[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 160 (Tuesday, December 7, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H8047-H8049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL 
                                VISITORS

  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1402) recognizing the 50th anniversary 
of the

[[Page H8048]]

National Council for International Visitors, and expressing support for 
designation of February 16, 2011, as ``Citizen Diplomacy Day,'' as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1402

       Whereas 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the National 
     Council for International Visitors (NCIV), originally founded 
     as the National Council for Community Services to 
     International Visitors (COSERV) in 1961;
       Whereas the mission of NCIV is to promote excellence in 
     citizen diplomacy, the concept that the individual citizen 
     has the right and responsibility to help develop constructive 
     United States foreign relations ``one handshake at a time'';
       Whereas citizen diplomacy has the power to shape 
     perceptions in the United States of foreign cultures and 
     international perceptions of the United States, effectively 
     shattering stereotypes, illuminating differences, 
     underscoring common human aspirations, and developing the web 
     of human connections needed to achieve more peaceful 
     relations between countries;
       Whereas NCIV is the private sector partner of the United 
     States Department of State International Visitor Leadership 
     Program (IVLP), a public diplomacy initiative that brings 
     distinguished foreign leaders to the United States for short-
     term professional programs under the authority of the Mutual 
     Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2451 
     et seq.; also referred to as the ``Fulbright-Hays Act'');
       Whereas the NCIV network comprises individuals, program 
     agencies, and 92 community organizations throughout the 
     United States, including approximately 80,000 volunteers who 
     are involved in NCIV member activities each year as host 
     families, professional resources, volunteer programmers, 
     board members, and other supporters;
       Whereas the network of citizen diplomats in NCIV has 
     organized professional programs, cultural activities, and 
     home visits for more than 190,000 foreign leaders 
     participating in the IVLP, 285 of whom went on to become 
     chiefs of state or heads of government in their countries;
       Whereas the NCIV network has hosted and strengthened the 
     relationships of the United States with notable foreign 
     leaders who are alumni of the IVLP;
       Whereas United States ambassadors have in repeated surveys 
     ranked the NCIV network-facilitated IVLP first among 63 
     United States public diplomacy programs;
       Whereas in 2001, the NCIV network of citizen diplomats was 
     nominated to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for its work to 
     promote fraternity between nations;
       Whereas all Federal funding for the citizen diplomacy of 
     the NCIV network is spent in the United States, where it has 
     leveraged $6 in local economic impact for every Federal 
     dollar expended;
       Whereas NCIV member organizations provide invaluable 
     opportunities for United States students to develop global 
     perspectives and vividly experience the diversity of the 
     world by bringing foreign leaders into local schools, loaning 
     teachers cultural artifacts, and developing internationally 
     focused curricula;
       Whereas participation of United States communities, 
     businesses, and universities in the international exchange 
     programs implemented by the NCIV network strengthens the 
     ability of the United States to produce a globally literate 
     and competitive workforce;
       Whereas NCIV provides leadership at the national level 
     having convened leaders of sister organizations for two 
     national Summits on Citizen Diplomacy and providing funding 
     to its member organizations for Summits on Citizen Diplomacy 
     in communities throughout the United States, giving those 
     organizations the opportunity to foster internationally 
     focused dialogue and to cultivate lasting partnerships with 
     like-minded organizations in their own communities;
       Whereas NCIV member organizations serve as international 
     gateways, sharing their communities with the world and the 
     world with their communities, welcoming strangers and sending 
     home friends; and
       Whereas, February 16, 2011, would be an appropriate date to 
     designate as ``Citizen Diplomacy Day'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the 50th anniversary of the National Council 
     for International Visitors and its extraordinary efforts to 
     promote excellence in citizen diplomacy;
       (2) commends the achievements of the thousands of citizen 
     diplomats who have worked for generations to share the best 
     of the United States with foreign leaders, specialists, and 
     scholars;
       (3) thanks the National Council for International Visitors 
     citizen diplomats for their service to their communities, the 
     United States, and the world; and
       (4) supports the designation of ``Citizen Diplomacy Day''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Klein) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material on the resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
legislation, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  For 50 years, the National Council for International Visitors has 
operated on the conviction that every day American citizens can be some 
of our country's greatest diplomats. Through its facilitation of the 
State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program and other 
exchange programs, the NCIV has been an essential part of American 
diplomacy.
  In order to welcome international visitors across the country, the 
NCIV requires the energy and commitment of more than 80,000 volunteers 
every year. These volunteers create and implement professional and 
cultural programs for the visitors, and they also open their homes.
  Over 190,000 foreign leaders, including 286 current and former heads 
of state, have come to the United States through the International 
Visitor Leadership Program and have benefited from this hospitality. 
The experiences they have had and relationships they have built in the 
United States have left a lasting impression of the values and strength 
of the American people.
  In an increasingly interconnected world, technology can unite us, but 
face-to-face interaction can bond us. Our citizen diplomats help to 
dispel myths about the United States and can convey potent messages of 
American goodwill. They also help to increase understanding within the 
United States about the world.
  The service that our citizen diplomats have provided for over half a 
century has been invaluable to our country, and I urge my colleagues to 
support this resolution, which designates February 16, 2011, as 
``Citizen Diplomacy Day.''
  Of course, I would like to thank the author of the resolution, 
Congressman Moran.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  First, I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran) and 
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo) for providing us with this 
opportunity to recognize the contributions of the National Council for 
International Visitors, particularly on its 50th anniversary, and the 
importance of the citizen diplomacy of the United States.
  Madam Speaker, the person-to-person contacts that occur when 
international visitors have the opportunity to live and work alongside 
ordinary Americans are often more than opinion-changing; they can be 
life-changing. To experience up-close the diversity, generosity, and 
industry of our people can shatter stereotypes and prejudices far more 
effectively than press statements and media campaigns. For these 
reasons, citizen diplomacy is an important tool for increasing the 
global understanding of American values.
  One significant component of our public diplomacy activities has been 
the International Visitor Leadership Program, a State Department 
program that brings thousands of current and emerging professional 
leaders to the U.S. every year for carefully designed short-term 
visits. Having met with many of those who have come in from abroad, 
they are very, very useful visits, and they get to see a broad array of 
America and Americans when they do visit. Numerous International 
Visitor alumni have gone on to become heads of state, key officials, 
and industry leaders in their home countries.
  For the past 50 years, the National Council for International 
Visitors has been a critical partner in the success of that program. As 
a nonprofit professional association, the NCIV helps to coordinate the 
exchange-related activities of community-based groups throughout the 
country, drawing on the energy of nearly 80,000 American volunteers 
every year.

[[Page H8049]]

                              {time}  1520

  During its first 50 years, NCIV has organized professional programs, 
cultural activities and home visits for more than 190,000 foreign 
visitors. To that we say thank you.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Virginia, the author of the resolution, 
Mr. Moran.
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. I want to thank my friends and colleagues, Mr. 
Klein from Florida and Mr. Smith from New Jersey. I appreciate their 
support of this.
  This is an important resolution. What the National Council of 
International Visitors sponsors day in and day out has a long-term 
impact that cannot be overstated within our country or around the 
globe.
  The National Council of International Visitors, Madam Speaker, is a 
nonprofit membership association currently marking 50 years of 
leadership in citizen diplomacy. It embodies the concept that 
individual citizens have the right and the responsibility to help shape 
U.S. foreign relations, in their words, ``one handshake at a time.''
  NCIV's nationwide network consists of 92 community organizations as 
well as program agencies, associate members and individuals. Each year, 
the aggregate efforts of NCIV members involve more than 80,000 
volunteers across the country.
  With leadership and training provided by NCIV, its member 
organizations design and implement professional programs, provide 
cultural activities, and offer the actual experience of living within 
an American family and an American community for foreign leaders and 
specialists participating in the U.S. Department of State's 
International Visitor Leadership Program and other exchange programs.
  For the last 50 years, NCIV has built a network of citizen diplomats 
committed to bridging international culture gaps and building mutually 
beneficial relationships through international exchanges. More than 
285--although Mr. Klein said 286, so apparently in the last few days 
another person who was involved with this program has been elected 
around the world as a world leader, but regardless of the number, we 
know it is very substantial, the number of people who lead other 
countries but have an understanding of who we are as a Nation, our 
values and beliefs as a result of NCIV's efforts.
  More than 1,700 cabinet-level ministers--and so many other 
distinguished world leaders that you can't even count them--have 
benefited from firsthand exposure to the United States through the 
International Visitor Leadership Program and the NCIV network.
  With its commitment to building long-term personal relationships, 
NCIV will continue to be an asset for American public diplomacy and 
indeed for national security efforts as it moves into its second half 
century.
  Some examples that I think bear citing: Tony Blair, former Prime 
Minister of the United Kingdom, participated in this program. Anwar 
Sadat, who was so instrumental in bringing peace between Israel and 
Egypt, participated in this program; Felipe Calderon, President of 
Mexico; Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France; Kim Dae-Jung, who was the 
former President of South Korea; Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of 
India; Abdullah Gul, President of Turkey; Morgan Tsvangirai, Prime 
Minister of Zimbabwe.
  It is also worth noting that nearly the entire international visitor 
leadership program in the State Department spends its budget here in 
communities throughout the United States, and that by implanting its 
programs in those communities, the IVLP is also important for 
generating economic development and cultivating a globally literate 
workforce in our U.S. communities. Nothing is more instructive than 
having a foreign visitor actually live in an American home to 
understand our culture, our values, and our beliefs.
  Lastly, Madam Speaker, it is clear that in contributing to the 
quality of our international engagement, the International Visitor 
Leadership Program is an investment in our national security. It is 
imperative to continue rebuilding the image of the United States abroad 
and to build stronger long-term personal relationships between foreign 
leaders and U.S. decision makers, by connecting them with people who 
simply represent what America is all about day in and day out. In fact, 
the Organization of American Ambassadors ranks the International 
Visitor Leadership Program as the most important among all 63 U.S. 
diplomacy programs.
  In closing, as well as Mr. Smith and his staff, I want to thank 
Chairman Howard Berman and his staff, Katherine Brown for their efforts 
in highlighting the important work of citizen diplomats, and the NCIV, 
and obviously Mr. Klein and his staff. I also want to give a shout out 
to the National Council of International Visitors, especially Sherry 
Mueller and her staff, Chris Bassett and Ed Thompson, who worked so 
hard with my staff on this resolution; Tom Gittens, the former head of 
Sister Cities International, for his leadership in promoting the 
National Council of International Visitors. Shai Tamara and Tom 
Garofalo of my staff, who is here as well and has steered this through 
the Congress.
  I hope and trust we will get unanimous support for this and let the 
International Council of International Visitors know that we do 
appreciate all their efforts on behalf of our country.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Madam Speaker, again I thank the gentleman who 
brought this forward to us, Mr. Manzullo as well, and Mr. Smith.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Klein) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1402, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the 
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a 
quorum is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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