[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 8, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H1020-H1021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CONGRESS-BUNDESTAG YOUTH EXCHANGE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, the transatlantic 
relationships between the United States

[[Page H1021]]

and European democracies are some of our most important. It is 
important we work together, try to understand each other, and 
communicate--not only on a political but on a personal level--through 
our citizens.
  For nearly 40 years, a cultural and political exchange has occurred 
between the United States and Germany through young members of society. 
In fact, my office is currently participating.
  Maja Sondermann is a 21-year-old from a town close to Frankfurt, 
Germany, a young professional and student studying marketing and 
advertisement and currently interning for my office. She is a 
participant in the 39th year of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange, 
CBYX, a program jointly funded by the U.S. Congress and the German 
Bundestag, and one of five CBYX participants currently interning on the 
Hill.
  Initiated in 1983, the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange offers young 
Americans and Germans the opportunity to explore each other's culture. 
This cultural exchange program involves participants moving to the U.S. 
or Germany for 1 year and strengthens the ties of our American-German 
relationship through citizen diplomacy.
  Over 26,000 American and German high school students, vocational 
students, and young professionals have thus far participated in and 
benefited from this incredible experience.
  Even through the pandemic the participants remained resilient and 
joined the cultural exchange virtually. This year, the CBYX was able to 
return to an in-person exchange in August of 2021. For the duration of 
the program, the participants live with host families, immersing 
themselves in the daily life of a different culture, and attend 
classes, and the young professionals even work in the foreign country. 
They form bonds and friendships with people whom they meet during the 
year abroad and learn about a different culture while fully immersing 
in it and building strong personal and professional connections.
  The participants on both sides gain a new perspective on global 
affairs, politics, and socioeconomic topics, as well as a new sense of 
empowerment, independence, and knowledge of a different culture and 
what it means to be a global citizen.

  Their contribution to cultural exchange and the American-German 
friendship doesn't end with their flight back home. These young minds 
are positively impacted through this experience, as they share it with 
others after returning to their home countries.
  Even beyond that, the participants stay connected with the people 
they meet and other participants. Many alumni of the program continue 
to contribute to transatlantic relations on both sides through the 
alumni network and their personal career paths.
  With the upcoming 40th anniversary of the Congress-Bundestag Youth 
Exchange in 2023, and as a member of the German-American Caucus, I want 
to draw attention to this important program. It continues to support 
both our nations' transatlantic bonds while also inspiring so many 
young minds to engage in a cultural and political exchange.
  Madam Speaker, the CBYX program is an exceptional chance for our 
countries to connect and communicate on a different level and form 
relationships that will last and positively impact our future since the 
program directly impacts the foundation of our future young citizens.

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