[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 51 (Friday, March 20, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E248-E249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF AU PAIR IN AMERICA

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. JAMES A. HIMES

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 20, 2026

  Mr. HIMES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 40th 
anniversary of Au Pair in America (APIA), a program of the American 
Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS). A pioneering cultural exchange 
program, it has strengthened families, expanded educational 
opportunity, and advanced people-to-people diplomacy between the United 
States and nations around the world.
  APIA is the longest serving au pair program in the United States, 
officially recognized in 1986. For four decades, the program has 
connected young people from abroad with American host families in a 
spirit of mutual learning and cultural understanding. The au pair 
program was made permanent when it was signed into law in 1997, 
reflecting its value to American families and its importance as a 
cultural exchange initiative.
  APIA offers a flexible, dependable, and enriching childcare solution 
for American families. Au pairs become full-fledged family members, 
sharing a cultural exchange experience

[[Page E249]]

that often leads to a life-long relationship with their host family. 
The program now spans more than 50 countries across six continents.
  Over the past 40 years, APIA has supported over 130,000 au pairs and 
host families. The program plays a meaningful role in advancing U.S. 
public diplomacy by fostering cross-cultural understanding, global 
citizenship, and enduring personal ties between Americans and people 
around the world.
  This milestone anniversary is an opportunity to recognize the 
program's lasting contributions to cultural exchange, the families who 
have welcomed participants into their homes, and the au pairs whose 
experiences in the United States have shaped lives, careers, and 
international friendships.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating APIA on its 40th 
anniversary and in acknowledging its continued role in strengthening 
cultural exchange and mutual understanding across borders.