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Rep. Bera joins bipartisan push on U.S. exchange programs
The bill calls for greater transparency in educational and cultural exchanges amid rising U.S.–China competition
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Malvika Choudhary - Fri, 05, Dec 2025
- 12:02 EST
- 8
Ami Bera / bera.house.gov
Indian American Congressman Ami Bera (CA-06) on Dec. 4 introduced a bipartisan bill to expand oversight of U.S.-funded educational and cultural exchange programs.
The legislation, introduced by Bera and Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC-02), directs the State Department to submit a detailed report to Congress on participation in U.S. and People’s Republic of China (PRC)–sponsored exchange initiatives.
Also Read: Ami Bera introduces bill for strengthening Indo-US ties
It requires data on major U.S. programs such as the Fulbright Program and the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program, including participant demographics, funding levels, country participation, and the long-term impact on global perceptions of the United States.
The report must also include a comparative assessment of China’s investment in global exchange efforts and an analysis of how these programs influence U.S. diplomatic standing.
Bera said the measure is intended to ensure policymakers have the information needed to evaluate the strategic value of American exchange initiatives.
“Educational and cultural exchange programs are among our most effective tools for building goodwill among the next generation of leaders, strengthening our alliances, and advancing American values and strategic interests,” he said.
“This bipartisan bill ensures we have the data to evaluate and strengthen these critical programs, especially as countries like China actively work to expand their global influence efforts,” he added.
Wilson, the bill’s Republican co-sponsor, said the legislation also addresses concerns about foreign influence. “America recognizes the benefits from educational and cultural exchange programs with other countries,” he said.
“However, countries such as the People’s Republic of China are expanding their influence in America, putting our national security at risk. This bipartisan bill will ensure transparency while increasing the presence of American values internationally,” he added.
Under the proposal, the State Department must submit the report to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, with updates every five years.
The measure comes at a time when educational and cultural exchanges are increasingly viewed as instruments of foreign policy. As tensions between Washington and Beijing deepen, U.S. policymakers have intensified scrutiny of how American exchange programs function alongside expanding PRC-backed outreach initiatives.
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