To help the future U.S. workforce compete in an increasingly global economy, a lawmaker wants states to grant certification to high-school students who can demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one other language, just like the more than 10,000 students in California that earned the seal for the first time last year.

“Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., has filed a bill to establish a nationwide program akin to the one she championed in California, where high school seniors receive a State Seal of Biliteracy if they can prove they can read and write two languages or more,” Journal Gazette reports.

As Rep. Brownley explained, ”When a college or employer sees the Seal of Biliteracy on a diploma or resume, they know this is an individual with an important and unique 21st century skill.” Read the complete story here.