[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 131 (Thursday, September 6, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1816]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          REGARDING H.R. 1636

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 6, 2007

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 1636, the United States-Poland Parliamentary Youth Exchange 
Program.
  As Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, 
U.S. Helsinki Commission, I can attest to the values of such a cultural 
exchange. Since the end of the Cold War, the Republic of Poland has 
steadily grown into a close friend and ally, and, through its active 
participation in the OSCE, NATO, and the EU, has shown a commitment to 
many of our democratic values and ideals. By sending high school 
students to Poland for an entire year, this program will encourage 
international involvement at a young age and serve to strengthen the 
relations between our countries.
  I have seen the growth that such exchange fosters and the diplomacy 
it promotes during my time as an annual host to Australian interns 
through the UNI-Capitol Washington Internship Program. Moreover, I 
currently have an intern in my office from London and previously have 
hosted young people from Germany, Finland, Denmark, and Estonia, among 
others. By hosting foreign students in a similar program, the United 
States and Poland can enhance bilateral relations, improve 
international commerce, encourage global consciousness, and give our 
young people a sense of global citizenship.
  I believe the United States-Poland Youth Exchange Program will 
provide a unique and important bridge between our countries, especially 
in the arena of promoting people to people relationships that are just 
as key if not more so than our military and economic relationships.
  I urge my colleagues to fund the United States-Poland Youth Exchange 
Program by supporting H.R. 1636.

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