Fulbright–Hays Act of 1961

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File:Fulbright-Hays Act signing.png
President John F. Kennedy signs the Fulbright-Hays Act on September 21, 1961
Fulbright–Hays Act of 1961
Great Seal of the United States
Long titleAn Act to provide for the improvement and strengthening of the international relations of the United States by promoting better mutual understanding among the peoples of the world through educational and cultural exchanges.
Acronyms (colloquial)MECEA
NicknamesMutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961
Enacted bythe 87th United States Congress
EffectiveSeptember 21, 1961
Citations
Public law87–256
Statutes at LargeTemplate:Usstat
Codification
Titles amended22 U.S.C.: Foreign Relations and Intercourse
U.S.C. sections amended22 U.S.C. ch. 33 § 2451 et seq.
Legislative history
  • Introduced in the House as H.R. 8666 by Wayne Hays (DOH) on August 31, 1961
  • Committee consideration by House Foreign Affairs, Senate Foreign Relations
  • Passed the Senate on July 14, 1961 (79-5, in lieu of S. 1154)
  • Passed the House on September 6, 1961 (329-66)
  • Reported by the joint conference committee on September 15, 1961; agreed to by the Senate on September 15, 1961 (Agreed) and by the House on September 16, 1961 (Agreed)
  • Signed into law by President John F. Kennedy on September 21, 1961 [1]

The Fulbright–Hays Act of 1961 is officially known as the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (Pub. L. 87–256, 75 Stat. 527). It was marshalled by United States Senator J. William Fulbright (D-AR) and passed by the 87th United States Congress on September 16, 1961, the same month the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and Peace Corps Act of 1961 were enacted.

The legislation was enacted into law by President John F. Kennedy on September 21, 1961.[2]

Purpose

As the preamble of the Fulbright–Hays Act of 1961 states:

The purpose of this chapter is to enable the Government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange; to strengthen the ties which unite us with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United States and other nations, and the contributions being made toward a peaceful and more fruitful life for people throughout the world; to promote international cooperation for educational and cultural advancement; and thus to assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic, and peaceful relations between the United States and the other countries of the world.[3]

United States Congressional Authorizations and Declarations

U.S. Statutes regarding the Educational and Cultural Exchange Act, 1961
Date of Enactment Public Law No. U.S. Statute U.S. Bill No. U.S. Presidential Administration
October 29, 1966 P.L. 89-698 Template:Usstat H.R. 14643 Lyndon B. Johnson
November 5, 1966 P.L. 89-766 Template:Usstat S. 1760 Lyndon B. Johnson
July 13, 1972 P.L. 92-352 Template:Usstat H.R. 14734 Richard Nixon
October 26, 1974 P.L. 93-475 Template:Usstat S. 3473 Gerald Ford
July 12, 1976 P.L. 94-350 Template:Usstat S. 3168 Gerald Ford
August 17, 1977 P.L. 95-105 Template:Usstat H.R. 6689 Jimmy Carter
August 15, 1979 P.L. 96-60 Template:Usstat H.R. 3363 Jimmy Carter
August 16, 1985 P.L. 99-93 Template:Usstat H.R. 2068 Ronald Reagan
December 22, 1987 P.L. 100-204 Template:Usstat H.R. 1777 Ronald Reagan
February 16, 1990 P.L. 101-246 Template:Usstat H.R. 3792 George H. W. Bush
October 28, 1991 P.L. 102-138 Template:Usstat H.R. 1415 George H. W. Bush
April 30, 1994 P.L. 103-236 Template:Usstat H.R. 2333 William J. Clinton
October 21, 1998 P.L. 105-277 Template:Usstat H.R. 4328 William J. Clinton
November 28, 2001 P.L. 107-77 Template:Usstat H.R. 2500 George W. Bush
September 30, 2002 P.L. 107-228 Template:Usstat H.R. 1646 George W. Bush

See also

References

Further reading

Cross-Cultural Educational Exchange

Resources of U.S. Federal Organizations

Narrations of John F. Kennedy regarding Governance of U.S. Educational Exchange Programs

American Educational Exchange, Foreign Students, and U.S. President John F. Kennedy

External links