SCHOLARSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, AND GRANT PROGRAM.

SEC. 802. SCHOLARSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, AND GRANT PROGRAM. (a) Program Required.— (1) In general.— The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a program for— 105 STAT. 1272 (A) awarding scholarships to undergraduate students who are United States citizens in order to enable such students to study, for at least one academic semester, in foreign countries that are critical countries (as determined under section 803(d)(4)(A)); (B) awarding fellowships to graduate students who— (i) are United States citizens to enable such students to pursue education in the United States in the disciplines of foreign languages, area studies, and other international fields that are critical areas of those disciplines (as determined under section 803(d)(4)(B)); and (ii) pursuant to subsection (b)(2), enter into an agreement to work for an agency or office of the Federal Government or in the field of education in the area of study for which the fellowship was awarded; and (C) awarding grants to institutions of higher education to enable such institutions to establish, operate, or improve programs in foreign languages, area studies, and other international fields that are critical areas of those disciplines (as determined under section 803(d)(4)(C)). (2) Funding Allocations.— Of the amount available for obligation out of the National Security Education Trust Fund for any fiscal year for the purposes stated in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall have a goal of allocating— (A) ⅓ of such amount for the awarding of scholarships pursuant to paragraph (1)(A); (B) ⅓ of such amount for the awarding of fellowships pursuant to paragraph (1)(B); and (C) ⅓ of such amount for the awarding of grants pursuant to paragraph (1)(C). (3) Consultation with national security education board.— The program required under this title shall be carried out in consultation with the National Security Education Board established under section 803. (4) Contract Authority.— The Secretary may enter into one. or more contracts, with private national organizations having an expertise in foreign languages, area studies, and other international fields, for the awarding of the scholarships, fellowships, and grants described in paragraph (1) in accordance with the provisions of this title. The Secretary may enter into such contracts without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5) or any other provision of law that requires the use of competitive procedures. (b) Service Agreement.— In awarding a scholarship or fellowship under the program, the Secretary or contract organization referred to in subsection (a)(4), as the case may be, shall require a recipient of any fellowship, or of scholarships that provide assistance for periods that aggregate 12 months or more, to enter into an agreement that, in return for such assistance, the recipient— (1) will maintain satisfactory academic progress, as determined in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary, and agrees that failure to maintain such progress shall constitute grounds upon which the Secretary or contract organization referred to in subsection (a)(4) may terminate such assistance; (2) will, upon completion of such recipient’s baccalaureate degree or education under the program, as the case may be, and in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary, work for the Federal Government or in the field of education in the area of study for which the scholarship or fellowship was awarded for a period specified by the Secretary, which period for the recipients of scholarships shall be no more than the same period for which scholarship assistance was provided and for the recipients of fellowships shall be not less than one and not more than three times the period for which the fellowship assistance was provided; and 105 STAT. 1273 (3) if the recipient fails to meet either of the obligations set forth in paragraph (1) or (2), will reimburse the United States Government for the amount of the assistance provided the recipient under the program, together with interest at a rate determined in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary. (c) Distribution of Assistance.— In selecting the recipients for awards of scholarships, fellowships, or grants pursuant to this title, the Secretary or a contract organization referred to in subsection (a)(4), as the case may be, shall take into consideration (1) the extent to which the selections will result in there being an equitable geographic distribution of such scholarships, fellowships, or grants (as the case may be) among the various regions of the United States, and (2) the extent to which the distribution of scholarships and fellowships to individuals reflects the cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity of the population of the United States. (d) Merit Review.— The Secretary shall award scholarships, fellowships, and grants under the program based upon a merit review process. (e) Administration of Program Through the Defense Intelligence College.— The Secretary shall administer the program through the Defense Intelligence College. (f) Limitation on Use of Program Participants.— No person who receives a grant, scholarship, or fellowship or any other type of assistance under this title shall, as a condition of receiving such assistance or under any other circumstances, be used by any department, agency, or entity of the United States Government engaged in intelligence activities to undertake any activity on its behalf during the period such person is pursuing a program of education for which funds are provided under the program carried out under this title.