[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 124 (Thursday, September 19, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE SERVICE OF MR. THIERRY PORTE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS E. PETRI

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 19, 2013

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I want to applaud the work of the Japan-U.S. 
Friendship Commission, CULCON (U.S,-Japan Conference on Educational and 
Cultural Interchange) and the United States-Japan Bridging Foundation 
on the occasion of their upcoming meetings in Washington, D.C., and for 
their ongoing work in support of a strong U.S.-Japan relationship.
  I am especially honored to recognize the outstanding leadership of 
Mr. Thierry Porte, who has served the American people for six years as 
Chairman of the Japan-United States Friendship Commission and CULCON, 
and as Vice Chairman of the United States-Japan Bridging Foundation.
  The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, a Federal agency established in 
1975, awards grants supporting Japanese studies and educational, 
artistic, cultural and intellectual exchanges between the two nations. 
CULCON, established in 1962, is a bi-national advisory panel to the 
U.S. and Japanese governments ensuring that the best of new ideas are 
implemented as operational programs. CULCON also facilitates 
collaborations and partnership with other U.S.-Japan organizations. The 
United States-Japan Bridging Foundation was established in 1999 as a 
byproduct of the efforts of CULCON and the Commission. The Bridging 
Foundation is a self-sustaining 501(c)(3) nonprofit promoting 
educational and cultural exchanges. Collectively, these three 
organizations have been advancing and strengthening the vital 
educational and cultural foundations of the U.S.-Japan relationship.
  Mr. Porte's enthusiastic and dedicated leadership has been 
instrumental in the success of all three organizations. In the field of 
art and culture, Mr. Porte has been a staunch supporter of the Japan-
U.S. Friendship Commission's U.S.-Japan Creative Artists' Fellowship 
program that sends American artists to Japan for three months to 
collaborate with colleagues in their field. In spite of challenging 
financial circumstances, the Commission supported the continuation of 
this 30 year-old program whose impact reverberates as the artists 
continue their work with knowledge gained in Japan and working with 
their Japanese collaborators.
  Mr. Porte has also been a strong supporter of Japanese studies in the 
United States. He has helped sustain funding for this field with 
support for projects such as the North American Coordinating Council of 
Japanese Library Resources (NCC). The NCC creates programs and online 
services to support the research needs of the field of Japanese studies 
and for users with any interest in Japan, anywhere.
  The bedrock of the U.S.-Japan partnership is the close bond between 
our people, which remains the greatest resource for our Alliance. 
Student exchanges have been an important vehicle for nurturing the 
bonds between Japan and the United States. In this context, educational 
and cultural exchanges between Japan and the United States have been 
vital in building the strong partnership that exists today. At the same 
time, student exchanges help Japan and the United States to address the 
global challenges as partners with shared values, and enhance the 
global competitiveness of both countries.
  To jointly address these issues, Mr. Porte, as Chairman of CULCON, 
spearheaded the work of a bi-national Education Task Force to examine 
trends in bilateral student exchanges and to make recommendations to 
leaders in both nations towards an ambitious goal: Double the number of 
U.S. and Japanese students studying in each other's country by 2020. 
The Educational Task Force, which is made up of government, private 
sector (nonprofit and for profit), and academic leaders from each 
country, has examined trends in bilateral student exchanges, and made 
recommendations to leaders in both nations on ways to revitalize and 
invigorate U.S.-Japan educational exchanges. Through Mr. Porte's 
leadership, the Task Force is making great strides in improving the 
quality and quantity of student exchanges.
  Throughout his tenure as Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Porte has 
worked with the leaders of several professional organizations to 
support educational needs in Japan. In this regard, Mr. Porte supported 
efforts by Teach for Japan to help train Japan's most promising leaders 
to have an immediate impact on student achievement and develop these 
leaders into a national movement for educational change.
  Mr. Porte has also been a staunch supporter of the United States-
Japan Bridging Foundation as it expands opportunities for American 
undergraduate students to study in Japan. I applaud the Bridging 
Foundation for its work as a public-private partnership to raise over 
$4 million and award over 1,000 scholarships to American students since 
its inception.
  In short, the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, CULCON and the U.S.-
Japan Bridging Foundation have made great strides in promoting a strong 
and healthy U.S.-Japan relationship through the inspired leadership of 
Mr. Thierry Porte.
  On behalf of the Congressional Members serving as Commissioners of 
the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission--Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator 
Jay Rockefeller, Congressman Jim McDermott, and myself--I would like to 
express our deepest gratitude for these contributions and assure Mr. 
Porte and his colleagues that the positive results of their hard work 
will be felt for years to come.

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