[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 26, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR 
   INTERNATIONAL VISITORS, AND EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR DESIGNATION OF 
            FEBRUARY 16, 2011, AS ``CITIZEN DIPLOMACY DAY''

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 26, 2010

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join 
me in recognizing the 50th anniversary of the National Council for 
International Visitors, NCIV--a nonprofit leader in citizen diplomacy--
and supporting designation of February 16, 2011, as ``Citizen Diplomacy 
Day.''
  NCIV is a membership association, with members based in congressional 
districts throughout the nation, dedicated to promoting excellence in 
citizen diplomacy--the concept that individual citizens have the right 
and responsibility to help shape U.S. foreign relations ``one handshake 
at a time.'' NCIV's nationwide network comprises 92 community 
organizations as well as federal agencies, associate members, and 
individuals. With leadership and training provided by NCIV, member 
organizations create professional connections, provide cultural 
activities, and offer home hospitality opportunities for foreign 
leaders and specialists. Each year, the aggregate efforts of NCIV 
members involve more than 80,000 volunteers.
  The NCIV network is the private-sector partner of the U.S. Department 
of State for the International Visitor Leadership Program, IVLP, a 
long-standing, successful initiative for strengthening U.S. foreign 
relations. More than 285 current and former heads of state (including 
F.W. de Klerk, Anwar Sadat, Manmohan Singh, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Morgan 
Tsvangarai) and approximately 1,700 cabinet-level ministers have 
participated in the IVLP, which U.S. ambassadors have repeatedly ranked 
first among 63 U.S. public diplomacy initiatives.
  Through citizen diplomacy, the NCIV network and the IVLP have 
positively affected hundreds of thousands of lives in America and 
abroad--among countless other ways, by:
  Empowering a key reformer to stand up for democracy and freedom 
following the February 2010 coup in Niger;
  Introducing high school students in Reno, Nevada, to Moroccan 
journalists and Afghan women leaders;
  Sharing best practices with leaders of Malaysian disaster-relief 
nonprofits in the wake of a devastating earthquake and tsunami;
  Connecting an environmental and water resources engineering firm from 
Portland, Oregon, to business opportunities with China; and
  Breaking stereotypes about Americans for a Yemeni governance and 
conflict management expert.
  The success of NCIV is based on patriotic citizens, entrepreneurs, 
and small businesses coming together to help promote America abroad 
while boosting the local economy. By working with the State Department, 
NCIV is an important source of income for many throughout the U.S. 
based on the increased economic activity generated by international 
visitors. Nearly the entire IVLP budget is spent within the United 
States, where it generates millions of dollars in local economic 
activity. NCIV members raise an additional $6 for every dollar they 
receive in federal funding, all of which is spent locally. Furthermore, 
by bringing foreign leaders to U.S. schools, government agencies, and 
businesses, the NCIV network and the IVLP help U.S. communities build a 
more globally literate, competitive workforce.
  Please join me in demonstrating congressional support for this 
national network of citizen diplomats by recognizing NCIV's 50th 
anniversary and recommending designation of February 16, 2011, as 
Citizen Diplomacy Day.

       Cosponsors of Legislation Introduced by the Rep. Jim Moran

       The Honorable Donald Manzullo, the Honorable Howard Coble, 
     the Honorable Keith Ellison, the Honorable Eddie Bernice 
     Johnson, the Honorable Lee Terry, the Honorable Mark Steven 
     Kirk, the Honorable Peter Welch, the Honorable Betty 
     McCollum, the Honorable Patrick Murphy, the Honorable John 
     Boozman, the Honorable Sue Wilkins Myrick, the Honorable 
     Steven Rothman, the Honorable Denny Rehberg, the Honorable 
     Jan Schakowsky, the Honorable Daniel B. Maffei.

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