118 SRES 455 IS: Recognizing the 40th anniversary of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange, the 30th anniversary of the Future Leaders Exchange, and the 20th anniversary of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study. U.S. Senate 2023-11-08 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

III118th CONGRESS1st SessionS. RES. 455IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESNovember 8, 2023Mr. King (for himself and Mr. Young) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign RelationsRESOLUTIONRecognizing the 40th anniversary of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange, the 30th anniversary of the Future Leaders Exchange, and the 20th anniversary of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study.

Whereas 2023 marks the 40th anniversary of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (referred to in this preamble as CBYX);Whereas CBYX was established by Congress to allow participants and communities to benefit from mutual understanding and the sharing of ideas;Whereas CBYX participants represent the spirit, values, and diversity of the United States on an international stage;Whereas CBYX provides high school students and young professionals in the United States and Germany with a valuable opportunity to live and study in the other country for an academic year;Whereas, for the youth of the United States and Germany, CBYX strengthens ties between them, improves their career skills through formal study and work experience, and expands their perspectives and awareness of the culture, society, history, and politics of each other;Whereas maintaining a strong, mutually beneficial relationship with Germany, a key ally, remains a top priority for the United States;Whereas, since 1983, more than 29,000 students have participated in CBYX;Whereas 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the Future Leaders Exchange (referred to in this preamble as FLEX);Whereas FLEX was established by Congress after the fall of the Soviet Union to allow students from former Eastern Bloc nations to live and study in the United States;Whereas FLEX students gain leadership skills, learn about the society and values of the United States, and teach the people of the United States about their home countries and cultures;Whereas FLEX students perform community service in their United States communities and act as ambassadors of their home countries;Whereas FLEX produces world leaders, including Rustem Umierov, the current Minister of Defense of Ukraine, who go on to promote democratic values on the world stage;Whereas the best way to ensure long-lasting peace and mutual understanding between the United States and the countries of Eurasia is to enable young people to learn about the United States and the people of the United States firsthand;Whereas, since 1993, more than 30,000 students from more than 22 countries have participated in FLEX;Whereas 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (referred to in this preamble as YES);Whereas YES was established by Congress after the events of September 11, 2001, to build bridges between citizens of the United States and countries around the world, particularly those with significant Muslim populations;Whereas YES participants from abroad live with volunteer host families in the United States, attend high school, and engage in community service and civic education activities;Whereas YES offers participants from the United States full scholarships for 1 academic year to live and study abroad in selected YES countries;Whereas, since 2003, approximately 15,000 students from more than 45 countries have participated in YES and YES Abroad; andWhereas CBYX, FLEX, and YES advance key foreign policy goals by empowering young people around the globe, supporting civil society and democratic ideals, and promoting mutual understanding between the United States and other countries: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)recognizes—(A)the 40th anniversary of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange;(B)the 30th anniversary of the Future Leaders Exchange; and(C)the 20th anniversary of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study;(2)recognizes and congratulates all past and present participants of the programs described in paragraph (1); (3)encourages continued support by Congress and the President for the important mission of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State, which is to design, implement, and oversee educational, professional, and cultural exchange programs and public engagement activities to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries;(4)supports the use of international exchange programs to build future leaders who can meet global challenges that promote mutual understanding, cross-cultural networks, inclusive leadership development, and civic education; and(5)encourages families and high schools in the United States to consider opportunities to host youth exchange programs administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, including the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange, the Future Leaders Exchange, and the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study, to help build mutual understanding in their communities.