Comment on FR Doc # E7-11810

Dear Sir or Madam, As stated in [Public Notice: 5837] RIN 1400-AC38 The Fulbright-Hays Act is the organic legislation underpinning the entire Exchange Visitor Program. Section 101 of that Act sets forth the purpose of the Act, viz., ``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 * * *''. The Act authorizes the President to provide for such exchanges when he considers that it would strengthen international cooperative relations. The language of the Act and its legislative history make it clear that Congress considered international educational and cultural exchanges to be a significant part of the public diplomacy efforts of the President in connection with his Constitutional prerogatives in conducting foreign affairs. Clearly the design of the Exchange Visitor Program directly benefits U.S. Government interests and the government should bear these costs. DOS has developed the program in a way that is not cost effective and now wants to exact fees from the program participants who are already bearing significant costs not only for designation but also for meeting the requirements for resources needed to sponsor exchange visitors. I encourage DOS to delay implementing this rule until it can assess how the fees might degrade the intent of the Fulbright-Hays Act and further discourage intellectual exchange for the benefit of the U.S. government.