[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 81 (Friday, June 19, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1178]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONGRESS-BUNDESTAG YOUTH 
                                EXCHANGE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 19, 1998

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw the attention of my 
colleagues to the 15th anniversary on June 19th of the creation of the 
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange.
  In 1983, marking the 300 years of German immigration to the United 
States, the Congress and the German Bundestag created a unique program, 
the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange. This exchange was designed to 
ensure that the close ties of friendship and partnership which had 
developed between our two countries since the founding of the Federal 
Republic of Germany would continue in successor generations, and to 
foster the relationship between our two national legislative bodies.
  In each of the past fifteen years, up to 800 American and German high 
school students and young professionals have taken part in this 
program. The high school students become aware of the wider world and 
establish ties which will benefit them for the rest of their lives. 
Thanks to a combination of classroom education and on-the-job training 
during their year abroad, young professionals are able to bring 
valuable experience into their working life: Americans can take 
advantage of Germany's ``dual system'' of education and practical 
training, while German youth can benefit from American strengths in 
areas such as telecommunications, environmental technology and the 
service sector. In both cases, the young people of our two countries 
gain knowledge and experience which will serve them well later in life.
  Let me quote from the letter of a recently-returned American high 
school student, reflecting on her year in Germany:

       Now, I am able to speak Germany fluently. I have made many 
     strong friendships and have experienced a culture I was not 
     used to; I have learned a great deal about who I am and about 
     life in general. I have learned to be more tolerant of others 
     and the ideas that they offer. Being an exchange student does 
     not just benefit the exchange. My first weeks in Germany were 
     spent trying to disprove many of the stereotypes the Germans 
     had about the United States and its society. Through this 
     Exchange, all participants are able to return home feeling 
     proud that they had the opportunity to represent the United 
     States.

  The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program also organizes 
reciprocal visits by staffers of the Congress and Bundestag. I hope 
that more of my colleagues will encourage their staffers to take 
advantage of this opportunity to get to know Germany and the working of 
its government and legislature. The staff exchange can be of tremendous 
assistance as our two countries grapple with shared problems.
  Germany is a uniquely important ally of the United States. We have a 
strong national interest in maintaining the closest ties and the best 
understanding possible with both the current leadership and the 
successor generation. The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange represents 
one of the best ways to cement our partnership. During his recent visit 
to Germany, marking the 50th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, 
President Clinton declared, ``we will be working hard to expand our 
support for the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange, which has already 
given more than 10,000 German and American students the chance to visit 
each other's countries.''
  German leaders in the Bundestag value the relationship with the 
United States and with the Congress, and recognize the contribution 
which the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program has made to the 
close ties which exist. On June 19th, the President of the German 
Bundestag, Prof. Rita S ssmuth, will mark the 15th anniversary of the 
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program by sending the Bundestag's 
greetings to all Members of Congress and by congratulating the 200 
American participants in this year's program, who will be present 
during the Bundestag session.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues in the House of Representatives 
to join me in extending special greetings to our fellow legislators in 
the Bundestag, in commemorating the creation of this exchange and in 
noting its contribution to the distinctive ties between the peoples and 
the governments of these two great nations.

                          ____________________