[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4823 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4823

   To establish a United States-Poland parliamentary youth exchange 
                    program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 28, 2006

 Mr. Visclosky (for himself and Mr. Emanuel) introduced the following 
  bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish a United States-Poland parliamentary youth exchange 
                    program, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Poland Parliamentary 
Youth Exchange Program Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The United States established diplomatic relations with 
        the newly-formed Polish Republic in April 1919.
            (2) The United States and Poland have enjoyed close 
        bilateral relations since 1989.
            (3) Poland became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty 
        Organization (NATO) in March 1999.
            (4) Poland became a member of the European Union (EU) in 
        May 2004.
            (5) Poland has been a strong supporter, both diplomatically 
        and militarily, of efforts led by the United States to combat 
        global terrorism and has contributed troops to the United 
        States-led coalitions in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
            (6) Poland cooperates closely with the United States on 
        such issues as democratization, nuclear proliferation, human 
        rights, regional cooperation in Eastern Europe, and reform of 
        the United Nations.
            (7) The United States and Poland seek to ensure enduring 
        ties between both governments and societies.
            (8) It is important to invest in the youth of the United 
        States and Poland in order to help ensure long-lasting ties 
        between both societies.
            (9) It is in the interest of the United States to preserve 
        a United States presence in Europe and to continue to 
        contribute to the development of transatlantic relationships.
            (10) Poland for many years received international and 
        United States financial assistance and is now determined to 
        invest its own resources toward attaining its shared desire 
        with the United States to develop international cooperation.

SEC. 3. UNITED STATES-POLAND PARLIAMENTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM.

    (a) Authority.--The President, acting through the Secretary of 
State and in cooperation with the Government of Poland, may establish 
and carry out a parliamentary exchange program for youth of the United 
States and Poland.
    (b) Designation.--The youth exchange program carried out under this 
subsection shall be known as the ``United States-Poland Parliamentary 
Youth Exchange Program''.
    (c) Purpose.--The purpose of the youth exchange program is to 
demonstrate to the youth of the United States and Poland the benefits 
of friendly cooperation between the United States and Poland based on 
common political and cultural values.
    (d) Eligible Participants.--An individual is eligible for 
participation in the youth exchange program if the individual--
            (1) is a citizen or national of the United States or of 
        Poland;
            (2) is under the age of 19 years;
            (3) is a student who is enrolled and in good standing at a 
        secondary school in the United States or Poland;
            (4) has been accepted for up to one academic year of study 
        in a program of study abroad approved for credit at such 
        school; and
            (5) meets any other qualifications that the President may 
        establish for purposes of the program.
    (e) Program Elements.--Under the youth exchange program, eligible 
participants selected for participation in the program shall--
            (1) live in and attend a public secondary school in the 
        host country for a period of one academic year;
            (2) while attending public school in the host country, 
        undertake academic studies in the host country, with particular 
        emphasis on the history, constitution, and political 
        development of the host country;
            (3) be eligible, either during or after the completion of 
        such academic studies, for an internship in an appropriate 
        position in the host country; and
            (4) engage in such other activities as the President 
        considers appropriate to achieve the purpose of the program.
    (f) Relationship to Other Authorities.--The President may utilize 
the authorities and procedures set out in title VIII of the United 
States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1471 
et seq.) to establish and carry out the youth exchange program.

SEC. 4. ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    The Secretary of State shall submit to Congress an annual report on 
the United States-Poland Parliamentary Youth Exchange Program 
established under this Act. Each annual report shall include--
            (1) information on the implementation of the Program during 
        the preceding year:
            (2) the number of participants in the Program during such 
        year;
            (3) the names and locations of the secondary schools in the 
        United States and Poland attended by such participants;
            (4) a description of the areas of study of such 
        participants during their participation in the Program;
            (5) a description of any internships taken by such 
        participants during their participation in the Program; and
            (6) a description of any other activities such participants 
        carried out during their participation in the Program.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated for the 
Department of State for fiscal year 2007 such sums as may be necessary 
to carry out the youth exchange program authorized by this Act.
    (b) Availability.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated by 
subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.
                                 <all>