People-to-People Engagement in World Affairs Resolution

Mr. President, in honor of the seventh annual International Education Week, November 13 to 17, 2006, I would like to talk about the importance that international education and exchange programs play in establishing closer relations between the United States and the world.

The U.S. Government has a proud tradition of supporting international education and exchange programs, and we must continue that tradition. Why? First of all, international education is necessary for our children to remain competitive in the increasingly global economy. Second, exchange programs also attract future leaders from abroad, exposing them to the opportunities and freedoms afforded by our democratic system. Third, international education and exchange programs expand horizons and change the

lives of the participants for the better. Finally, international education builds bridges between communities and improves understanding of cultures different from our own--something that has perhaps never been as important as it is today.

International Education Week will be observed in all 50 States and in over 100 countries. I encourage my colleagues to take a moment during International Education Week to acknowledge the work the citizens of their States are doing to ensure the successful future of the United States through the promotion of international education.

In Wisconsin, schools such as Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Northcentral Technical College in Wausau, and the University of Wisconsin system, to name a few, will hold events recognizing the importance of international education in higher education. Community organizations will be recognizing the week as well; the International Institute of Wisconsin will be hosting a Community Summit on Citizen Diplomacy to discuss the important role citizen diplomacy--including international education--plays in today's world. I am proud that these and many other Wisconsin institutions and organizations are working to recognize the important role of international education and exchanges.

I am a strong supporter of international education and exchange programming. On April 12, 2005, I introduced S. Res. 104, the ``People- to-People Engagement in World Affairs'' resolution. My resolution recognized the importance of international programs and exchanges and called on Americans to strive to become more engaged in international affairs and more aware of peoples and developments outside the United States--including studying abroad. I have also cosponsored resolutions making 2005 the Year of Foreign Language Study and 2006 as the Year of Study Abroad.

I would like to take a moment to lay out in more detail the reasons international education is so important.

First and foremost, we need to be preparing our children to compete in a global economy. Because the United States is increasingly connected to foreign economies, international education and exchanges are critical for the United States workforce to remain competitive-- especially to fulfill the increased need for foreign language proficiency. We cannot compete globally if we are unable to promote and sell our goods and services, and we will hinder ourselves if we do not provide opportunities for American students to learn foreign languages or about other cultures and societies.

In 2006, a University of Wisconsin--Platteville alum, triple majoring in criminal justice, Spanish, and biology, participated on a study- abroad program in Merida, Venezuela. During her studies in Merida, she was able to hone her Spanish language skills and take a specialized course in law. She now works in Wisconsin as a correctional officer and is called upon regularly to assist with translation services. This student--like many others who study abroad--honed her foreign language proficiency through her international education experience and is directly applying the skills she obtained overseas in her employment. She is a greater asset to her employer because she can provide translation services. International education and exchange programs are crucial components for the United States and must continue to be supported in order to maintain a healthy economy.

International education advances the global economic interests of the United States and has been shown to give students an advantage over their peers in the United States who have not been exposed to international experiences. Most students realize this fact. The Department of State has noted that 88 percent of American college students believe international education will give them a competitive advantage in the workplace.

While international education and exchange programs improve America's competitiveness globally, they also attract current and future leaders from other countries to the United States. According to the Department of State, more than 565,000 international students from over 200 countries study in the United States each year--some of whom will return home to become leaders of their countries. The more they know about the United States and the more connections they have with American citizens, the better.

Emmanuel Sanon of Haiti was a recent participant in the Northcentral Technical College's CASS, Cooperative Association of States for Scholarships, program. CASS is a USAID funded scholarship program for students from countries in the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico to study at a 2-year college in the United States with hopes of gaining technical and leadership skills in order to return home to become agents for change in their countries.

Bonnie Bissonette, director of international education at Northcentral Technical College, wrote me about Emmanuel's experience and said:

Emmanuel studied Electromechanical Technology and

Leadership at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau from

2003-2005 and returned home to Haiti with high hopes for his

future. Since returning home, he has had 5 contractual jobs

with the U.N. in Haiti and is looking to start a tech school

for the youth of his community. He has already started to

provide some computer and English language training.

Wisconsin has taken a lead role in educating the economically

disadvantaged youth of our close neighbors to the south so

that they can improve the standard of living and slow the

tide of economic emmigration. Fox Valley Technical College

and NTC are two of only 13 community colleges in the United

States that host this highly successful program.

Emmanuel's experience is only one of several success stories I could share about the useful skills exchange students gain while studying in the United States which are later used to improve the lives of others in their home countries.

Which brings me to my next point--international education and exchange programs expand horizons and change lives by exposing the participants and programmers to new ways of thinking and living. Those who study abroad are forced to live outside of their comfort zones and as a result they learn a vast amount about themselves and other cultures. They often return home as different people with greater awareness and appreciation for others.

A University of Wisconsin--Whitewater professor wrote to me recently and said:

For about ten years now, I have been the coordinator of a

student exchange between UW--Whitewater and Arnhem Business

School in the Netherlands. My students change dramatically

during their experience. They even `look' different when they

return. At first they are tentative and worried, and by the

time they leave, they are truly citizens of the world . . .

Working as a coordinator is one of the most rewarding things

I do as a professor.

This example drives home the fact that in Wisconsin, and also across the United States, students who choose to engage in international education and exchange opportunities are truly changed forever.

The deeper understanding of other cultures is a two-way street and is vital to enhancing the image of the United States abroad and our national security. Citizen-to-citizen exchanges improve perceptions of the United States: a 2006 study published by the Pew Research Center found that ``publics around the world continue to have a more positive opinion of the American people than they do of the United States. In seven of the 14 foreign countries surveyed, at least half of respondents have a favorable impression of Americans; in contrast, four countries give the U.S. positive marks.''

Through their international experiences, exchange participants are able to demonstrate American values, listen to different viewpoints, and speak about the similarities they share with populations around the world. Increasing international understanding of America will improve the image of the United States--and an improved perception of the United States will serve to also improve our national security.

International education and exchange programs also have great potential to create beneficial relationships between communities on opposite sides of the world. These relationships can lead to increased opportunities for commerce and development for everyone.

Let me give you an example. For the first time this year, the University of Wisconsin--Green Bay was awarded a Department of State grant to take college students to Jordan to study for 2 weeks. The program, called Journey to Jordan, gave students the opportunity

to spend 6 weeks in Jordan learning Arabic, living with host families, volunteering at civil service organizations, and learning firsthand about Jordanian culture. These students returned with exposure to another language and a greater understanding of another culture.

Just as important, however, is that the program itself built a bridge between Jordan and the United States. Earlier this month, the vice president of the University of Jordan, along with members of the North American Jordanian Association, NAJA, and the American MidEast Leadership Network, traveled to the University of Wisconsin--Green Bay, at their own expense, to discuss future partnership opportunities.

These individuals chose to travel to the United States because they want to maintain a relationship with the University of Wisconsin--Green Bay. This is a wonderful connection between universities and countries that I hope will continue to grow.

I commend those who work every day to promote international education and exchange programs, but we need to work even harder to engage more Americans in international education and exchange programs. To start, we should be following the lead of those who have begun this process. The University of Wisconsin--Oshkosh has a global education certificate program that educates teachers on how to introduce global perspectives in the classroom. Wisconsin's own State superintendent, Elizabeth Burmaster, has worked to encourage K-12 schools to introduce students to global perspectives in the classroom at an earlier age.

But we can do more. I was a strong supporter of the creation of the Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program, an independent commission created in 2004 for the purpose of recommending a program to greatly expand the opportunity for students at institutions of higher education in the United States to study abroad, with special emphasis on studying in developing countries. One of my colleagues--Senator Durbin--has taken the first step in working to implement the commission's published recommendations by introducing the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Act, S. 3744.

The purpose of S. 3744 is to encourage at least 1 million undergraduate students in the United States to participate in study abroad programs academic credit within 10 years, including students in technical and scientific fields of study. The program also seeks to ensure that an increasing portion of study abroad takes place in nontraditional destinations, with substantial increases in developing countries.

The bill would specifically authorize the Secretary of State to establish an Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Program to facilitate undergraduate study abroad for academic credit through the creation of undergraduate fellowships and grants to institutions of higher education to reform academic programs and institutional policies that inhibit participation by students in study abroad.

Senator Durbin's bill--along with other international education and exchange legislative initiatives is an important step to one day having all American students engaged in some type of international education or exchange program, and we need to continue to take the necessary steps to provide our children every opportunity to learn about new cultures and to speak a second, or even third, language.

As we recognize and celebrate International Education Week, I call on all Americans to take a few minutes to learn something new this week about another culture, and I encourage all Americans to recognize and support international education and exchange throughout the year.

Mr. President, I am pleased to submit the People-to- People Engagement in World Affairs resolution with my colleague from Nebraska, Senator HAGEL.

In July 2004, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States released its final report, which determined that ``just as we did in the Cold War, we need to defend our ideals abroad vigorously. . . . If the United States does not act aggressively to define itself in the Islamic world,

the extremists will gladly do the job for us.'' The 9/11 Commission report clearly states that in the interests of national security, the U.S. must commit to a long-term, global strategy, which includes, among other things, effective public diplomacy.

Public diplomacy is an essential component of our efforts to define and defend America's interests and ideals abroad. But a successful, long-term approach to building solid relationships with the rest of the world is not just the mission of the State Department. It also requires the engagement of the American people.

This People-to-People Engagement in World Affairs resolution is a call to Americans to reach beyond our borders to engage with the world at an individual level. It encourages Americans to seize opportunities to engage in the global arena--through participating in a professional or cultural exchange; studying or volunteering abroad; working with an immigrant or refugee group in the United States; hosting a foreign student or professional; participating in a sister-city program; or learning a foreign language. This resolution also urges the State Department to coordinate between government agencies and non- governmental organizations to create a database where Americans can learn of opportunities to become involved in world affairs. Furthermore, it encourages all Members of Congress to work to raise the importance of citizen diplomacy in their states and districts.

Americans must make a serious investment in reaching across borders and reversing the tide of increasing anti-American sentiments abroad. According to a 2003 Pew Research Center survey, during 1999-2000, more than 50 percent of the people in surveyed countries held a favorable view of the U.S., and in at least one country, favorable views of the U.S. were held by over 80 percent of those surveyed. More recent surveys reveal a stark contrast with those figures and growing anti- American sentiment. Pew found that, by 2003, favorable views of the United States in these countries plummeted. Additionally, whereas negative public opinion of the U.S. among Muslims was once limited to the Middle East, now it has spread to populations in places like Nigeria and Indonesia. Pew found that ``the bottom has fallen out of Arab and Muslim support for the United States.''

While these sentiments are most notable in the Muslim world, they extend even farther, coloring the views of many others.

Growing anti-American sentiment abroad is dangerous and breeds misperceptions in future generations. Our ability to work with allies to foster democratic societies and tackle global problems relates directly to our image abroad. Building an international coalition with our allies requires their trust that our efforts are genuine. Success in combating terrorism, the greatest global threat, is contingent upon a unified, global participation. Members of the international community must collaborate to eliminate loopholes that terrorist networks manipulate when intelligence and communication break down between borders.

Anti-Americanism can feed a steady supply of recruits and supporters for terrorist networks, intent on our destruction. Terrorist networks capitalize on misperceptions about the U.S. to advance their own agenda and scapegoat the U.S. as the reason for the poverty, weak and corrupt states, and powerlessness that many experience on a daily basis.

International cooperation is also essential for effective progress in other important, trans-border issues, such as the proliferation of WMD, human trafficking, poverty, environmental degradation, and diseases from HIV/AIDS to polio. We cannot solve these problems alone--we need allies to help find and achieve meaningful solutions.

Combating anti-American sentiments requires that we engage in a conversation with people in all levels of society beyond our borders. And as Secretary Rice has noted, our dialogue cannot be a monologue. Talking at people about what the U.S. image abroad should be is not sustainable or effective. Talking with people, and listening to them, however, can be the start of real understanding and even trust. That conversation needs to happen at a governmental level, through public and private diplomacy, but it also needs to happen at an individual person-to-person level, through citizen diplomacy.

I have met with a number of groups from my State of Wisconsin that tell me they are concerned about misperceptions of America abroad, which they believe discourage people from coming to the U.S. to visit, study, learn about our wonderful country, and share their knowledge. I am so proud of the work people back in Wisconsin have done to overcome barriers to engaging outside our borders, whether by continuing Wisconsin's strong history of support for the Peace Corps, or by taking part in farmer to farmer initiatives and education exchange programs, building sister communities, or tirelessly working to ensure that Wisconsin maintains its success in attracting foreign visitors to our remarkable state. In 2004, Wisconsin was awarded the Goldman Sachs Foundation Prizes for Excellence in International Education in honor of its work to bring international education and skills into its curriculum. In fact, earlier this year, Wisconsin welcomed a group of teachers from Azerbaijan to study the workings of our education system to create a model for a new curriculum in their country.

Wisconsin also works to improve communities abroad. A non-profit organization based in Wisconsin helps abused children in Latvia and is working to create the first family shelter there for these children and their mothers. Another Wisconsinite who is an expert in dairy prices participated in a farmer to farmer program to assist in building a pricing system in Armenia's dairy industry. He was able to share his experiences from this program with myself and people back in the state.

Citizen diplomacy not only helps the rest of the world to understand us, it strengthens this country internally as well. Americans with insight into and understanding of the world beyond our borders become energized constituents who demand wise foreign policy and help all of us to understand global events.

President Kennedy acknowledged the importance of public diplomacy in 1960 and challenged Americans to serve their country through building stronger communities abroad. His vision is even more relevant today. It is our responsibility to connect with people outside our borders. This duty can be fulfilled by teachers, students, retirees, and anyone who can share the best of the American people. We are a generous nation. Many of our fellow Americans have dedicated their lives to bringing about change for a better world. It is in our hands to carry this mission forward.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 104 and that the Senate proceed to its consideration.

I understand there is a Feingold amendment at the desk. I ask the amendment be considered and agreed to, the resolution as amended be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid on the table en bloc, and that any statements be printed in the Record without intervening action or debate.