[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 121 (Monday, September 25, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H7323-H7324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H7323]]
RECOGNIZING ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF YOUNG POLITICAL 
                                LEADERS

  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 430) recognizing the 
accomplishments of the American Council of Young Political Leaders for 
providing 40 years of international exchange programs, increasing 
international dialogue, and enhancing global understanding, and 
commemorating its 40th anniversary.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 430

       Whereas citizen-to-citizen exchanges offer unique 
     opportunities for learning from one another about commonly-
     shared solutions to problems, as well as different 
     perspectives on forms of government and the aspirations other 
     nations have for their citizens;
       Whereas the American Council of Young Political Leaders 
     (hereinafter referred to as the ``ACYPL'') was incorporated 
     on September 1, 1966, by young leaders to open lines of 
     communication and increase cross cultural understanding among 
     future generations of political leadership;
       Whereas ACYPL prepares in-depth study tours for young 
     leaders, aged between 25 and 40 years old, to give them much-
     needed international exposure early in their political 
     careers;
       Whereas ACYPL targets young politicians likely to assume 
     future positions of responsibility and leadership as Federal 
     and State legislators, mayors, city council members and other 
     State and local elected officials, many of whom may not have 
     previously traveled outside the United States;
       Whereas ACYPL programs are strictly bipartisan: American 
     delegates are drawn equally from both major political parties 
     and from all 50 States; ACYPL's overseas delegations are 
     chosen to represent the political and cultural diversity of 
     their home countries;
       Whereas every dollar ACYPL receives in Federal funding 
     becomes about another dollar and fifty cents through cost-
     share, in-kind contributions and outside fundraising, making 
     this program one of the most cost effective public diplomacy 
     programs supported by the United States Department of State;
       Whereas the ACYPL's operations have evolved from its 
     initial focus on Western Europe where there was limited 
     interaction between the emerging leadership in the post-World 
     War II nations and the United States to meet the challenges 
     and to embrace public diplomacy opportunities in a changing 
     world;
       Whereas in the ensuing decades, the ACYPL's programs have 
     extended to 90 nations in all regions of the world, including 
     the Middle East, sub-Sahara Africa, the Western Hemisphere, 
     East Asia, and the Pacific Rim;
       Whereas ACYPL became one of the very few organizations with 
     which the Soviet Union agreed to conduct political exchanges 
     during the height of the Cold War, and ACYPL launched an 
     exchange relationship between young political leaders in the 
     United States and China following normalization of relations 
     in 1979;
       Whereas ACYPL exchange programs have endured during times 
     of government-to-government strain, such as with China during 
     the hostilities in Tiananmen Square and the Hainan Island 
     incident, with the Soviets during their war in Afghanistan, 
     and with Venezuela today;
       Whereas ACYPL maintains its legacy of exchanging with 
     recent post-conflict nations and assembling young leaders 
     from places that have experienced bitter conflict, including 
     Vietnam, Northern Ireland, Pakistan and India, Israel and the 
     West Bank, and Greece and Turkey;
       Whereas since 1966, the ACYPL has produced a global network 
     of more than six thousand alumni, a large number of whom have 
     risen to positions of great influence in the United States 
     and in nations around the world;
       Whereas prominent American ACYPL alumni include members of 
     the United States Congress, cabinet members, governors, 
     United States ambassadors, and many senior level national, 
     State, and local executive and legislative branch officials;
       Whereas distinguished international ACYPL alumni include 
     prime ministers, cabinet members, ambassadors and 
     parliamentarians; and
       Whereas ACYPL looks to the future in an increasingly 
     uncertain world, and remains steadfast in its mission to 
     promote understanding and cultivate lasting political, 
     economic and cultural relationships among young political 
     leaders and policy-makers worldwide through the regular 
     exchange of delegations, educational forums, leadership 
     training and ongoing dialogue: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That--
       (1) Congress commends the American Council of Young 
     Political Leaders for working for forty years to prepare 
     young political leaders to play a leadership role in 
     international relations and world affairs;
       (2) Congress congratulates the American Council of Young 
     Political Leaders for exemplifying a stellar example of 
     public diplomacy that works; and
       (3) Congress salutes the American Council of Young 
     Political Leaders for being a preeminent catalyst for 
     introducing rising political leaders and policy makers to 
     international affairs and to each other.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Poe) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, H. Con. Res. 430, which was introduced by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), recognizes the 40th anniversary 
of the American Council of Young Political Leaders and commends it for 
40 years of working to prepare young political leaders to play a 
leadership role in international relations and world affairs.
  This council is a not-for-profit organization based in Washington, 
D.C., which was incorporated on September 1, 1966. Since then, it has 
worked to promote understanding and cultivate lasting political, 
economic, and cultural relationships among young political leaders and 
policymakers throughout the world through the regular exchange of 
bipartisan delegations, educational forums, leadership training and 
ongoing dialogue.
  When this Young Political Leaders group was founded during the Cold 
War, its efforts initially focused on Western Europe. Over the past 4 
decades, its programs have expanded to include over 90 nations 
throughout the world, including the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, 
the Western Hemisphere, East Asia, and the Pacific Rim.
  The organization has also worked to better prepare young political 
leaders between the ages of 25 and 40 years old for future positions of 
responsibility in local, State, and Federal governments. It offers 
young leaders, some who may have never traveled outside the United 
States, the opportunity to enhance their awareness and understanding of 
other cultures through in-depth study tours, which are strictly 
bipartisan and carefully selected to represent geographical and 
cultural diversity.
  It is important to note that every Member of Congress and all 50 
Governors may nominate young political leaders as possible candidates 
to participate in the organization's in-depth study tours.
  It has more than 6,000 alumni throughout the world, many of whom have 
risen to positions of great responsibility. In the United States, 
alumni include Members of Congress, the Cabinet, ambassadors and many 
senior level officials who serve in local, State and national 
government. Internationally, past participants of its program now serve 
as Cabinet members, ambassadors, parliamentarians and as other senior 
level policymakers.
  The council's work to establish early relationships among such future 
leaders helps facilitate international dialogue and strengthen and 
promote U.S. policies and objectives. Accordingly, Congress 
congratulates the American Council of Young Political Leaders upon its 
40th anniversary and wishes it continued success in its efforts.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I first would like to commend my friend, fellow Californian, chairman 
of the Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Bill Thomas, for 
introducing this measure. I have worked with him on many different 
issues over the many years we have both served here, from Africa to 
Southeast Asia, and I am sure all of us will miss him when Congress 
reconvenes next January.
  The resolution before the House recognizes the achievements of the 
American Council of Young Political Leaders, which is celebrating its 
40th anniversary. Bill Thomas has served on the board of directors of 
this fine organization, and we commend his leadership on behalf of 
ACYPL.

[[Page H7324]]

  Madam Speaker, as the midterm election approaches, partisanship is at 
the extreme. But on the subject of the importance of ensuring the next 
generation of American political leaders, we understand that the global 
environment calls for us to have bipartisan support for this measure.
  For 40 years, this organization has selected young political leaders 
in the United States, carefully balanced between Republicans and 
Democrats, to travel to many other nations to meet their foreign 
counterparts. These missions have helped young American political 
leaders in their understanding of the complexities of the economic, 
cultural and political climate of many countries and provide a global 
perspective for policymaking at the local, State and Federal levels.
  Many of these young foreign leaders ultimately became major political 
figures in their home countries. The Foreign Minister of Australia is 
an alumnus, as are dozens of members of parliaments in many nations 
around the world.
  I am pleased that the distinguished Ambassador of Hungary to the 
United States today, Ambassador Andras Simonyi, is another alumnus.
  This organization is a cost-effective public diplomacy program that 
is sorely needed in this troubled international environment. I strongly 
support this resolution.
  Mr. THOMAS. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 
430, which recognizes the 40th anniversary of the American Council of 
Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) and commends it for the work it has 
done over the past 40 years to prepare young political leaders for 
leadership roles in international relations and world affairs. As an 
alumnus of an ACYPL program and the sponsor of H. Con. Res. 430, I 
appreciate the House's consideration of this resolution as well as 
Chairman Hyde's efforts to bring it to the floor today.
  When ACYPL began during the Cold War, it initially focused its 
efforts on improving young leaders' understanding of Western Europe. In 
fact, when I participated in an ACYPL program in the 1970s, I traveled 
to the former Soviet Union. However, as geopolitical conditions have 
changed over the past 40 years, ACYPL has expanded its bipartisan 
programs to include over 90 nations throughout the world, including the 
Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, the Western Hemisphere, East Asia, and 
the Pacific Rim.
  As technology and trade continue to advance, the world will likely 
become even more interconnected. Thus, the need for our young leaders 
to better understand foreign governments and cultures will continue to 
be important, along with the bipartisan international exchange 
programs, educational forums, and leadership training ACYPL provides to 
prepare young political leaders for future positions of responsibility 
in local, state, and federal government. Accordingly, I congratulate 
ACYPL on its 40th anniversary, commend it for its important work, and 
wish it continued success.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.
  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this House concurrent 
resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 430.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________