[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 55 (Monday, May 6, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3901-S3902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mrs. HUTCHISON:
  S. 2458. A bill to enhance United States diplomacy, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Madam President, 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. 2458

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

     SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF INITIATIVES FOR PREDOMINANTLY 
                   MUSLIM COUNTRIES.

       (a) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Surveys indicate that, in countries of predominantly 
     Muslim population, opinions of the United States and American 
     foreign policy among the general public and select audiences 
     are significantly distorted by highly negative and hostile 
     beliefs and images and that many of these beliefs and images 
     are the result of misinformation and propaganda by 
     individuals and organizations hostile to the United States.
       (2) These negative opinions and images are highly 
     prejudicial to the interests of the United States and to its 
     foreign policy.
       (3) As part of a broad and long-term effort to enhance a 
     positive image of the United States in the Muslim world, a 
     key element should be the establishment of programs to 
     promote a greater familiarity with American society and 
     values among the general public and select audiences in 
     countries of predominantly Muslim population.
       (b) Establishment of Initiatives.--The Secretary of State 
     shall establish the following programs with countries with 
     predominantly Muslim populations as part of the educational 
     and cultural exchange programs of the Department of State:
       (1) Journalism program.--A program for foreign journalists 
     and postsecondary students of journalism which, in 
     cooperation with private sector sponsors to include 
     universities, shall sponsor workshops and professional 
     training in techniques, standards, and practices in the field 
     of journalism to assist the participants to achieve the 
     highest standards of professionalism.
       (2) Libraries.--The Secretary of State shall develop and 
     implement a demonstration program to assist foreign 
     governments to establish or upgrade their public library 
     systems to improve literacy, support public education, and 
     provide youth recreation centers. The program shall provide 
     training in the library sciences, including exchange 
     opportunities for postsecondary study in the United States. 
     The purpose of the program shall be to advance American 
     values and society, particularly the importance of freedom 
     and democracy.
       (3) English language teaching.--The Secretary shall 
     establish a program to provide grants to United States 
     citizens to work in middle and secondary schools as English 
     language teaching assistants for not less than an academic 
     year. If feasible, the host government or local educational 
     agency shall share the salary costs of the assistants.
       (4) Sister city partnerships.--The Secretary shall expand 
     and enhance sister-city partnerships between United States 
     and foreign municipalities in an effort to increase global 
     cooperation at the community level. Such partnerships shall 
     encourage economic development, municipal cooperation, health 
     care initiatives, youth and educational programs, disability 
     advocacy, emergency preparedness, and humanitarian 
     assistance.

[[Page S3902]]

       (5) Youth ambassadors.--The Secretary shall establish a 
     program for visits by middle and secondary school students to 
     the United States during school holidays in their home 
     country for periods not to exceed 4 weeks. Participating 
     students shall reflect the economic and geographic diversity 
     of their countries. Activities shall include cultural and 
     educational activities designed to familiarize participating 
     students with American society and values. To the extent 
     practicable, such visits shall be coordinated with middle and 
     secondary schools in the United States to provide for school-
     based activities and interactions. The Secretary shall 
     encourage the establishment of direct school-to-school 
     linkages under the program.
       (6) Fulbright exchange program.--The Secretary shall seek 
     to substantially increase the number of awards under the J. 
     William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program to graduate 
     students, scholars, professionals, teachers, and 
     administrators from the United States who are applying for 
     such awards to study, teach, conduct research, or pursue 
     scholarship in predominantly Muslim countries. Part of such 
     increase shall include awards for scholars and teachers who 
     plan to teach subjects relating to American studies.
       (7) Hubert h. humphrey fellowships.--The Secretary shall 
     seek to substantially increase the number of Hubert H. 
     Humphrey Fellowships awarded to candidates from predominantly 
     Muslim countries.
       (c) General Provision.--Programs established under this 
     section shall be carried out under the provisions of the 
     United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 
     1948 and the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 
     1961.

     SEC. 2. DATABASE OF ALUMNI OF AMERICAN AND FOREIGN 
                   PARTICIPANTS IN EXCHANGE PROGRAMS.

       The Secretary, in coordination with the heads of other 
     agencies that conduct international exchange and training 
     programs, shall establish and maintain a database listing all 
     American and foreign alumni of such programs in order to 
     encourage networking, interaction, and communication with 
     alumni.

     SEC. 3. REPORT ON INCLUSION OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY 
                   ADVOCATES IN EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE 
                   PROGRAMS.

       Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Congress 
     a report concerning the implementation of section 102 of the 
     Human Rights, Refugee, and Other Foreign Relations Provisions 
     Act of 1996 (22 U.S.C. 2452 note). The report shall include 
     information concerning the number of grants to conduct 
     exchange programs to countries described in such section that 
     have been submitted for competitive bidding, what measures 
     have been taken to ensure that willingness to include 
     supporters of freedom and democracy in such programs is given 
     appropriate weight in the selection of grantees, and an 
     evaluation of whether United States exchange programs in the 
     countries described in such section are fully open to 
     supporters of freedom and democracy, and, if not, what 
     obstacles remain and what measures are being taken to 
     implement such policy.

     SEC. 4. STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.

       Nothing in this Act may be construed to authorize the 
     issuance of any visa to, or the admission to the United 
     States of, any alien who is inadmissible to the United 
     States.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated for the Department 
     of State $35,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2003 and 
     2004 to carry out this Act.

     SEC. 6. SECRETARY DEFINED.

       In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
     State.

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