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“SENATE RESOLUTION 87--TO COMMEMORATE THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS PROGRAM” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S4286-S4287 on April 27, 1999.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
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 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.
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