[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 23, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S6557]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Casey, Mr. 
        Voinovich, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Lautenberg, and Mr. Cochran):
  S. 1464. A bill to establish a Global Service Fellowship Program, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce the 
Global Service Fellowship Program Act. This important bill would 
provide more Americans the opportunity to volunteer overseas and 
strengthen our existing Federal international education and exchange 
system. I believe the U.S. government needs to be taking a greater 
leadership role in providing opportunities for U.S. citizens to 
volunteer overseas and my bill will enhance U.S. efforts to be a global 
leader in people-to-people engagement.
  People-to-people engagement is one of the United States' most 
effective public diplomacy tools and, today more than ever, we need to 
be investing in every opportunity to improve the perception of the U.S. 
overseas. Bad policy decisions by this administration have led to an 
alarming increase in negative opinions of the United States and we have 
not done enough to reverse this trend.
  Studies have shown that, in areas where U.S. citizens have 
volunteered their time, money, and services, opinions of the United 
States have improved. A 2006 Terror Free Tomorrow poll found that, ``In 
Indonesia, almost two years after the tsunami, American aid to tsunami 
victims continues to be the single biggest factor resulting in 
favorable opinion towards the United States. Almost 60 percent of 
Indonesians surveyed nationwide in August 2006 said that American 
assistance made them favorable to the United States. This number has 
remained solid following tsunami relief, despite a growing number of 
Indonesians who oppose American-led efforts to fight terrorism.''
  Greater investment in volunteer opportunities has significant 
potential to improve the image of the U.S. overseas and while we have 
important programs already in place, the Peace Corps and programs 
administered through the Department of State's Bureau of Education and 
Cultural Affairs, we can and should be doing more.
  My bill would not only provide more opportunities for people-to-
people engagement, but it reduces barriers that the average citizen 
faces when trying to volunteer internationally. First of all, my bill 
would reduce financial barriers by awarding fellowship awards designed 
to defray some of the costs associated with volunteering. The 
fellowship awards can be applied towards airfare, housing, or program 
costs, to name a few examples. By providing financial assistance, the 
Global Service Fellowship program opens the door for every American to 
be a participant, not just those with the resources to pay for it.
  Secondly, my bill reduces volunteering barriers by offering 
flexibility in the length of the volunteer opportunity. I often hear 
from constituents that they do not seek opportunities to participate in 
Federal volunteer programs because they cannot leave their jobs or 
family for years at a time. The Global Service Fellowship Programs 
offers volunteers the opportunity to volunteer on a schedule that works 
for them, a month up to a year. My bill provides a commonsense approach 
to the time limitations of the average American.
  Not only does this bill open the door for any U.S. citizen to apply 
for fellowship consideration, it calls on Congress to be part of the 
decision-making process. The Global Service Fellowship Program 
integrates members of Congress by calling on them to nominate volunteer 
applicants to the Department of State for consideration. Through this 
process, Congress will see firsthand the benefit international 
volunteering brings to their communities and the nation.
  My bill would cost $150 million, which is more than offset by a 
provision that would require the IRS to deposit all of its fee receipts 
in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. CBO has estimated that this 
offset will save $559 million over 5 years for net deficit reduction of 
approximately $409 million.
  I am pleased that my colleagues, Senators Coleman, Voinovich, Casey, 
Menendez, and Lautenberg have joined me in introducing this bill. This 
program would be a valuable addition to our public diplomacy and 
humanitarian efforts overseas and I encourage my colleagues to support 
the bill.
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