[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 20 (Thursday, February 7, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S791-S792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Casey, Mr. 
        Cochran, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr. Voinovich):
  S. 2609. 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 reintroduce the 
Global Service Fellowship Program Act. This important bipartisan bill 
would provide more Americans the opportunity to volunteer overseas and 
strengthen our existing Federal international education and exchange 
system. The U.S. Government needs to be taking a greater 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.
  I often hear from constituents about their experiences volunteering 
overseas and how those experiences impacted their lives and the lives 
of those who they were helping. For example, I received an email from 
Eric Englund, from my hometown of Middleton, who wrote, ``[My wife Jane 
and I] have been privileged to participate in international 
volunteering experiences in 2006 and 2007. In 2006 we spent 4 weeks in 
China teaching English to Chinese primary and secondary English 
teachers in Xingping, China. * * * In 2007 we spent two weeks in 
Tanzania with Habitat for Humanity. . . . We return[ed] from both 
experiences humbled in the understanding of how lucky we have been and 
hungry to continue to share with others a cultural exchange that is 
hopefully symbiotic in helping us grow/learn/appreciate while at the 
same time sharing our knowledge, compassion and abilities with 
others.'' This email captures the life-changing effects that 
international volunteering often has on those who choose to commit 
their time and resources to volunteering across the globe.
  Unfortunately, not enough of my constituents are able to volunteer 
overseas because of financial or time-related barriers. In an effort to 
reduce these barriers, I initially introduced, along with my colleague 
Senator Coleman, the Global Service Fellowship bill. Today, I am 
reintroducing a new and improved version of the bill.
  This new bill builds on the original legislation but now ensures 
fellowships are not taxed, addresses the importance of geographical 
diversity in the selection process, and increases collaborative 
opportunities for the U.S. Agency for International Development and the 
Department of State in establishing and administering the program.
  Additionally, congressional involvement has been changed from the 
original bill. The new version calls on participants to engage with 
Members of Congress prior to their departure and again upon their 
return by providing Members with a brief report of their experiences 
and impact abroad. The changes are intended to ensure that fellows are 
selected based on the merits while preserving for Members of Congress 
the opportunity, if they so wish, to engage directly with constituents 
who have volunteered for significant overseas work, whether by a 
personal exchange, a public event or correspondence that recognizes the 
value of their volunteer efforts.
  Studies have shown that in areas where U.S. citizens have volunteered 
their time, money, and services, opinions of the U.S. have improved. 
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, programs administered 
through the Department of State's Bureau of Education and Cultural 
Affairs, and

[[Page S792]]

USAID's Volunteers for Prosperity--we can and should be doing more.
  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 
just over $400 million.
  I am pleased that my colleagues, Senators Coleman, Casey, Cochran, 
Kerry, Voinovich, and Whitehouse have joined me in re-introducing this 
bill. This program will be a valuable addition to our public diplomacy 
and our private humanitarian efforts overseas and I encourage my 
colleagues to support the bill.
                                 ______