President. I want to bring the attention of my colleague from Kentucky to a provision Senator BINGAMAN and I offered to the LaborHHS appropriations bill regarding a strategic plan for enhancing access of legitimate foreign students. scholars. scientists. and exchange visitors in the United States for study and exchange activates. Since September 11. restrictive visa policies and negative perceptions of the United States have led to a drastic decline in the number of foreign students studying in the United States. a development which has a negative consequences for both American foreign policy and economic competitiveness. A strategy is needed to proactively counter negative perceptions about America as unwelcoming to foreign students. and to enable us to successfully compete with places like the EU. the UK. and Australia. which have developed strategies to recruit the worlds best and brightest. In my amendment to the LaborHHS bill.