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Proposed Change in Program Leadership Structure

The Board of Trustees has authorized a request to the Committee to amend the Center's authorizing statute to add to the Board the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative and the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations Subommittee on Legislative Branch. A proposed amendment to the bill language is attached. 2 U.S.C. § 1151 (a)(2) established a nine-member Board of Trustees to direct and supervise the Center, composed of the Librarian of Congress, four private individuals, and representatives of the majority and minority selected by the leadership of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Since its inception in 1999 in the legislative branch, the Open World Program has gained from the active interest and direction of the chairmen of both the House Subcommittee on Legislative and the Senate Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch. The Board's ability to provide effective and efficient direction to the Center will be enhanced if the Congressional Appropriations Committees' perspectives on the funding priorities of the Congress are regularly represented in the Board's deliberations.

The FY 2005 budget and the suggested legislative amendment language will enable the Open World Leadership Center to continue to make major contributions to an understanding of democracy, open society, and free enterprise in a region of vital importance to the Congress and the Nation.

ATTACHMENT A
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Open World Leadership Center
Program Structure

Selection of Participants

Candidates are nominated by prominent U.S., Russian, and international organizations and by Open World alumni. Applications go through multistage vetting by the U.S. Embassy in the relevant country and by Open World staff.

Short-Term Exchange

Each Open World visit is short-term (typically ten days), including orientation in a major U.S. city and a study trip to a host community in any of the 50 U.S. states. Those in the cultural program typically stay for three weeks. Most Open World participants are lodged at the homes of American families during their stay.

Theme-Focused Visit

Delegations are chosen and organized by theme in which they are interested and professionally engaged-such as economic development, health, and rule of law. This theme drives the program agenda in the United States, including decisions on federal-level meetings, local and state placement, and the experiences that are arranged further.

Emphasis on High-Quality Local Visits

Local programs in the 50 U.S. states are overseen by U.S.-based educational institutions, civic groups, and other organizations with experience in hosting foreign leaders. Most local visits include a home stay and opportunities to take part in social and community activities with host families.

Programs Tailored and Content-Driven

Each program is tailored to include extensive interaction with professional counterparts, an emphasis on participatory, on-site experiences, and high-level, substantive meetings. The effort is made to provide exposure not only to how democracy operates at the relevant local level, but also to the economic and non-governmental institutions of the host region.

ATTACHMENT A
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Language, Cultural Support Provided

The delegations are supported by professional interpreters for professional activities. Bilingual, bicultural Russian facilitators are available for guidance on cross-cultural issues and interpretation during informal events. This enables important Russian leaders who do not speak English (and are likely to be less informed about the outside world than those who do) to participate fully in the program. The vast majority of Open World participants do not speak English and do not therefore qualify for most USG sponsored exchange programs.

ATTACHMENT B

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION

OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER

ADDING APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBERS

TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

BILL LANGUAGE:

SEC. XXX. ADDITION TO THE OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER BOARD OF TRUSTEES. Section 313(a)(2) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2001 (Public Law 106-554, 2 U.S.C. 1151(a)(2)) is amended by

(3)

"(C) The chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative and the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations Subommittee on Legislative Branch."; and,

redesignating the remaining subparagraphs as "(D)" and "(E)".

BUDGET/REPORT LANGUAGE:

A provision adds the Chairmen of the Legislative branch subcommittees of the Committees on Appropriations of the House and the Senate to the Board of Trustees of the Open World Leadership Center.