[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 102 (Thursday, July 11, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE FULBRIGHT PROGRAM--THE VALUE OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE 
                                PROGRAMS

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                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 10, 1996

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, one of the profound successes of our 
Nation's foreign policy and one of the critical programs that has 
provided critical support for democracy and respect for human rights 
has been our Nation's farsighted educational and cultural exchange 
programs, which are administered through the U.S. Information Agency.
  Just a few days ago, Mr. Speaker, the Subcommittee on International 
Operations and Human Rights of the Committee on International Relations 
held an excellent oversight hearing on these vital programs. My 
colleagues on that committee from both sides of the political spectrum 
expressed strong bipartisan support for these essential educational and 
cultural exchange programs.
  Mr. Speaker, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic, His Excellency 
Michael Zantovsky, recently sent an excellent letter to Dr. Joseph 
Duffey, the outstanding Director of the U.S. Information Agency, 
expressing his and his country's enthusiastic support for the Fulbright 
Program. His letter is typical of the ardent support that has been 
expressed by many foreign leaders for the Fulbright Program and for 
other educational and cultural exchange programs administered by the 
USIA.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that Ambassador Zantovsky's letter be placed in 
the Record and I urge my colleagues here in the Congress to give that 
letter thoughtful and serious consideration. The small amount of money 
that we spend on the Fulbright Program and on the other cultural and 
educational exchange programs under USIA is among the most important 
and worthwhile investments in our Nation's future. I urge my colleagues 
to join me in enthusiastic support for these programs.


                                         The Czech Ambassador,

                                    Washington, DC, June 25, 1996.
     Dr. Joseph Duffey,
     Director, U.S. Information Agency,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Duffey: It is my particular pleasure to inform you 
     about the significance the Czech Republic attributes to the 
     renowned Fulbright Program.
       Even before 1989, thanks to this Program, the then 
     Czechoslovak scholars, experts, and students had a unique 
     opportunity during their stay in your country to be exposed 
     to a free democratic society, to the most recent advances in 
     science, and to the creative environment of U.S. 
     universities. After having come back home, they brought 
     fresh, unworn ideas and approaches that transformed society 
     and re-established democracy in our country.
       The Velvet Revolution brought enhancement to the Fulbright 
     Program. Each year about twenty to thirty Fulbrighters come 
     to the Czech Republic, and a similar number visit the United 
     States. Many American professors coming to our country 
     develop the fields of American Studies, American Literature, 
     Economics, Political Science--i.e. areas that were rather 
     weak or even missing under the previous regime. Their 
     contribution to reforming university curricula is of critical 
     importance. The American students within the Fulbright 
     Program are extremely interested in our arts, history, and 
     political economy in relation to privatization. On the other 
     hand, Czech Fulbrighters in the U.S. are active in teaching 
     the Czech language, literature, and film for many Slavic 
     departments within your universities. At your prominent 
     research institutions, many technically oriented Czech 
     Fulbrighters benefit from developing their research projects 
     and studies in physical, biological, and engineering 
     sciences.
       Needless to say, the exchange of students and researchers 
     is mutually beneficial. One's own professional and personal 
     enrichment is surpassed by the enrichment of the society as a 
     whole. Through an individual's encounter with a different 
     culture, one gains an experiential knowledge of cultural 
     conditions that impact very basic policies and questions--
     e.g., how to establish future entrepreneurial activities and 
     in what markets. In addition, Fulbrighters become consumers 
     from within that society, gaining a practical level of 
     intellect, the insight that cannot be replicated from reading 
     a textbook or seeing a movie. And, most importantly, there is 
     the multiplier effect because of their enthusiasm to share it 
     with their colleagues and friends.
       The Czech Government, being aware of all the merits of the 
     Fulbright Program and its outstanding significance among any 
     other international programs, has decided to increase its 
     funding up to 40% of the U.S. contribution. It is our strong 
     belief that the U.S. Congress, taking into account all the 
     benefits of this wonderful and unique educational and 
     research program, will continue to support it at the current 
     level.
           Sincerely,
                                                Michael Zantovsky,
     Ambassador.

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