Recognizing that international education and exchange programs further national security and foreign policy priorities, enhance economic competitiveness, and promote mutual understanding and cooperation among nations.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. RES. 845 Recognizing that international education and exchange programs further na- tional security and foreign policy priorities, enhance economic competi- tiveness, and promote mutual understanding and cooperation among na- tions. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 11, 2020 Mr. BISHOP of Utah (for himself, Mr. HIMES, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. PETERS, Mr. KEATING, Mr. MEEKS, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. PAPPAS, Mr. WELCH, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois, and Mr. GRIJALVA) submitted the following resolution; which was re- ferred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Recognizing that international education and exchange pro- grams further national security and foreign policy prior- ities, enhance economic competitiveness, and promote mutual understanding and cooperation among nations. Whereas hundreds of thousands of secondary and higher edu- cation students study overseas each year, coming from congressional districts across all 50 States and United States territories; Whereas according to the Department of State, more than one million international students and other international education and exchange participants annually help create VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:04 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR845.IH HR845 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 845 IH mutual understanding by living, studying, and working in local communities throughout the United States; Whereas international education and exchange programs serve an effective and proven diplomatic function with countries key to foreign policy and national security pri- orities, encouraging goodwill toward the United States; Whereas promoting the United States as a destination for international students and professionals, while also en- couraging students and professionals to gain inter- national experience abroad, are wise investments in our country’s economic competitiveness; Whereas it is imperative that students understand how to interact with their colleagues from around the world and operate in multicultural environments; Whereas it is important to diversify the pool of citizens par- ticipating in international study and exchange experi- ences; Whereas students and other young people are the world’s fu- ture leaders and innovators; Whereas there are multitudes of privately organized and funded exchange programs, while many others are funded by the Government; Whereas international education and exchange programs exist at multiple levels—high school, college, graduate, educa- tor, citizen, cultural, and sport programs; Whereas international students consistently have a positive impact on the economy and job creation in every State and congressional district, according to economic analysis by NAFSA: Association of International Educators using international student enrollment data by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the Depart- VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:04 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR845.IH HR845 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 845 IH ment of State and tuition data from the Department of Education; Whereas this analysis shows that international students studying at United States colleges and universities con- tributed nearly $41 billion to the economy and supported 458,290 jobs during the 2018–2019 academic year; Whereas their exchange experiences enable international visi- tors to become informal ambassadors both for their home countries while they are in the United States and for the United States when they return home, sharing an appre- ciation for common values, counteracting stereotypes, and enhancing respect for cultural differences; Whereas research indicates that the United States needs to encourage more students to graduate with expertise in foreign languages, cultures, and politics to fill the de- mands of business, government, and universities; Whereas international education and exchange programs are a singularly effective way for American students to de- velop foreign language capability and cultural awareness, skills that employers seek in order to remain globally competitive; and Whereas international education and exchange programs shape the views and opinions of participants, many of whom are, or will become, leaders in their communities, both in the United States and abroad: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) recognizes that international education and 2 exchange programs enhance national security, sig- 3 nificantly further United States foreign policy goals 4 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:04 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR845.IH HR845 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 845 IH and economic competitiveness, and promote mutual 1 understanding and cooperation among nations; 2 (2) encourages international education and ex- 3 change programs to ensure that the United States 4 maintains a broad international knowledge base; 5 (3) supports international education and ex- 6 change programs as a means to strengthen foreign 7 language skills and foster a better understanding of 8 the world by United States citizens, especially youth; 9 (4) commends the American and international 10 education and exchange participants, volunteers, 11 educators, program alumni, host families, high 12 schools, institutions of higher education, and host 13 communities for their involvement in such programs; 14 and 15 (5) celebrates the integral role international 16 education and exchange programs play for the 17 United States and its people. 18 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:04 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR845.IH HR845 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS