[Pages S9213-S9214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

UNITED STATES-POLAND PARLIAMENTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM ACT OF 2006

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 455, S. 2200.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The clerk will report the bill by title.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

A bill (S. 2200) to establish a United States-Poland
Parliamentary Youth Exchange Program, and for other purposes.

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
bill which had been reported from the Committee on Foreign Relations,
with amendments, as follows:

(The parts of the bill intended to be stricken are shown in boldface
brackets and the parts of the bill intended to be inserted are shown in
italic.)

S. 2200

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 as the ``United States-Poland
Parliamentary Youth Exchange Program Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The United States established diplomatic relations
with the newly-formed Polish Republic in April 1919.
(2) The United States and Poland have enjoyed close
bilateral relations since 1989.
(3) Poland became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) in March 1999.
(4) Poland became a member of the European Union (EU) in
May 2004.
(5) Poland has been a strong supporter, both
diplomatically and militarily, of efforts led by the United
States to combat global terrorism and has contributed troops
to the United States-led coalitions in both Afghanistan and
Iraq.
(6) Poland cooperates closely with the United States on
such issues as democratization, nuclear proliferation, human
rights, regional cooperation in Eastern Europe, and reform of
the United Nations.
(7) The United States and Poland seek to ensure enduring
ties between both governments and societies.
(8) It is important to invest in the youth of the United
States and Poland in order to help ensure long-lasting ties
between both societies.
(9) It is in the interest of the United States to
preserve a United States presence in Europe and to continue
to contribute to the development of transatlantic
relationships.
(10) Poland for many years received international and
United States financial assistance and is now determined to
invest its own resources toward attaining its shared desire
with the United States to develop international cooperation.

SEC. 3. UNITED STATES-POLAND PARLIAMENTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE
PROGRAM.

(a) Authority.--The [President, acting through the
Secretary of State and] Secretary of State, in cooperation
with the Government of Poland, may establish and carry out a
parliamentary exchange program for youth of the United States
and Poland.
(b) Designation.--The youth exchange program carried out
under this subsection shall be known as the ``United States-
Poland Parliamentary Youth Exchange Program''.
(c) Purpose.--The purpose of the youth exchange program
is to demonstrate to the youth of the United States and
Poland the benefits of friendly cooperation between the
United States and Poland based on common political and
cultural values.
(d) Eligible Participants.--An individual is eligible for
participation in the youth exchange program if the
individual--
(1) is a citizen or national of the United States or of
Poland;
(2) is under the age of 19 years;
(3) is a student who is enrolled and in good standing at
a secondary school in the United States or Poland;
(4) has been accepted for up to one academic year of
study in a program of study abroad approved for credit at
such school; and
(5) meets any other qualifications that the [President]
Secretary of State may establish for purposes of the program.
(e) Program Elements.--Under the youth exchange program,
eligible participants selected for participation in the
program shall--
(1) live in and attend a public secondary school in the
host country for a period of one academic year;
(2) while attending public school in the host country,
undertake academic studies in the host country, with
particular emphasis on the history, constitution, and
political development of the host country;
(3) be eligible, either during or after the completion of
such academic studies, for an internship in an appropriate
position in the host country; and
(4) engage in such other activities as the President
considers appropriate to achieve the purpose of the program.
[(f) Relationship to Other Authorities.--The President
may utilize the authorities and procedures set out in title
VIII of the United States Information and Educational
Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.) to establish
and carry out the youth exchange program.]

SEC. 4. ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.

The Secretary of State shall submit to [Congress] the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on International Relations of the House of
Representatives an annual report on the United States-Poland
Parliamentary Youth Exchange Program established under this
Act. Each annual report shall include--
(1) information on the implementation of the Program
during the preceding year:
(2) the number of participants in the Program during such
year;
(3) the names and locations of the secondary schools in
the United States and Poland attended by such participants;
(4) a description of the areas of study of such
participants during their participation in the Program;
(5) a description of any internships taken by such
participants during their participation in the Program; and
(6) a description of any other activities such
participants carried out during their participation in the
Program.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated
for the Department of State for fiscal year 2007 such sums as
may be necessary to carry out the youth exchange program
authorized by this Act.
(b) Availability.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated
by subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-
reported amendments be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read the
third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table,
and any statements related to the bill be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee amendments were agreed to.
The bill (S. 2200), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading, was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

S. 2200

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 as the ``United States-Poland
Parliamentary Youth Exchange Program Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

[[Page S9214]]

(1) The United States established diplomatic relations with
the newly-formed Polish Republic in April 1919.
(2) The United States and Poland have enjoyed close
bilateral relations since 1989.
(3) Poland became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) in March 1999.
(4) Poland became a member of the European Union (EU) in
May 2004.
(5) Poland has been a strong supporter, both diplomatically
and militarily, of efforts led by the United States to combat
global terrorism and has contributed troops to the United
States-led coalitions in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
(6) Poland cooperates closely with the United States on
such issues as democratization, nuclear proliferation, human
rights, regional cooperation in Eastern Europe, and reform of
the United Nations.
(7) The United States and Poland seek to ensure enduring
ties between both governments and societies.
(8) It is important to invest in the youth of the United
States and Poland in order to help ensure long-lasting ties
between both societies.
(9) It is in the interest of the United States to preserve
a United States presence in Europe and to continue to
contribute to the development of transatlantic relationships.
(10) Poland for many years received international and
United States financial assistance and is now determined to
invest its own resources toward attaining its shared desire
with the United States to develop international cooperation.

SEC. 3. UNITED STATES-POLAND PARLIAMENTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE
PROGRAM.

(a) Authority.--The Secretary of State, in cooperation with
the Government of Poland, may establish and carry out a
parliamentary exchange program for youth of the United States
and Poland.
(b) Designation.--The youth exchange program carried out
under this subsection shall be known as the ``United States-
Poland Parliamentary Youth Exchange Program''.
(c) Purpose.--The purpose of the youth exchange program is
to demonstrate to the youth of the United States and Poland
the benefits of friendly cooperation between the United
States and Poland based on common political and cultural
values.
(d) Eligible Participants.--An individual is eligible for
participation in the youth exchange program if the
individual--
(1) is a citizen or national of the United States or of
Poland;
(2) is under the age of 19 years;
(3) is a student who is enrolled and in good standing at a
secondary school in the United States or Poland;
(4) has been accepted for up to one academic year of study
in a program of study abroad approved for credit at such
school; and
(5) meets any other qualifications that the Secretary of
State may establish for purposes of the program.
(e) Program Elements.--Under the youth exchange program,
eligible participants selected for participation in the
program shall--
(1) live in and attend a public secondary school in the
host country for a period of one academic year;
(2) while attending public school in the host country,
undertake academic studies in the host country, with
particular emphasis on the history, constitution, and
political development of the host country;
(3) be eligible, either during or after the completion of
such academic studies, for an internship in an appropriate
position in the host country; and
(4) engage in such other activities as the President
considers appropriate to achieve the purpose of the program.

SEC. 4. ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.

The Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on
International Relations of the House of Representatives an
annual report on the United States-Poland Parliamentary Youth
Exchange Program established under this Act. Each annual
report shall include--
(1) information on the implementation of the Program during
the preceding year:
(2) the number of participants in the Program during such
year;
(3) the names and locations of the secondary schools in the
United States and Poland attended by such participants;
(4) a description of the areas of study of such
participants during their participation in the Program;
(5) a description of any internships taken by such
participants during their participation in the Program; and
(6) a description of any other activities such participants
carried out during their participation in the Program.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated for
the Department of State for fiscal year 2007 such sums as may
be necessary to carry out the youth exchange program
authorized by this Act.
(b) Availability.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated by
subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.

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