[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 44 (Thursday, March 12, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S3082]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. 
        Cochran, and Mr. Cardin):
  S. 589. A bill to establish a Global Service Fellowship Program and 
to authorize Volunteers for Prosperity, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce the 
Global Service Fellowship Act with Senators Voinovich, Whitehouse, 
Cochran and Cardin. This important bill would provide more Americans 
the opportunity to volunteer overseas and strengthen our commitment to 
international volunteerism. This bill also authorizes Volunteers for 
Prosperity, VFP, an office created by President Bush under Executive 
Order 13317. As the new administration seeks to rebuild and restore our 
image abroad, increasing the number of Americans volunteering abroad is 
a critical component of that work. The federal government should 
facilitate such international volunteering experiences for U.S. 
citizens by promoting both short and long-term opportunities.
  My bill would not only provide more opportunities for people-to-
people engagement, it would also reduce barriers that the average 
citizen faces when trying to volunteer internationally. First of all, 
my bill would reduce financial barriers by awarding fellowships 
designed to defray some of the costs associated with volunteering. The 
fellowship can be applied toward many of the costs associated with such 
travel including airfare, housing, or program costs. By providing 
financial assistance, the Global Service Fellowship program opens the 
door for more Americans to participate--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 hear 
frequently from constituents who are unable to participate in volunteer 
programs because they cannot leave their jobs or family for years or 
months at a time, but are interested in creating cross cultural 
connections and contributing meaningfully to positive global change. A 
survey released by the Pew Global Attitudes Project in December 2008 
indicates that between 2002 and 2008, opinions of the U.S. declined 
steeply in 14 out of the 19 countries polled. The Global Service 
Fellowship Program offers U.S. citizens an immediate opportunity to 
help reverse this negative trend on a schedule that works for them--
from a month up to a year. My bill provides a commonsense approach to 
the time limitations of the average American while also recognizing the 
important role people-to-people engagement can play in countering 
negative views of our country around the world.
  Not only does this bill make it easier for all Americans to apply for 
fellowships, it also engages Congress by giving Members of Congress the 
opportunity to notify their constituents who are awarded the 
fellowship--and calls on the recipient to report back to USAID and to 
their congressional representatives once they have returned from their 
time abroad. Through this process, Congress will see firsthand the 
benefit international volunteering brings to their communities and the 
Nation.
  This program would cost $15 million, which is more than offset by a 
provision in my bill that would require the IRS to deposit all of its 
fee receipts in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. This program 
would be a valuable addition to our public diplomacy, development, and 
humanitarian efforts overseas and I encourage my colleagues to support 
the bill.
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