[Senate Report 110-33]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 73
110th Congress Report
SENATE
1st Session 110-33
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UNITED STATES-POLAND PARLIAMENTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM OF 2007
_______
March 9, 2007.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Biden, from the Committee on Foreign Relations,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 377]
The Committee on Foreign Relations, having under
consideration an original bill to establisha United State-
Poland parliamentary youth exchange program, and for other
purposes, reports favorably thereon and recommends that the
bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
I. Purpose..........................................................1
II. Committee Action.................................................2
III. Cost Estimate....................................................3
IV. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact..................................4
V. Changes in Existing Law..........................................4
I. Purpose
The purpose of the United States-Poland Parliamentary Youth
Exchange Program is to demonstrate to the youth of the United
States and Poland the benefits of friendly cooperation between
the U.S. and Poland based on common political and cultural
values. Student exchange programs do more than benefit
individual scholars and advance human knowledge. Such programs
expand ties between nations, improve international commerce,
encourage cooperative solutions to global problems, prevent
war, and give participants a chance to develop a sense of
global service and responsibility.
Funding a great foreign exchange program is a sign of both
national pride and national humility. Implicit in such a
program is the view that people from other nations view one's
country and educational system as a beacon of knowledge--as a
place where international scholars would want to study and
live. But it is also an admission that a nation does not have
all the answers--that our national understanding of the world
is incomplete. It is an admission that we are just a part of a
much larger world that has intellectual, scientific, and moral
wisdom that we need to learn.
The United States and Poland have enjoyed close bilateral
relations since the end of the Cold War. Most recently, Poland
has been a strong supporter of efforts led by the United States
to combat global terrorism, and has contributed troops to and
led coalitions in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Poland also
cooperates closely with the United States on such issues as
democratization, human rights, regional cooperation in Eastern
Europe, and reform of the United Nations. As a member of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European
Union (EU), Poland has demonstrated its commitment to
democratic values and is a role model in its region.
After receiving for many years international and U. S.
financial assistance, Poland is now determined to invest its
own resources toward funding a U.S.-Poland exchange program. To
this end the Polish Foreign Minister unambiguously stated that
Poland welcomed the opportunity to be an equal partner in
funding important efforts.
II. Committee Action
On January 24, 2007, Senator Lugar introduced S. 377,
United States-Poland Parliamentary Youth Exchange Program Act
of 2007. At a business meeting on March 7, 2007, by a voice
vote, the committee ordered the bill reported favorably.
III. Cost Estimate
Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(a) of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, the following cost estimate has been
provided by the Congressional Budget Office.
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE
March 9, 2007
S. 377
United States-Poland Parliamentary Youth Exchange Program Act of 2007
AS ORDERED REPORTED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS ON
MARCH 6, 2007
S. 377 would authorize the Secretary of State to establish
a youth exchange program with Poland and would authorize the
appropriation in 2008 of such sums as may be necessary for that
purpose. Based on information from the State Department about a
similar program--the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange--CBO
estimates the proposed program would require an appropriation
of $5 million for 2008. (Outlays from that appropriation would
occur over a few years.) CBO expects that continuing the
program beyond 2008 would incur additional costs of about $5
million a year, assuming appropriation of the estimated
amounts. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or
receipts.
S. 377 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal
governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Sunita D'Monte.
This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
IV. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact
Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(b) of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, the committee has determined that there is
no regulatory impact as a result of this legislation.
V. Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of Rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee has determined that
there are no changes in existing law made by the bill, as
reported.