[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 7510-7511]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   SENATE RESOLUTION 87--TO COMMEMORATE THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
                     INTERNATIONAL VISITORS PROGRAM

  By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Bond, and Mr. Moynihan) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                               S. Res. 87

       Whereas the year 2000 marks the 60th Anniversary of the 
     International Visitors Program.
       Whereas the International Visitors Program is the public 
     diplomacy initiative of the United States Department of State 
     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.
       Whereas the purposes of the International Visitors Program 
     include--
       (1) increasing mutual understanding and strengthening 
     bilateral relations between the United States and other 
     nations;
       (2) developing the web of human connections essential for 
     successful economic and commercial relations, security 
     arrangements, and diplomatic agreements with other nations; 
     and
       (3) building cooperation among nations to solve global 
     problems and to achieve a more peaceful world;
       Whereas during 6 decades more than 122,000 emerging leaders 
     and specialists from around the world have experienced 
     American democratic institutions, cultural diversity, and 
     core values firsthand as participants in the International 
     Visitors Program;
       Whereas thousands of participants in the International 
     Visitors Program rise to influential leadership positions in 
     their countries each year;
       Whereas among the International Visitors Program alumni are 
     185 current and former Chiefs-of-State or Heads of 
     Government, and more than 600 alumni have served as cabinet 
     level ministers;
       Whereas prominent alumni of the International Visitors 
     Program include Margaret Thatcher, Anwar Sadat, F.W. de 
     Klerk, Indira Gandhi, and Tony Blair;
       Whereas a new configuration of domestic forces has emerged 
     which is shaping global policy and empowering private 
     citizens to an unprecedented degree;
       Whereas each year more than 80,000 volunteers affiliated 
     with 97 community-based member organizations and 7 program 
     agency members of the National Council for International 
     Visitors across the United States are actively serving as 
     ``citizen diplomats'' organizing programs and welcoming 
     International Visitors Program participants into their homes, 
     schools, and workplaces;
       Whereas all of the funds appropriated for the International 
     Visitors Program are spent in the United States, and such 
     spending leverages private contributions at a ratio of 1 to 
     12;
       Whereas the International Visitors Program corrects 
     distorted images of the United States, effectively countering 
     misperceptions, underscoring common human aspirations, 
     advancing United States democratic values, and building a 
     foundation for national and economic security;
       Whereas the International Visitors Program provides 
     valuable educational opportunities for United States citizens 
     through special ``Back to School With International Visitor'' 
     programs and events that increase the knowledge of Americans 
     about foreign societies and cultures, and bring attention to 
     international issues crucial to interests of the United 
     States;
       Whereas the International Visitors Program offers emerging 
     foreign leaders a unique view of America, highlighting its 
     vibrant private sector, including both businesses and non-
     profit organizations, through farm stays, home hospitality, 
     and meetings with their professional counterparts; and
       Whereas the International Visitors Program introduces 
     foreign leaders, specialists, and scholars to the American 
     tradition of volunteerism through exposure to the daily work 
     of thousands of ``citizen diplomats'' who share the best of 
     America with those foreign leaders, specialists, and 
     scholars: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commemorates the 60th Anniversary of the International 
     Visitors Program and the remarkable public-private sector 
     partnership that sustains it; and
       (2) commends the achievements of the thousands of 
     volunteers who are part of the National Council for 
     International Visitors ``citizen diplomats'' who for 6 
     decades have daily worked to share the best of America with 
     foreign leaders, specialists, and scholars.

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, Senator Bond and I are joining 
together in submitting a resolution commemorating the 60th anniversary 
of the International Visitors Program next year. The International 
Visitors Program is the State Department's 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.
  The International Visitor Program has been wonderfully successful in 
meeting its public diplomacy mission. Thousands of rising leaders from 
other countries in government, business, labor, academia, and the arts 
have come to this country and met with their counterparts and with 
everyday Americans from all walks of life. They have learned about our 
democratic values and institutions, our entrepreneurial skills, and our 
culture.
  Future foreign leaders have learned much about this country that has 
helped them shape their own, or that simply helped them understand this 
country's point of view. I wonder how many people in this country know 
the story of F.W. de Klerk's visit to the United States under the 
International Visitor Program, and how influential

[[Page 7511]]

that visit was in his realization that apartheid in South Africa had to 
end. Perhaps more well known, at least in my part of the country, were 
the visits of Polish Solidarity Labor leaders who played a pivotal role 
in transforming Poland to the democratic country it is today. I am sure 
there are many more stories--most not so dramatic--but with tangible 
results all over the world. We will never know how many problems have 
been prevented because rising leaders had a better understanding of 
democracy, of our policies, and our culture.
  Many up-and-coming political leaders come to visit Members of 
Congress and Senators while they're here. These meetings take a few 
minutes of my time, and I learn as much from my visitor as I hope he or 
she does from me. Volunteers always tell me that they, too, have 
learned much from their visitors, and we should not underestimate the 
value of this program as a two-way street that helps educate the 
volunteers, their children, and other people in their communities.
  But I want to commend and thank those thousands of Americans who have 
opened their homes, their businesses, and their hearts to international 
visitors with such a tremendous impact on furthering international 
understanding. I deeply appreciate it that international visitors do 
not just come to Washington, but that the program takes them into our 
country's heartland so they can get a real education about our country, 
outside the Beltway, as they say. That means that volunteers from all 
over the country are critical for the success of the program.
  I know in my own State of Illinois, there are six such volunteer 
groups in Chicago, Freeport, Geneseo, Paris, Sterling, and Springfield. 
I have heard first-hand the deep commitment many Illinoisans have to 
this program, because I know many enthusiastic volunteers. Because of 
the commitment of Illinois volunteers, our State is among the most 
active in the Nation in hosting international visitors, along with the 
much larger States of California and Texas.
  But when we commemorate this anniversary I want to be sure that we're 
celebrating the contribution and commitment of the thousands of 
volunteers that make the program meaningful and successful.

                          ____________________