Fulbright–Hays Act of 1961
US foreign policy law
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.

| Long title | An 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 |
| Nicknames | Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 |
| Enacted by | the 87th United States Congress |
| Effective | September 21, 1961 |
| Citations | |
| Public law | 87–256 |
| Statutes at Large | 75 Stat. 527 |
| Codification | |
| Titles amended | 22 U.S.C.: Foreign Relations and Intercourse |
| U.S.C. sections amended | 22 U.S.C. ch. 33 § 2451 et seq. |
| Legislative history | |
| |
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
| Date of Enactment | Public Law No. | U.S. Statute | U.S. Bill No. | U.S. Presidential Administration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 29, 1966 | P.L. 89-698 | 80 Stat. 1066 | H.R. 14643 | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| November 5, 1966 | P.L. 89-766 | 80 Stat. 1314 | S. 1760 | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| July 13, 1972 | P.L. 92-352 | 86 Stat. 489 | H.R. 14734 | Richard Nixon |
| October 26, 1974 | P.L. 93-475 | 88 Stat. 1439 | S. 3473 | Gerald Ford |
| July 12, 1976 | P.L. 94-350 | 90 Stat. 823 | S. 3168 | Gerald Ford |
| August 17, 1977 | P.L. 95-105 | 91 Stat. 844 | H.R. 6689 | Jimmy Carter |
| August 15, 1979 | P.L. 96-60 | 93 Stat. 395 | H.R. 3363 | Jimmy Carter |
| August 16, 1985 | P.L. 99-93 | 99 Stat. 405 | H.R. 2068 | Ronald Reagan |
| December 22, 1987 | P.L. 100-204 | 101 Stat. 1331 | H.R. 1777 | Ronald Reagan |
| February 16, 1990 | P.L. 101-246 | 104 Stat. 15 | H.R. 3792 | George H. W. Bush |
| October 28, 1991 | P.L. 102-138 | 105 Stat. 647 | H.R. 1415 | George H. W. Bush |
| April 30, 1994 | P.L. 103-236 | 108 Stat. 382 | H.R. 2333 | William J. Clinton |
| October 21, 1998 | P.L. 105-277 | 112 Stat. 2681 | H.R. 4328 | William J. Clinton |
| November 28, 2001 | P.L. 107-77 | 115 Stat. 748 | H.R. 2500 | George W. Bush |
| September 30, 2002 | P.L. 107-228 | 116 Stat. 1350 | H.R. 1646 | George W. Bush |
See also
- Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
- U.S. Cultural Exchange Programs
- Fulbright Program
- United States Information Agency
- Student & Exchange Visitor Program
- World Festival of Youth and Students
- Fulbright Act of 1946
- U.S. Educational Exchange Act, 1948
- Lacy-Zarubin Agreement of 1958
- National Defense Education Act, 1958
- FRIENDSHIP Act of 1993