community colleges,
and businesses, to provide scholarships to enable socially and
economically disadvantaged students from eligible countries in the
Caribbean and Central America to study in the United States.
(c) Grants to States
In carrying out this section, the Administrator may make grants to
States to provide scholarship assistance for undergraduate degree
programs and for training programs of one year or longer in study areas
related to the critical development needs of the students' respective
countries.
(d) Agreement with States
The Administrator and each participating State shall agree on a
program regarding the educational opportunities available within the
State, the selection and assignment of scholarship recipients, and
related issues. To the maximum extent practicable, each State shall be
given flexibility in designing its program.
(e) Federal share
The Federal share for each year for which a State receives payments
under this section shall be not less than 50 percent.
(f) Non-Federal share
The non-Federal share of payments under this section may be in cash,
including the waiver of tuition or the offering of in-State tuition or
housing waivers or subsidies, or in-kind fairly evaluated, including the
provision of books or supplies.
(g) Forgiveness of scholarship assistance
The obligation of any recipient to reimburse any entity for any or
all scholarship assistance provided under this section shall be forgiven
upon the recipient's prompt return to his or her country of domicile for
a period which is at least one year longer than the period spent
studying in the United States with scholarship assistance.
(h) Private sector participation
To the maximum extent practicable, each participating State shall
enlist the assistance of the private sector to enable the State to meet
the non-Federal share of payments under this section. Wherever
appropriate, each participating State shall encourage the private sector
to offer internships or other opportunities consistent with the purposes
of this section to students receiving scholarships under this section.
(i) Funding
Any funds used in carrying out this section shall be derived from
funds allocated for Latin American and Caribbean regional programs under
chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2346 and following; relating to the economic support fund).
(j) Definitions
As used in this section--
(1) The term ``eligible country'' means any country--
(A) which is receiving assistance under chapter 1 of part I
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 and
following; relating to development assistance) or chapter 4 of
part II of that Act (22 U.S.C. 2346 and following; relating to
the economic support fund); and
(B) which is designated by the President as a beneficiary
country pursuant to the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act
[19 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.].
(2) The term ``State'' means each of the several States, the
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam,
American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands.
(Pub. L. 101-382, title II, Sec. 231, Aug. 20, 1990, 104 Stat. 661.)
References in Text
The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, referred to in subsecs. (i) and
(j)(1)(A), is Pub. L. 87-195, Sept. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 424, as amended.
Chapter 1 of part I and chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961 are classified generally to part I (Sec. 2151 et seq.) of
subchapter I and part IV (Sec. 2346 et seq.) of subchapter II,
respectively, of chapter 32 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and
Intercourse. For provisions deeming references to part I of subchapter I
to include a reference to section 2293 of Title 22, see section
2293(d)(1) of Title 22. For complete classification of this Act to the
Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2151 of Title 22 and
Tables.
The Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, referred to in subsec.
(j)(1)(B), is title II of Pub. L. 98-67, Aug. 5, 1983, 97 Stat. 384,
which is classified principally to chapter 15 (Sec. 2701 et seq.) of
Title 19, Customs Duties. For complete classification of this Act to the
Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2701 of Title 19 and
Tables.
Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note
set out preceding section 1681 of Title 48, Territories and Insular
Possessions.
