[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 579 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 579

 To amend the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 to 
 authorize the Secretary of State to provide for the establishment of 
    nonprofit entities for the Department of State's international 
               educational, cultural, and arts programs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 20, 2001

   Mr. Biden introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 to 
 authorize the Secretary of State to provide for the establishment of 
    nonprofit entities for the Department of State's international 
               educational, cultural, and arts programs.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    The Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) It is in the national interest of the United States to 
        promote mutual understanding between the people of the United 
        States and other nations.
            (2) Among the means to be used in achieving this objective 
        are a wide range of international educational and cultural 
        exchange programs, including the J. William Fulbright 
        Educational Exchange Program and the International Visitors 
        Program.
            (3) Cultural diplomacy, especially the presentation abroad 
        of the finest of the creative, visual, and performing arts of 
        the United States, is an especially effective means of 
        advancing the United States national interest.
            (4) The financial support available for international 
        cultural and scholarly exchanges has declined by approximately 
        10 percent in recent years.
            (5) There has been a dramatic decline in the amount of 
        funds available for the purpose of ensuring that the 
        excellence, diversity, and vitality of the arts in the United 
        States are presented to foreign audiences by and in cooperation 
        with United States diplomatic and consular representatives.
            (6) One of the ways to deepen and expand cultural and 
        educational exchange programs is through the establishment of 
        nonprofit entities to encourage the participation and financial 
        support of multinational companies and other private sector 
        contributors.
            (7) The United States private sector should be encouraged 
        to cooperate closely with the Secretary of State and the 
        Secretary's representatives to expand and spread appreciation 
        of United States cultural and artistic accomplishments.

SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH NONPROFIT ENTITIES.

    Section 105(f) of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act 
of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2455(f)) is further amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(f)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
    ``(2) The Secretary of State is authorized to provide for the 
establishment of private, nonprofit entities to assist in carrying out 
the purposes of the Act. Any such entity shall not be considered an 
agency or instrumentality of the United States Government, nor shall 
its employees be considered employees of the United States Government 
for any purposes.
    ``(3) The entities may, among other functions--
            ``(A) encourage United States multinational companies and 
        other elements of the private sector to participate in, and 
        support, cultural, arts, and educational exchange programs, 
        including those programs that will enhance international 
        appreciation of the cultural and artistic accomplishments of 
        the United States;
            ``(B) solicit and receive contributions from the private 
        sector to support these cultural arts and educational exchange 
        programs; and
            ``(C) provide grants and other assistance for these 
        programs.
    ``(4) The Secretary of State is authorized to make such 
arrangements as are necessary to carry out the purposes of these 
entities, including--
            ``(A) the solicitation and receipt of funds for the entity;
            ``(B) designation of a program in recognition of such 
        contributions; and
            ``(C) designation of members, including employees of the 
        United States Government, on any board or other body 
        established to administer the entity.
    ``(5) Any funds available to the Department of State may be made 
available to such entities to cover administrative and other costs for 
their establishment. Any such entity is authorized to invest any amount 
provided to it by the Department of State, and such amount, as well as 
any interest or earnings on such amount, may be used by the entity to 
carry out its purposes.''.
                                 <all>