House Passes Lee Bill to Support US - Caribbean Educational Exchange

Press Release

Today, by a vote of 371-55, the House passed a bill introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) that would strengthen educational exchange between the U.S. and the Caribbean.

"This bill will establish a mutually beneficial educational exchange between the United States and the Caribbean, and is an important step towards strengthening our relationship with our neighbors," said Lee.

The Shirley A. Chisholm US-Caribbean Educational Exchange Act of 2007, H.R. 176, creates two comprehensive educational initiatives targeted toward the Caribbean. The first will establish a system for students in CARICOM nations to study in the US and the second will develop a plan to enhance teacher training, community involvement, and improve the overall primary and secondary education infrastructure in the region.

Lee's bill would establish a U.S.-Caribbean educational exchange program for high school, undergraduate and graduate students, and scholars through the State Department. It would also enable the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to develop a regional strategy to expand existing early education initiatives, and would allow both State Department and USAID to use public-private partnerships to implement the program. It also encourages the participation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI's). The bill has the bipartisan support of 57 cosponsors.

Lee, who got involved in politics after working on Shirley Chisholm's 1972 presidential campaign, has been a champion of Caribbean issues, including leading the Congressional effort that resulted in June being named as Caribbean American Heritage Month.

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