IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 470 
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 
JULY 24, 2017 
Mr. HIMES (for himself, Mr. PEARCE, Mr. BISHOP of Utah, Mr. EVANS, Mr. 
GRIJALVA, Ms. JENKINS of Kansas, Mr. KEATING, Mr. SMITH of Wash-
ington, Mr. WELCH, and Mr. DONOVAN) submitted the following resolu-
tion; which was referred 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 fifty States; 
Whereas according to the Department of State, more than 
one million international students and other international 
education and exchange participants annually help create 
mutual understanding by living, studying, and working in 
local communities throughout the United States; 
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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-
ment of State and tuition data from the Department of 
Education. This analysis shows that international stu-
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dents studying at United States colleges and universities 
contributed $32.8 billion to the economy and supported 
more than 400,000 jobs during the 2015–16 academic 
year. This represents a 7.2-percent increase in job sup-
port and creation, and a 7-percent increase in dollars 
contributed to the economy from the previous 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) recognizes that international education and 
exchange programs enhance national security, sig-
nificantly further United States foreign policy goals 
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and economic competitiveness, and promote mutual 
understanding and cooperation among nations; 
(2) encourages international education and ex-
change programs to ensure that the United States 
maintains a broad international knowledge base; 
(3) supports international education and ex-
change programs as a means to strengthen foreign 
language skills and foster a better understanding of 
the world by United States citizens, especially youth; 
(4) commends the American and international 
education and exchange participants, volunteers, 
educators, program alumni, host families, high 
schools, institutions of higher education, and host 
communities for their involvement in such programs; 
and 
(5) celebrates the integral role international 
education and exchange programs play for the 
United States and its people. 
Æ 
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