1.This Act may be cited as the United
States-Poland Parliamentary Youth Exchange Program Act of 2007
.
2.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.
3.United
States-Poland Parliamentary Youth Exchange Program
(a)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)The
youth exchange program carried out under this subsection shall be known as the
United States-Poland Parliamentary Youth Exchange
Program
.
(c)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)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)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.
4.Annual report to
congressThe 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.
5.Authorization of
appropriations
(a)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)Amounts
authorized to be appropriated by subsection (a) shall remain available until
expended.