[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 27, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4286-S4287]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 87--TO COMMEMORATE THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
INTERNATIONAL VISITORS PROGRAM
By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Bond, and Mr. Moynihan) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the committee on foreign
relations:
S. Res. 87
Whereas the year 2000 marks the 60th Anniversary of the
International Visitors Program.
Whereas the International Visitors Program is the public
diplomacy initiative of the United States Department of State
that brings distinguished foreign leaders to the United
States for short-term professional programs under the
authority of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act
of 1961.
Whereas the purposes of the International Visitors Program
include--
(1) increasing mutual understanding and strengthening
bilateral relations between the United States and other
nations;
(2) developing the web of human connections essential for
successful economic and commercial relations, security
arrangements, and diplomatic agreements with other nations;
and
(3) building cooperation among nations to solve global
problems and to achieve a more peaceful world;
Whereas during 6 decades more than 122,000 emerging leaders
and specialists from around the world have experienced
American democratic institutions, cultural diversity, and
core values firsthand as participants in the International
Visitors Program;
Whereas thousands of participants in the International
Visitors Program rise to influential leadership positions in
their countries each year;
Whereas among the International Visitors Program alumni are
185 current and former Chiefs-of-State or Heads of
Government, and more than 600 alumni have served as cabinet
level ministers;
Whereas prominent alumni of the International Visitors
Program include Margaret Thatcher, Anwar Sadat, F.W. de
Klerk, Indira Gandhi, and Tony Blair;
Whereas a new configuration of domestic forces has emerged
which is shaping global policy and empowering private
citizens to an unprecedented degree;
Whereas each year more than 80,000 volunteers affiliated
with 97 community-based member organizations and 7 program
agency members of the National Council for International
Visitors across the United States are actively serving as
``citizen diplomats'' organizing programs and welcoming
International Visitors Program participants into their homes,
schools, and workplaces;
Whereas all of the funds appropriated for the International
Visitors Program are spent in the United States, and such
spending leverages private contributions at a ratio of 1 to
12;
Whereas the International Visitors Program corrects
distorted images of the United States, effectively countering
misperceptions, underscoring common human aspirations,
advancing United States democratic values, and building a
foundation for national and economic security;
Whereas the International Visitors Program provides
valuable educational opportunities for United States citizens
through special ``Back to School With International Visitor''
programs and events that increase the knowledge of Americans
about foreign societies and cultures, and bring attention to
international issues crucial to interests of the United
States;
Whereas the International Visitors Program offers emerging
foreign leaders a unique view of America, highlighting its
vibrant private sector, including both businesses and non-
profit organizations, through farm stays, home hospitality,
and meetings with their professional counterparts; and
Whereas the International Visitors Program introduces
foreign leaders, specialists,
[[Page S4287]]
and scholars to the American tradition of volunteerism
through exposure to the daily work of thousands of ``citizen
diplomats'' who share the best of America with those foreign
leaders, specialists, and scholars: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) commemorates the 60th Anniversary of the International
Visitors Program and the remarkable public-private sector
partnership that sustains it; and
(2) commends the achievements of the thousands of
volunteers who are part of the National Council for
International Visitors ``citizen diplomats'' who for 6
decades have daily worked to share the best of America with
foreign leaders, specialists, and scholars.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, Senator Bond and I are joining
together in submitting a resolution commemorating the 60th anniversary
of the International Visitors Program next year. The International
Visitors Program is the State Department's public diplomacy initiative
that brings distinguished foreign leaders to the United States for
short-term professional programs under the authority of the Mutual
Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961.
The International Visitor Program has been wonderfully successful in
meeting its public diplomacy mission. Thousands of rising leaders from
other countries in government, business, labor, academia, and the arts
have come to this country and met with their counterparts and with
everyday Americans from all walks of life. They have learned about our
democratic values and institutions, our entrepreneurial skills, and our
culture.
Future foreign leaders have learned much about this country that has
helped them shape their own, or that simply helped them understand this
country's point of view. I wonder how many people in this country know
the story of F.W. de Klerk's visit to the United States under the
International Visitor Program, and how influential that visit was in
his realization that apartheid in South Africa had to end. Perhaps more
well known, at least in my part of the country, were the visits of
Polish Solidarity Labor leaders who played a pivotal role in
transforming Poland to the democratic country it is today. I am sure
there are many more stories--most not so dramatic--but with tangible
results all over the world. We will never know how many problems have
been prevented because rising leaders had a better understanding of
democracy, of our policies, and our culture.
Many up-and-coming political leaders come to visit Members of
Congress and Senators while they're here. These meetings take a few
minutes of my time, and I learn as much from my visitor as I hope he or
she does from me. Volunteers always tell me that they, too, have
learned much from their visitors, and we should not underestimate the
value of this program as a two-way street that helps educate the
volunteers, their children, and other people in their communities.
But I want to commend and thank those thousands of Americans who have
opened their homes, their businesses, and their hearts to international
visitors with such a tremendous impact on furthering international
understanding. I deeply appreciate it that international visitors do
not just come to Washington, but that the program takes them into our
country's heartland so they can get a real education about our country,
outside the Beltway, as they say. That means that volunteers from all
over the country are critical for the success of the program.
I know in my own State of Illinois, there are six such volunteer
groups in Chicago, Freeport, Geneseo, Paris, Sterling, and Springfield.
I have heard first-hand the deep commitment many Illinoisans have to
this program, because I know many enthusiastic volunteers. Because of
the commitment of Illinois volunteers, our State is among the most
active in the Nation in hosting international visitors, along with the
much larger States of California and Texas.
But when we commemorate this anniversary I want to be sure that we're
celebrating the contribution and commitment of the thousands of
volunteers that make the program meaningful and successful.
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