[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 28, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H8193-H8195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  2110
             JOHN LEWIS CIVIL RIGHTS FELLOWSHIP ACT OF 2022

  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 8681) to establish the John Lewis Civil Rights 
Fellowship to fund international internships and research placements 
for early- to mid-career professionals to study nonviolent movements to 
establish and protect civil rights around the world, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 8681

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``John Lewis Civil Rights 
     Fellowship Act of 2022''.

     SEC. 2. JOHN LEWIS CIVIL RIGHTS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

       The Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 
     (22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 115. JOHN LEWIS CIVIL RIGHTS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Establishment.--There is established the John Lewis 
     Civil Rights Fellowship Program (referred to in this section 
     as the `Fellowship Program') within the J. William Fulbright 
     Educational Exchange Program.
       ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Fellowship Program 
     are--
       ``(1) to honor the legacy of Representative John Lewis by 
     promoting a greater understanding of the history and tenets 
     of nonviolent civil rights movements; and
       ``(2) to advance foreign policy priorities of the United 
     States by promoting studies, research, and international 
     exchange in the subject of nonviolent movements that 
     established and protected civil rights around the world.
       ``(c) Administration.--The Bureau of Educational and 
     Cultural Affairs (referred to in this section as the 
     `Bureau') shall administer the Fellowship Program in 
     accordance with policy guidelines established by the 
     Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, in consultation with the 
     binational Fulbright Commissions and United States Embassies.
       ``(d) Selection of Fellows.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Board shall annually select 
     qualified individuals to participate in the Fellowship 
     Program. The Bureau may determine the number of fellows 
     selected each year, which, whenever feasible, shall be not 
     fewer than 25.
       ``(2) Outreach.--To the extent practicable, the Bureau 
     shall conduct outreach at institutions the Bureau determines 
     are likely to produce a range of qualified applicants.
       ``(e) Fellowship Orientation.--The Bureau shall organize 
     and administer a fellowship orientation that shall--
       ``(1) be held in Washington, DC, or at another location 
     selected by the Bureau;
       ``(2) include programming to honor the legacy of 
     Representative John Lewis; and
       ``(3) be held on an annual basis.
       ``(f) Structure.--
       ``(1) Work plan.--To carry out the purposes described in 
     subsection (b)(2)--
       ``(A) each fellow selected pursuant to subsection (d) shall 
     arrange an internship or research placement--
       ``(i) with a nongovernmental organization, academic 
     institution, or other organization approved by the Bureau; 
     and
       ``(ii) in a country with an operational Fulbright U.S. 
     Student Program; and
       ``(B) the Bureau shall, for each fellow, approve a work 
     plan that identifies the target objectives for the fellow, 
     including specific duties and responsibilities relating to 
     those objectives.
       ``(2) Conferences; presentations.--Each fellow shall--
       ``(A) attend the fellowship orientation described in 
     subsection (e);
       ``(B) not later than the date that is 1 year after the end 
     of the fellowship period, attend a fellowship summit 
     organized and administered by the Bureau, which, whenever 
     feasible, shall be held in a location of importance to the 
     civil rights movement in the United States and may coincide 
     with other events facilitated by the Bureau; and
       ``(C) at such summit, give a presentation on lessons 
     learned during the period of fellowship.
       ``(3) Fellowship period.--Each fellowship under this 
     section shall continue for a period determined by the Bureau, 
     which, whenever feasible, shall be not shorter than 10 
     months.
       ``(g) Fellowship Award.--The Bureau shall provide each 
     fellow under this section with an allowance that is equal to 
     the amount needed for--
       ``(1) the fellow's reasonable costs during the fellowship 
     period; and
       ``(2) travel and lodging expenses related to attending the 
     orientation and summit required under subsection (e)(2).
       ``(h) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     completion of the Fellowship Program by the initial cohort of 
     fellows selected under subsection (d), and on an annual basis 
     thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the 
     Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives 
     and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report 
     providing information on the implementation of the Fellowship 
     Program, including on--
       ``(1) the demographics of the cohort of fellows who 
     completed a fellowship during the preceding 1-year period;
       ``(2) a description of internship and research placements, 
     and research projects selected, under the Fellowship Program, 
     including participant feedback on program implementation and 
     feedback of the Department on lessons learned;
       ``(3) a plan for factoring such lessons learned into future 
     programming; and
       ``(4) an analysis of trends relating to the diversity of 
     the cohorts of fellows and the topics of projects completed 
     over the course of the Fellowship Program.''.

     SEC. 3. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO THE MUTUAL 
                   EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE ACT OF 1961A.

       Section 112(a) of the Mutual Educational and Cultural 
     Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2460(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (8), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(10) the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Program 
     established under section 115, which provides funding for 
     international internships and research placements for early-

[[Page H8194]]

     to mid-career individuals from the United States to study 
     nonviolent civil rights movements in self-arranged placements 
     with universities or nongovernmental organizations in foreign 
     countries.''.

     SEC. 4. SUNSET.

       The authority to carry out the John Lewis Civil Rights 
     Fellowship Program established under section 115 of the 
     Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2451 et seq.), as added by section 2, shall expire on 
     the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Castro) and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8681, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today in strong support of H.R. 8681, the John Lewis Civil 
Rights Fellowship Act of 2022, and I thank Ms. Williams for authoring 
this important bill.
  I want to begin with a passage from an essay written by 
Representative John Lewis before his death, which was published on the 
day of his funeral.
  Representative John Lewis, in reflecting on the past and looking to 
the future said: ``You must also study and learn the lessons of history 
because basic humanity has been involved in this soul-wrenching, 
existential struggle for a very long time. People on every continent 
have stood in your shoes, through decades and centuries before you. The 
truth does not change, and that is why the answers worked out long ago 
can help you find solutions to the challenges of our time. Continue to 
build union between movements stretching across the globe because we 
must put away our willingness to profit from the exploitation of 
others.''
  These words are a call to action and H.R. 8681, the John Lewis Civil 
Rights Fellowship Act, seeks to meet that call, to learn from history 
and find solutions to the challenges of our time.
  The John Lewis Fellowship will be part of the Fulbright Scholarship 
Program administered by the State Department and will advance the 
teaching of the history of nonviolent movements around the world by 
fostering research and international exchange.
  The fellowship supports 25 young scholars in studying the history of 
nonviolent civil rights movements around the world and improving the 
understanding of nonviolence as a critical tool for change.
  Fostering constructive methods of civic expression is vital for a 
healthy, flourishing society. Thanks to John's leadership by example, 
thousands of people around the world over have learned how to confront 
the injustices of their own societies through nonviolent means. Now, 
the duty of honoring his legacy and shepherding a new generation of 
leaders falls on our shoulders.
  I can think of no better time than now to pass this bill that honors 
the legacy of the great John Lewis. I strongly urge all Members to vote 
in support of this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mrs. KIM of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the John Lewis Civil Rights 
Fellowship Act. John Lewis was a powerful, tireless advocate for 
equality and justice all his life.
  Along with his mentor and friend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he put 
his life and personal safety on the line as a leader in the nonviolent 
civil rights movement that profoundly changed our Nation for the 
better.
  His boldness in pursuit of justice was powerfully rooted in faith and 
love. As he himself described it: ``At a very early stage of the 
movement, I accepted the teaching of Jesus, the way of love, the way of 
nonviolence, the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation. The idea of 
hate is too heavy a burden to bear. It is better to love.''
  To help pass these values on to future generations, this bill 
establishes the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship within the Fulbright 
Program at the Department of State.
  The Fulbright educational exchange program has enjoyed bipartisan 
support for over 75 years. As part of Fulbright, the stated purpose of 
the John Lewis Fellowship is ``to advance foreign policy priorities of 
the United States by promoting studies, research, and international 
exchange in the subject of nonviolent movements that established and 
protected civil rights around the world.''
  This bill is a worthy way of honoring a great man who sacrificed so 
much to make America and the world a better place. I support the bill, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to yield 3 minutes 
to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. Williams).
  Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 8681, the John Lewis Civil Rights 
Fellowship Act of 2022.
  Following in the footsteps of Congressman John Lewis is no easy feat. 
He was a friend and a mentor to many of us. He was known as the 
conscience of this body. I often tell people that while I will never 
fill his shoes, I strive daily to carry out his legacy.
  It is my honor to ensure that my friend and my mentor and my 
predecessor's legacy lives on through the John Lewis Civil Rights 
Fellowship within the Fulbright program, which will give scholars an 
opportunity to study both the inspiration and the impacts of the civil 
rights movement internationally.
  The John and Lilian Miles Lewis Foundation has been working hard to 
launch this program as a tribute to Congressman Lewis' impact on social 
and political change around the world.
  Congressman Lewis himself was shaped by his study of nonviolent civil 
rights movements from around the world, most notably, the philosophy 
and tactics of Mahatma Gandhi, whose very words were ``it is either 
nonviolence or nonexistence.''
  Of course, people across the globe have been inspired by the tactics 
of the United States' civil rights movement, many led by Congressman 
John Lewis himself. From the lunch counter sit-ins of the early 1960s, 
to the 1961 Freedom Rides, to the 1965 march across the Edmund Pettus 
bridge, Mr. Lewis taught the world that the most powerful way to bend 
the moral arc toward justice is rooted in the discipline of 
nonviolence.

  But for all of his experiences and impact at home, Congressman Lewis 
always wished that he would have had the opportunity to study abroad.
  Creating the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship is a full-circle 
tribute: sending scholars to study Congressman Lewis' inspirations and 
impacts around the world in his name. We hope this program will unlock 
a powerful opportunity for students who, like Congressman Lewis, would 
not otherwise have an opportunity to do research across the globe.
  The John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship will be a beacon for the 
importance of nonviolence, and I look forward to the incredible 
academic work and exchange this fellowship will support.
  Mrs. KIM of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of 
my time.
  Madam Speaker, John Lewis lived a life profoundly dedicated to 
pursuing equality and justice for all, rooted in love and nonviolence. 
The part he played in the brave struggle against racial injustice 
changed the course of American history and inspired many around the 
world.
  This bill to create a Fulbright fellowship program in his name is a 
fitting tribute to his legacy. I support this bill, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.

                              {time}  2120

  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume for the purpose of closing.
  Madam Speaker, I want to reiterate my staunch support for the John 
Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act of 2022.
  This legislation encourages the values of peaceful expression and 
invigorates a new generation of leaders with

[[Page H8195]]

the same spirit that drove John in his lifelong advocacy for civil 
rights. His leadership during the civil rights movement was pivotal for 
extending the American promises of life, liberty, and the pursuit of 
happiness to all Americans. Many of us may not be standing here before 
this Chamber but for his contributions to racial equality.
  This legislation seeks to instill that very same drive and purpose in 
the leaders of tomorrow, promoting the use of nonviolent civil rights 
as a tool for change around the world.
  Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me and support this 
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 8681, 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. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________