H. Res. 1402 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

December 8, 2010. 

Whereas 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the National 

Council for International Visitors (NCIV), originally 

founded as the National Council for Community Services 

to International Visitors (COSERV) in 1961; 

Whereas the mission of NCIV is to promote excellence in citizen diplomacy, the concept that the individual citizen has 

the right and responsibility to help develop constructive 

United States foreign relations ‘‘one handshake at a 

time’’; 

Whereas citizen diplomacy has the power to shape perceptions in the United States of foreign cultures and international perceptions of the United States, effectively 

shattering stereotypes, illuminating differences, underscoring common human aspirations, and developing the 

web of human connections needed to achieve more peaceful relations between countries; 

Whereas NCIV is the private sector partner of the United 

States Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), a public diplomacy initiative that 

brings distinguished foreign leaders to the United States 

for short-term professional programs under the authority 

of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 
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1961 (22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.; also referred to as the 

‘‘Fulbright-Hays Act’’); 

Whereas the NCIV network comprises individuals, program 

agencies, and 92 community organizations throughout 

the United States, including approximately 80,000 volunteers who are involved in NCIV member activities each 

year as host families, professional resources, volunteer 

programmers, board members, and other supporters; 

Whereas the network of citizen diplomats in NCIV has organized professional programs, cultural activities, and home 

visits for more than 190,000 foreign leaders participating 

in the IVLP, 285 of whom went on to become chiefs of 

state or heads of government in their countries; 

Whereas the NCIV network has hosted and strengthened the 

relationships of the United States with notable foreign 

leaders who are alumni of the IVLP; 

Whereas United States ambassadors have in repeated surveys 

ranked the NCIV network-facilitated IVLP first among 

63 United States public diplomacy programs; 

Whereas in 2001, the NCIV network of citizen diplomats was 

nominated to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for its work 

to promote fraternity between nations; 

Whereas all Federal funding for the citizen diplomacy of the 

NCIV network is spent in the United States, where it has 

leveraged $6 in local economic impact for every Federal 

dollar expended; 

Whereas NCIV member organizations provide invaluable opportunities for United States students to develop global 

perspectives and vividly experience the diversity of the 

world by bringing foreign leaders into local schools, loan-
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ing teachers cultural artifacts, and developing internationally focused curricula; 

Whereas participation of United States communities, businesses, and universities in the international exchange programs implemented by the NCIV network strengthens 

the ability of the United States to produce a globally literate and competitive workforce; 

Whereas NCIV provides leadership at the national level having convened leaders of sister organizations for two national Summits on Citizen Diplomacy and providing 

funding to its member organizations for Summits on Citizen Diplomacy in communities throughout the United 

States, giving those organizations the opportunity to foster internationally focused dialogue and to cultivate lasting partnerships with like-minded organizations in their 

own communities; 

Whereas NCIV member organizations serve as international 

gateways, sharing their communities with the world and 

the world with their communities, welcoming strangers 

and sending home friends; and 

Whereas, February 16, 2011, would be an appropriate date 

to designate as ‘‘Citizen Diplomacy Day’’: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) recognizes the 50th anniversary of the National 

Council for International Visitors and its extraordinary 

efforts to promote excellence in citizen diplomacy; 

(2) commends the achievements of the thousands of 

citizen diplomats who have worked for generations to 
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share the best of the United States with foreign leaders, 

specialists, and scholars; 

(3) thanks the National Council for International 

Visitors citizen diplomats for their service to their communities, the United States, and the world; and 

(4) supports the designation of ‘‘Citizen Diplomacy 

Day’’. 

Attest: 

Clerk.