December 4, 2025
Mr. Bera (for himself and Mr. Wilson of South Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
To require the Secretary of State to submit a report on participation in educational and cultural exchange programs.
Section 1. Promoting United States educational and cultural exchange programs
(a) Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1)
Congress recognizes the critical role of international exchange and study abroad programs in advancing United States national security interests, strengthening diplomatic ties, and fostering global leadership skills among emerging leaders, particularly in regions vital to United States strategic interests;
(2)
educational and cultural exchange programs are critical soft power tools for building influence with the next generation of leaders in partner nations;
(3)
the People’s Republic of China is actively deploying such programs to expand its influence; and
(4)
the United States must expand and strengthen its own exchange programs to maintain and advance United States strategic interests globally.
(b) Reporting requirements
(1) In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes—
(A)
a list, disaggregated by country, of the number of individuals who participated in educational or cultural exchange programs sponsored or funded by the People’s Republic of China in the previous year;
(B)
a list, disaggregated by country, of the number of individuals who participated in a program described in paragraph (2) in the previous year;
(C)
in coordination with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Innovation Unit, for each program described in paragraph (2)—
(i)
the amount of funds provided by the United States for the program;
(ii)
the number of participants in the program;
(iii)
the number of cohorts in the program;
(iv)
the countries of origin of the participants in the program;
(v)
the ages of the participants in the program;
(vi)
the percent of participants in the program who reported a more favorable opinion of the United States Government following participation in the program;
(vii)
the percent of foreign participants who traveled to the United States for the first time during the program;
(viii)
the percent of foreign participants who reported that they are more likely to recommend the United States as a good place to study following participation in the program;
(ix)
the percent of foreign participants who reported a more favorable opinion of United States citizens following participation in the program;
(x)
the percent of foreign participants who reported an increased understanding of United States culture and values as a result of participation in the program;
(xi)
the percent of participants who agreed with statements in support of democratic values following participation in the program;
(xii)
the percent of foreign participants who reported an increased network of United States citizens as a result of participation in the program; and
(xiii)
the percent of participants who reported that they understand that the program they participated in is a Department of State program;
(D)
an assessment of trends of participation in the programs described in subparagraph (A) and paragraph (2) and an analysis of the implications of such trends for United States diplomatic and strategic interests; and
(E)
an analysis of the impact of such programs on the diplomatic standing and strategic influence of the United States and the People’s Republic of China in each respective country.
(2) Programs described
The programs described in this paragraph are the following:
(A)
The Fulbright Program.
(B)
The Young African Leaders Initiative, including the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
(C)
The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative.
(D)
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program.
(E)
The Future Leaders Exchange Program.
(F)
Any educational or cultural exchange program sponsored or funded by the United States that was previously included in a report required by paragraph (1).
(G)
In the case of any report required by paragraph (1) submitted after the first such report, not fewer than 10 educational or cultural exchange programs sponsored or funded by the United States that have not been included in a previous such report.
(3) Form
The reports required in this subsection shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(c) Appropriate congressional committees defined
In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—
(1)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
(2)
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.