[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2004

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                               speech of

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 23, 2003

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2800) making 
     appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and 
     related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     2004, and for other purposes.
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to thank the Committee for 
including in the report on the Fiscal Year 2004 Foreign Operations 
Appropriations bill language reiterating its support for the East 
Central European Scholarship Program (ECESP). This program has operated 
successfully for a number of years at the University of Wisconsin-La 
Crosse and has had positive impacts not only in the various Balkan 
nations on which it is focused, but also on the La Crosse campus of the 
University of Wisconsin.
  As we look at the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan today, it is 
clear how critically important it is that we work to ensure that 
nations taking shape in the aftermath of conflict have the human 
resources to sustain democratic institutions and free market economies. 
Over the past 14 years, ECESP has conducted technical training for 
democratic institution building, health care administration, and 
financial sector management, among other fields. The program's efforts 
have resulted in strengthened skills and understanding for over 1200 
administrators, managers and government leaders. ECESP alumni include 
members of national parliaments and the European Council, bank 
examiners of central banks, hospital administrators as well as 
administrators of nongovernmental and non-profit organizations.
  From 1989 until 1998, ECESP focused its work in the Czech Republic, 
Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, assisting in the systemic reforms 
required for integration into the European community. Since 1998, ECESP 
has been engaged in similar efforts focusing on Albania, Bulgaria, 
Macedonia and Romania. I look forward to working with USAID, 
institutions of higher learning, and my colleagues in Congress to help 
expand this program model in the former Soviet Republics and Central 
Asia, as recommended by a recent USAID funded evaluation, and explore 
similar possibilities in the Middle East.
  Over the last decade, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, through 
ECESP, has been able to provide training to some 300 financial managers 
from all of the participating ECESP countries. That training has 
provided these managers with expertise in bank risk management, 
financial management, and supervision of financial institutions, all of 
which are critically important to stable market economies. At the same 
time, the program has enabled U.S. students on the UW-La Crosse campus 
to benefit from interaction with the international students and a 
greater awareness of international perspectives in these areas.
  USAID is currently considering a new multiyear agreement with the 
Center for Intercultural Education and Development based at Georgetown 
University, which manages ECESP. As that agreement is finalized, I 
strongly encourage USAID and the Department of State to maintain the 
current level of support for this important and successful program. 
ECESP is an important component in our efforts to stabilize the Balkan 
region, and it is a commitment that we need to see through.

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