69–010 

Calendar No. 968 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 110–463 

SHIRLEY A. CHISHOLM UNITED STATES-CARIBBEAN 

EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE ACT OF 2007 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2008.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. BIDEN, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 176] 

The Committee on Foreign Relations, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 176), to authorize the establishment of educational exchange and development programs for member countries 

of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), reports favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

I. Purpose ........................................................................................................... 1 

II. Committee Action .......................................................................................... 1 

III. Discussion ....................................................................................................... 1 

IV. Cost Estimate ................................................................................................. 3 

V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact .................................................................. 5 

VI. Changes in Existing Law .............................................................................. 5 

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this legislation is to establish an educational exchange program between the United States and nations of the Caribbean Community, known as CARICOM. 

II. COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 176 was introduced on January 4, 2007. The House of Representatives approved the bill on January 31, 2007 by a vote of 

371–55. On June 24, 2008, the Committee on Foreign Relations ordered the bill favorably reported by voice vote, after approving several amendments to the bill. 

III. DISCUSSION

The United States expends approximately $500 million on international exchanges through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Exchanges at the Department of State. This is only one portion of international exchanges administered by the federal governVerDate Aug 31 2005 08:43 Sep 17, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 H:\DOCS\HR176.TXT sfrela2 PsN: MIKEB
2 

1 Note: Data for the pie charts courtesy of Interagency Working Group on U.S. Governmentsponsored International Exchanges and Training (IAWG) 

ment. Over 60 federal agencies spent nearly $2 billion to operate 

or support nearly 250 international exchange programs, according 

to the most recent report of Interagency Working Group on U.S. 

Government-sponsored International Exchanges and Training 

(IAWG) (FY 2007 report, analyzing FY 2006 data). 

The IAWG reported that in FY 2006, the United States sent over 

40,000 individuals abroad and welcomed over 880,000 individuals 

from other nations. This involved 243 reported programs in 14 departments and 49 independent agencies. The approximately 

920,000 participating individuals in FY 2006 were disproportionally 

distributed, drastically favoring the Near East (including North Africa) and Eurasia. 

Figure 1. Distribution of U.S. participants. 

Figure 2. Distribution of foreign participants. 

Figure 1, above, shows the distribution of U.S. participants and 

Figure 2, also above, shows the distribution of foreign participants.1 These data demonstrate that the number of participants to 

and from the CARICOM countries is relatively miniscule. The 


figx1.eps figx2.eps
3 

smaller populations of these countries compared to other regions of 

the world is obviously a factor. But measuring the participation 

level against total regional population indicates that the CARICOM 

region is still below average. A region-by-region measure indicates 

that, on average 240 persons per million participate in such programs. CARICOM is well below the average, with 201 participants 

per million. 

It is understandable, of course, that the U.S. government has 

placed considerable emphasis on exchange programs in the Middle 

East and South Asia. The Committee supports that trend. But we 

should not neglect our close allies and neighbors in the development of foreign policy programs, particularly when it comes to educational exchanges. Such exchanges can help train the next generation of leaders, which is particularly important to development, and 

economic and political stability in a region sometimes referred to 

as our ‘‘third border.’’ Many of these nations have longstanding ties 

to the United States, with close political and economic relationships. This legislation provides an additional framework to expand 

educational exchanges with these nations. Importantly, it requires 

participants in the program to agree to return and live in a 

CARICOM country and maintain residence there, or to agree to obtain employment that directly benefits the growth, progress, and 

development of one or more of the CARICOM countries. 

IV. COST ESTIMATE

In accordance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(a) of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the committee provides this estimate of the 

costs of this legislation prepared by the Congressional Budget Office. 

UNITED STATES CONGRESS, CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, Washington, DC, July 2, 2008. 

Hon. JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR., 

Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations, 

U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 176, the Shirley A. Chisholm United States-Caribbean Educational Exchange Act of 2007. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Sunita D’Monte. 

Sincerely, 

PETER R. ORSZAG. 

4 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

July 2, 2008. 

H.R. 176 

The Shirley A. Chisholm United States-Caribbean 

Educational Exchange Act of 2007 

AS ORDERED REPORTED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN

RELATIONS ON JUNE 24, 2008

H.R. 176 would authorize a comprehensive program to improve 

primary and secondary education in nations in the Caribbean region and an educational exchange program with those same countries, and would authorize the appropriation of such sums as may 

be necessary over the 2008–2012 period for both programs. 

For this estimate, CBO assumes that H.R. 176 will be enacted 

near the start of fiscal year 2009 and that the estimated amounts 

will be appropriated each year beginning in fiscal year 2009. (H.R. 

176 also would authorize the appropriation of such sums as may 

be necessary in 2008; however, those amounts are not included in 

this cost estimate because CBO assumes that no further appropriations will be provided in 2008 for such programs.) 

The act would authorize the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for 

International Development (USAID) to expand existing initiatives 

for teacher training and community involvement in school activities. Based on information from USAID, CBO estimates that implementing this provision would require funding of $15 million a year, 

and would cost $2 million in 2009 and $47 million over the 2009– 

2013 period, assuming appropriation of the estimated amounts (see 

following table). 

Changes in Spending Subject to Appropriation 

By Fiscal Year, in Millions of Dollars 

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2008– 

2013 

Estimated Authorization Level ............................ 15 15 15 15 0 60 

Estimated Outlays ............................................... 2 8 11 13 13 47 

H.R. 176 also would authorize the Secretary of State to establish 

an exchange program for secondary and post-secondary students 

from the region to study in the United States. According to the Department of State, H.R. 176 would duplicate existing efforts to facilitate exchange programs with Caribbean countries; thus, CBO 

estimates that implementing that provision would have no significant effect on spending subject to appropriation. Enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues. 

H.R. 176 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

On July 20, 2007, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for H.R. 176 

as ordered reported by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on 

June 26, 2007. The two versions of the legislation are similar, but 

CBO estimates that H.R. 176 as ordered reported by the Senate 

5 

Committee on Foreign Relations would have lower costs as a result 

of a later assumed enactment date. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Sunita D’Monte. This 

estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

V. 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. 

VI. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of Rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the committee notes that no changes to existing law are made by this bill. 

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