 Members of Congress and German Bundestag Declare Support for Congress-Bundestag Youth ExchangeTransatlantic coalition renews calls for State Department to restore exchange program funding
By: Cultural Vistas 
Members of Congress and Germany Bundestag declare support for exchange program. Link to Web Release Established in 1983 by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag, CBYX was created to strengthen ties between Germany and the United States through citizen diplomacy. The program is funded by both governments and annually supports the 1-to-1 exchange of 700 young Germans and Americans. In December, the U.S. State Department announced a 50% funding cut for the program despite a U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy report strongly recommending that CBYX be maintained at current funding and participant levels. It cited the 'negative political signal' and message that such a cut sends to the German public and government: that it no longer values its relationship with a critical ally whose public has become increasingly distrustful of the United States. In February, Chancellor Angela Merkel just prior to her meeting with President Obama remarked in an interview, “I believe that all of those who participated as young people have…had unforgettable experiences. Especially now, 25 years after German reunification, we want to continue this program. Therefore, the German Bundestag has said: We stand behind this program.” Congressman Glen Thompson, co-chair of the House German-American Caucus who attended yesterday’s luncheon, told his counterparts in the German Bundestag that he and other members of Congress were working to restore funding to CBYX. In a recent bipartisan letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, Mr. Thompson and his colleagues stated that “this $4 million annual program is an integral element to the continuation of a strong relationship between United States and Germany.” Congressman William Keating, also co-chair of the German-American Caucus, stressed that with CBYX "we are planting seeds and these seeds will grow" to be the future leaders in the transatlantic community. During the luncheon, Ian Bolin, an American alumnus of the program, presented Congressman Thompson a #SaveCBYX petition along with the names of the almost 20,500 individuals who signed the online petition in support of the program. “On behalf of the German and American alumni, we urge the U.S. State Department, Congress and the German Bundestag to restore funding to CBYX,” appealed Mr. Bolin. “This program has made a significant impact in our lives, both professionally and personally, and created strong ties between our two countries.” Bundestag Member Bartholomäus Kalb reiterated the German government’s commitment and support to the program and thanked all those working to prevent permanent cuts. “As five former U.S. ambassadors to Germany recently wrote in an op-ed piece, participants in CBYX ‘are tomorrow’s leaders and the investment in their future must be our highest priority,’” stated Mr. Kalb. “We wholeheartedly agree and look forward to working with our U.S. colleagues in Congress to maintain this vital transatlantic exchange program.” About CBYX The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange was founded in celebration of the 300th year anniversary of the first German immigration to the United States CBYX is jointly funded by the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag, and in the U.S. is overseen by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Cultural Vistas has administered CBYX for Young Professionals for over 30 years, together with its German partner organization, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit – Learn more at cbyx.info. Follow @CBYXPPP on Twitter About Cultural Vistas A nonprofit organization, Cultural Vistas annually serves more than 5,000 students, professionals, and emerging leaders through career-focused international internships, educational study tours, language immersion and cultural exchange programs in the United States and around the world. – Learn more at culturalvistas.org Follow @CulturalVistas on Twitter End
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