FL H0099

Urges Congress to adopt national standards for background screening of families hosting foreign exchange students in the United States and for U.S. students studying abroad.

Cites 2009 incident in Scranton, Pennsylvania where foreign exchange students were found malnourished and living in filthy, cramped host homes and had to be removed.

References June 2017 case in Cutler Bay, Florida where a man with prior felony sexual assault conviction seduced and married a Spanish exchange student, then used her to lure her underage sister to his home where the sister was sexually abused.

Notes that weak regulatory oversight, inferior industry practices, and shortage of qualified host families have contributed to neglect and mental, physical, and sexual abuse of foreign exchange students.

Directs copies of the memorial be sent to the President, Senate President, House Speaker, and all members of the Florida congressional delegation.