[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.
____________________