[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 164 (Thursday, November 18, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S14836]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE RUSSIAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I am pleased to announce that Congress 
included $10 million in the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill to 
continue the Russian Leadership Program in Fiscal Year 2000.
  The Russian Leadership Program was created earlier this year in the 
FY 1999 supplemental appropriations bill in order to bring emerging 
Russian leaders to the United States to see first hand how democracy 
and the American free market economic system function. The program was 
successful in bringing over 2,100 emerging leaders from 83 of the 89 
states and republics in the Russian Federation during July, August, and 
September of this year. Dr. Billington, the Librarian of Congress, and 
one of the world's leading historians of Russian culture was asked to 
administer this program. Our thanks go to Dr. Billington for doing an 
excellent job implementing this program in a short period of time.
  The program was modeled after the Marshall Plan which was implemented 
after World War II. Between 1946-1956, the U.S. Government brought over 
10,000 Germans citizens to the United States to learn ways to rebuild 
their economy through technical assistance as well as cultural and 
political contacts. The Marshall Plan was one of the most successful 
foreign aid programs of the last century.
  Similar to the Marshall Plan, participants in the Russian Leadership 
Program visited more than 400 communities in 46 states and the District 
of Columbia observing democracy in action at all levels of government. 
They met and discussed the American system of government with current 
and former U.S. Presidents, Members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House, 
Governors, state legislators, state supreme court justices, mayors, and 
members of city and town councils.
  Some of the participants also campaigned door-to-door with political 
candidates, visited police and fire stations, met with students in 
schools, visited hospitals, research facilities, businesses, soup 
kitchens, shelters and experienced firsthand the partnership among 
government, and the private sector.
  This program was unique because more than 800 American families 
hosted our Russian visitors, welcoming them into their homes and 
communities, and spending the time to answer questions about and show 
our guests the American way of life. Vadim Baikov, one of the six 
Russians who visited Alaska, the State I represent, wrote after the 
program that, ``In my opinion, the best cultural aspect is that we 
stayed with the families, because in this way one can actually gain 
insight of the genuine American lifestyle. I think that is what counts 
the most.''
  Organizations such as Rotary International, the United Methodist 
Church, Freedom Force, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints played a key role in organizing the participants in the program 
both in Russia and the United States. In addition to volunteering their 
time, these families and hosting communities generously supplemented 
the government's $10 million appropriations by providing approximately 
$1.5 million worth of meals, cultural activities, additional 
transportation and medical care.
  Beyond the strong ties of friendship that developed between guests 
and hosts, it is clear that the Russian Leadership Program 
fundamentally changed how these Russian guests see America. They 
constitute the largest single group ever to travel from Russia to the 
U.S. They return to Russia with clear ideas and strong commitment to 
positive change. A mayor from Tomsk spend time with the mayor of 
Cleveland and said: ``If we were to meet more often, there would be 
more peaceful relations.''
  The Russian Leadership Program has had a tremendous impact in one 
year. It is a good program and I am pleased that we were able to 
provide the necessary funding to continue this program into the new 
millenium.

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