The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“PUBLIC DIPLOMACY RESOURCE CENTERS ACT OF 2007” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H11346-H11347 on Oct. 9, 2007.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PUBLIC DIPLOMACY RESOURCE CENTERS ACT OF 2007
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2553) to amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to provide for the establishment and maintenance of existing libraries and resource centers at United States diplomatic and consular missions to provide information about American culture, society, and history, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2553
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 at the ``Public Diplomacy Resource Centers Act of 2007''.
SEC. 2. UNITED STATES PUBLIC DIPLOMACY.
(a) Establishment and Maintenance of Libraries.--Section 1(b)(3) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956
(22 U.S.C. 2651a(b)(3)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(F) provide for the establishment of new and the maintenance of existing libraries and resource centers at or in connection with United States diplomatic and consular missions.''.
(b) Operation of Libraries.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State shall ensure that libraries and resource centers established and maintained in accordance with subparagraph (F) of section 1(b)(3) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (as added by section 2(a)(3) of this Act) are open to the general public to the greatest extent practicable, subject to policies and procedures established by the Secretary to ensure the safety and security of United States diplomatic and consular missions and of United States officers, employees, and personnel posted at such missions at which such libraries are located.
(2) Johnny grant film series.--The Secretary of State shall ensure that such libraries and resource centers schedule public showings of American films that showcase American culture, society, values, and history. Such public showings shall be known as the ``Johnny Grant Film Series''.
(c) Receipt of Donations.--The Secretary of State may accept donations that are made to the libraries and resource centers authorized under this Act if the Secretary determines that such receipt will not result in any cost to the Federal Government.
(d) Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy.--The Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy (authorized under section 1334 of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998
(22 U.S.C. 6553)) shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report containing and evaluation of the functions and effectiveness of the libraries and resource centers that are authorized under this Act.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to amounts that are otherwise authorized to be appropriated to the Department of State to carry out purposes similar to those required under this Act, there are authorized to the Secretary of State such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
General Leave
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from California?
There was no objection.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
First, I would like to thank Chairman Lantos, as well as my friend Mr. Bilirakis as, I think, acting in place of the ranking member (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for helping me to move this bill to the floor.
I am proud to be the author of H.R. 2553, the Public Diplomacy Resource Centers Act of 2007. This bill is designed to provide our diplomats abroad with additional tools to show the world the best of American society. In the 110th Congress, the Committee on Foreign Affairs is working to help redeem the status and prestige that the United States has lost around the world in recent years.
While U.S. foreign policy clearly is a key factor in how we are viewed abroad, other factors are also critical to how the United States is viewed around the world. An important point of regaining our rightful leadership role is to find more effective ways to let the world know who we are as Americans and what we stand for.
One of the most effective elements of American public policy is the array of libraries and information resource centers around the globe. The facilities run by our State Department provide people in foreign countries the ability to freely access information about the United States, about their own societies, and about science and the arts. For years, these resources have been a testament to the principle that the greatest tool we have against tyranny is the truth.
But as we face this moment of tighter budgets, I am afraid that our public diplomacy libraries and resource centers are not getting the support they need.
That is why I have introduced this bill. The bill would not seek to disrupt the efforts that the State Department has under way to organize and run its resource centers. Rather, it would seek to put these efforts on a more stable footing by creating a clear funding stream for the State Department libraries and resource centers abroad.
Furthermore, the bill would establish the Johnny Grant film series as part of the State Department's public diplomacy effort. Johnny Grant is a legendary friend of American entertainment and is known as the honorary mayor of Hollywood for his continued efforts on behalf of the American entertainment industries. He is also an ardent proponent of the power of American film to convey the universal values of freedom and opportunity to others around the world. As of this year, he will have made his 60th trip abroad to entertain our troops.
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By the way, he traveled with Bob Hope often. The Johnny Grant Film Series would provide the United States Government with the opportunity to show the world the optimism and promise of America as portrayed in our classic films.
Mr. Speaker, again, I want to thank both my chairman, Tom Lantos, as well as my cosponsor, the ranking member, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, for their extraordinary efforts to help me move this legislation forward. I would also like to specifically thank David Abramowitz and Lynne Weil of the majority staff, and Doug Anderson and Sam Stratman of the Republican staff for the kind consideration they showed to me and my staff as we sought to move this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2553, the Public Diplomacy Resource Centers Act of 2007. Every year, thousands of people living overseas visit an American Cultural Center or one of dozens of American Corners that are maintained by our State Department. Those libraries and cultural outposts are indispensable tools in our public diplomacy efforts around the world. They help foreign audiences better understand our Nation, our people, our government, and our society.
The bill before us today will strengthen this American outreach by establishing a new film series and by requiring a report to Congress analyzing the effectiveness of libraries and resource centers. Also, by providing specific statutory authority for the establishment and maintenance of these centers, this bill will create an annual appropriations line item, which will allow Congress to oversee these activities in the future.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from California, my good friend, Ambassador Watson, and the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, my good friend, Representative Ros-Lehtinen, for introducing this measure, which deserves our support.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2553, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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