John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act of 2022
Floor Speech
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Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8681) to establish the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship to fund international internships and research placements for early- to mid-career professionals to study nonviolent movements to establish and protect civil rights around the world, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 8681
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 ``John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act of 2022''. SEC. 2. JOHN LEWIS CIVIL RIGHTS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.
The Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 115. JOHN LEWIS CIVIL RIGHTS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.
``(a) Establishment.--There is established the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Program (referred to in this section as the `Fellowship Program') within the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program.
``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Fellowship Program are--
``(1) to honor the legacy of Representative John Lewis by promoting a greater understanding of the history and tenets of nonviolent civil rights movements; and
``(2) to advance foreign policy priorities of the United States by promoting studies, research, and international exchange in the subject of nonviolent movements that established and protected civil rights around the world.
``(c) Administration.--The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (referred to in this section as the `Bureau') shall administer the Fellowship Program in accordance with policy guidelines established by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, in consultation with the binational Fulbright Commissions and United States Embassies.
``(d) Selection of Fellows.--
``(1) In general.--The Board shall annually select qualified individuals to participate in the Fellowship Program. The Bureau may determine the number of fellows selected each year, which, whenever feasible, shall be not fewer than 25.
``(2) Outreach.--To the extent practicable, the Bureau shall conduct outreach at institutions the Bureau determines are likely to produce a range of qualified applicants.
``(e) Fellowship Orientation.--The Bureau shall organize and administer a fellowship orientation that shall--
``(1) be held in Washington, DC, or at another location selected by the Bureau;
``(2) include programming to honor the legacy of Representative John Lewis; and
``(3) be held on an annual basis.
``(f) Structure.--
``(1) Work plan.--To carry out the purposes described in subsection (b)(2)--
``(A) each fellow selected pursuant to subsection (d) shall arrange an internship or research placement--
``(i) with a nongovernmental organization, academic institution, or other organization approved by the Bureau; and
``(ii) in a country with an operational Fulbright U.S. Student Program; and
``(B) the Bureau shall, for each fellow, approve a work plan that identifies the target objectives for the fellow, including specific duties and responsibilities relating to those objectives.
``(2) Conferences; presentations.--Each fellow shall--
``(A) attend the fellowship orientation described in subsection (e);
``(B) not later than the date that is 1 year after the end of the fellowship period, attend a fellowship summit organized and administered by the Bureau, which, whenever feasible, shall be held in a location of importance to the civil rights movement in the United States and may coincide with other events facilitated by the Bureau; and
``(C) at such summit, give a presentation on lessons learned during the period of fellowship.
``(3) Fellowship period.--Each fellowship under this section shall continue for a period determined by the Bureau, which, whenever feasible, shall be not shorter than 10 months.
``(g) Fellowship Award.--The Bureau shall provide each fellow under this section with an allowance that is equal to the amount needed for--
``(1) the fellow's reasonable costs during the fellowship period; and
``(2) travel and lodging expenses related to attending the orientation and summit required under subsection (e)(2).
``(h) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of completion of the Fellowship Program by the initial cohort of fellows selected under subsection (d), and on an annual basis thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report providing information on the implementation of the Fellowship Program, including on--
``(1) the demographics of the cohort of fellows who completed a fellowship during the preceding 1-year period;
``(2) a description of internship and research placements, and research projects selected, under the Fellowship Program, including participant feedback on program implementation and feedback of the Department on lessons learned;
``(3) a plan for factoring such lessons learned into future programming; and
``(4) an analysis of trends relating to the diversity of the cohorts of fellows and the topics of projects completed over the course of the Fellowship Program.''. SEC. 3. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO THE MUTUAL EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE ACT OF 1961A.
Section 112(a) of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2460(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (8), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(10) the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Program established under section 115, which provides funding for international internships and research placements for early- to mid-career individuals from the United States to study nonviolent civil rights movements in self-arranged placements with universities or nongovernmental organizations in foreign countries.''. SEC. 4. SUNSET.
The authority to carry out the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Program established under section 115 of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.), as added by section 2, shall expire on the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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Mr. CASTRO of Texas. 8681, as amended.
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Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in strong support of H.R. 8681, the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act of 2022, and I thank Ms. Williams for authoring this important bill.
I want to begin with a passage from an essay written by Representative John Lewis before his death, which was published on the day of his funeral.
Representative John Lewis, in reflecting on the past and looking to the future said: ``You must also study and learn the lessons of history because basic humanity has been involved in this soul-wrenching, existential struggle for a very long time. People on every continent have stood in your shoes, through decades and centuries before you. The truth does not change, and that is why the answers worked out long ago can help you find solutions to the challenges of our time. Continue to build union between movements stretching across the globe because we must put away our willingness to profit from the exploitation of others.''
These words are a call to action and H.R. 8681, the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act, seeks to meet that call, to learn from history and find solutions to the challenges of our time.
The John Lewis Fellowship will be part of the Fulbright Scholarship Program administered by the State Department and will advance the teaching of the history of nonviolent movements around the world by fostering research and international exchange.
The fellowship supports 25 young scholars in studying the history of nonviolent civil rights movements around the world and improving the understanding of nonviolence as a critical tool for change.
Fostering constructive methods of civic expression is vital for a healthy, flourishing society. Thanks to John's leadership by example, thousands of people around the world over have learned how to confront the injustices of their own societies through nonviolent means. Now, the duty of honoring his legacy and shepherding a new generation of leaders falls on our shoulders.
I can think of no better time than now to pass this bill that honors the legacy of the great John Lewis. I strongly urge all Members to vote in support of this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. Williams).
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Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.
Madam Speaker, I want to reiterate my staunch support for the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act of 2022.
This legislation encourages the values of peaceful expression and invigorates a new generation of leaders with the same spirit that drove John in his lifelong advocacy for civil rights. His leadership during the civil rights movement was pivotal for extending the American promises of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to all Americans. Many of us may not be standing here before this Chamber but for his contributions to racial equality.
This legislation seeks to instill that very same drive and purpose in the leaders of tomorrow, promoting the use of nonviolent civil rights as a tool for change around the world.
Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me and support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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