[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 118 (Friday, July 31, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2122-E2123]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE INTRODUCTION OF THE GANDHI-KING SCHOLARLY EXCHANGE INITIATIVE ACT 
                                OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOHN LEWIS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 30, 2009

  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I am proud to introduce the 
Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative Act of 2009. The purpose of 
this legislation is to create three international initiatives that take 
the philosophy and examples of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Jr. and apply them to current day issues.
  In recent years, increasing youth violence has been the center of 
national headlines. Gangs, drug abuse, stabbings, shootings, bullying, 
unnecessary harm and heartache plagues schools and communities from 
Atlanta to Chicago and in unsuspecting urban, rural, and suburban areas 
all around and in between. In response to this alarming trend, I 
introduced the SAFETY through Nonviolence Act, a bill that would teach 
the doctrine of nonviolence in thought, words and actions to students, 
educators, local police, and community leaders. In reality, Madam 
Speaker, violence, human rights abuses, discrimination, unprecedented 
poverty, and terrorism are devastating every corner of our globe, and 
despite so much progress, much work remains.
  In February, I led a congressional delegation with my good friend, 
the Gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus) to India to commemorate the 
50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott 
King's visit to the country. With an official send-off from Secretary 
Clinton, the delegation was welcomed by the Indian government and 
Indian people. Martin Luther King, III, his wife, Mrs. Arndrea Waters, 
and outstanding musicians from the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz 
also celebrated this historic visit with concerts, meetings, and 
ceremonies across the country.
  The congressional delegation also met with Indian government 
officials, business leaders, and non-governmental organizations on 
issues of terrorism, democracy, human rights, child labor and 
trafficking, poverty, and international conflicts. Each of us returned 
to the United States inspired and determined in our own way to see how 
we could apply our experiences, our shared history, and the legacies of 
these two great men to some of the issues facing the international 
community. How can we build a new generation that understands the 
benefit of peace?
  This legislation responds to that question. The Gandhi-King Scholarly 
Exchange Initiative Act of 2009 would create an undergraduate, 
graduate, and post-graduate student exchange program in which students 
would travel to significant sites of the American Civil Rights Movement 
and the Indian Independence Movement. They would then develop proposals 
on how to apply the philosophies of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther 
King, Jr. to modern issues such as human rights, peaceful conflict 
resolution, civil rights, and democracy.
  The second initiative created by this bill is a professional training 
module for international state, local and national government employees 
from conflict regions to develop international conflict solutions based 
on Gandhian principles.
  Last but not least, the Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative Act 
would develop an annual public diplomacy forum to be held alternately 
in the United States and India which will focus on the philosophies of 
Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. in the resolution of global 
conflicts.
  I believe that each person must ask themselves how we can make this 
little piece of real estate that we call Earth, a little cleaner, a 
little greener, a little safer, a little more peaceful. Gandhi once 
said that, ``If we are to reach real peace in this world, and if we are 
to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the 
children.'' The Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative Act of 2009 
does just that and a little bit more.
  Madam Speaker, I hope all of my colleagues will support this good, 
common-sense legislation that should be a cornerstone of our public 
diplomacy efforts.

[[Page E2123]]



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