[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 20, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2592-S2593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BIDEN:
  S. 579. A bill to amend the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange 
Act of 1961 to authorize the Secretary of State to provide for the 
establishment of nonprofit entities for the Department of State's 
international educational, cultural, and arts programs; to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, today I am reintroducing legislation to 
authorize the establishment of nonprofit entities to provide grants and 
other assistance for international educational, cultural and arts 
programs through the Department of State. This is an initiative that 
was developed last year in discussions with officials of the Department 
of State. I am pleased to be joined by Representative Jim Leach of the 
other body, who is introducing the same bill today.
  We are in an era in which cultural issues are increasingly central to 
international issues and diplomacy. Trade disputes, ethnic and regional 
conflicts, and issues such as biotechnology all have cultural and 
intellectual underpinnings.
  Cultural programs are increasingly necessary to promoting 
international understanding and achieving U.S. national objectives. 
American multinational companies and other Americans doing business 
overseas welcome opportunities to support the unique cultures of 
nations in which they do business, as well as telling the story of 
America's diversity in other countries.
  One way they could do this is by helping to sponsor cultural exchange 
programs arranged through the Department of State. Department officials 
tells us, however, that there is apparently no easy way to do that. 
Moreover, many people in our own government are uncertain whether they 
should engage in presenting the creative, intellectual and cultural 
side of our nation.
  Under this legislation Congress would authorize the Secretary of 
State to provide for the establishment of private nonprofit 
organizations to assist in supporting international cultural programs, 
making it both easy and attractive for private organizations to support 
cultural programs in cooperation with the Department of State. In so 
doing, we would affirm support for the promotion and presentation of 
the nation's intellectual and creative best as part of American 
diplomacy.
  This initiative would support a broad range of cultural exchange 
programs. Its priority would be to support the organization and 
promotion of major, high-profile presentations of art exhibitions, 
musical and theatrical performances which represent the finest quality 
of creativity our nation produces. These should be presentations that 
reach large numbers of people, which contribute to achieving our 
national interests and which represent the diversity of American 
culture.
  The bill would provide authority to solicit support for specific 
cultural endeavors, offering individuals, foundations, corporations and 
other American businesses engaged overseas the opportunity to publicly 
support cross-cultural understanding in countries where they do 
business.
  The non-profit entity would work with the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs as well as the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy at 
the Department of State.
  I understand that the House International Relations Committee is 
planning to consider a version of this bill later this week. I look 
forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate on this legislation 
in the coming weeks.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 579

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       The Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) It is in the national interest of the United States to 
     promote mutual understanding between the people of the United 
     States and other nations.
       (2) Among the means to be used in achieving this objective 
     are a wide range of international educational and cultural 
     exchange programs, including the J. William Fulbright 
     Educational Exchange Program and the International Visitors 
     Program.
       (3) Cultural diplomacy, especially the presentation abroad 
     of the finest of the creative, visual, and performing arts of 
     the United States, is an especially effective means of 
     advancing the United States national interest.
       (4) The financial support available for international 
     cultural and scholarly exchanges has declined by 
     approximately 10 percent in recent years.
       (5) There has been a dramatic decline in the amount of 
     funds available for the purpose of ensuring that the 
     excellence, diversity, and vitality of the arts in the United 
     States are presented to foreign audiences by and in 
     cooperation with United States diplomatic and consular 
     representatives.
       (6) One of the ways to deepen and expand cultural and 
     educational exchange programs is through the establishment of 
     nonprofit entities to encourage the participation and 
     financial support of multinational companies and other 
     private sector contributors.
       (7) The United States private sector should be encouraged 
     to cooperate closely with the Secretary of State and the 
     Secretary's representatives to expand and spread appreciation 
     of United States cultural and artistic accomplishments.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH NONPROFIT ENTITIES.

       Section 105(f) of the Mutual Educational and Cultural 
     Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2455(f)) is further amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(f)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
       ``(2) The Secretary of State is authorized to provide for 
     the establishment of private, nonprofit entities to assist in 
     carrying out the purposes of the Act. Any such entity shall 
     not be considered an agency or instrumentality of the United 
     States Government, nor shall its employees be considered 
     employees of the United States Government for any purposes.

[[Page S2593]]

       ``(3) The entities may, among other functions--
       ``(A) encourage United States multinational companies and 
     other elements of the private sector to participate in, and 
     support, cultural, arts, and educational exchange programs, 
     including those programs that will enhance international 
     appreciation of the cultural and artistic accomplishments of 
     the United States;
       ``(B) solicit and receive contributions from the private 
     sector to support these cultural arts and educational 
     exchange programs; and
       ``(C) provide grants and other assistance for these 
     programs.
       ``(4) The Secretary of State is authorized to make such 
     arrangements as are necessary to carry out the purposes of 
     these entities, including--
       ``(A) the solicitation and receipt of funds for the entity;
       ``(B) designation of a program in recognition of such 
     contributions; and
       ``(C) designation of members, including employees of the 
     United States Government, on any board or other body 
     established to administer the entity.
       ``(5) Any funds available to the Department of State may be 
     made available to such entities to cover administrative and 
     other costs for their establishment. Any such entity is 
     authorized to invest any amount provided to it by the 
     Department of State, and such amount, as well as any interest 
     or earnings on such amount, may be used by the entity to 
     carry out its purposes.''.
                                 ______