[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 377 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
S.377
One Hundred Tenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday,
the fourth day of January, two thousand and seven
An Act
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 2007''.
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 Secretary of State, 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 Secretary of State
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.
SEC. 4. ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.
The Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the
House of Representatives 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 2008 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.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.