Federal Register/Vol. 82, No. 8/Thursday, January 12, 2017
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4120 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 8 / Thursday, January 12, 2017 / Proposed Rules DEPARTMENT OF STATE 1400–AD14 or docket number DOS– effective mechanism for establishing 2016–0034. cross-cultural communication and 22 CFR Part 62 • Mail (paper or CD–ROM contributing to English language [Public Notice: 9522] submissions): U.S. Department of State, proficiency globally. The program Office of Policy and Program Support, represents the largest Department RIN 1400–AD14 SA–5, Floor 5, 2200 C Street NW., exchange opportunity for young adults; Washington, DC 20522–0505. most exchange visitors are between the Exchange Visitor Program—Summer • All comments should include the ages of 18 and 30. The program reaches Work Travel commenter’s name, the organization the diverse exchange audiences, including AGENCY: Department of State. commenter represents, if applicable, those from non-traditional sending and the commenter’s address. If the ACTION: Proposed rule. countries and cities and towns outside Department is unable to receive or national capitals. Such characteristics SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of State understand your comment for any make the program important to the (Department) proposes to amend reason, and cannot contact you for United States because people-to-people existing regulations to provide new clarification, the Department may not be exchanges, and especially exchanges for program requirements for the Summer able to consider your comment. After young adults, are one of the most Work Travel category of the Exchange the conclusion of the comment period, effective ways the U.S. forges ties with Visitor Program. This rulemaking the Department will publish a final rule other nations. strategy is informed by the Department’s (in which it will address relevant The decision for exchange visitors to comprehensive and ongoing review of comments) as expeditiously as possible. participate in the Summer Work Travel the Summer Work Travel program that FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keri program is a significant one involving began in mid-2010. Lowry, Deputy Assistant Secretary of an adventurous spirit, since exchange With this proposed rulemaking, the State, Office of Private Sector Exchange, visitors must live and work in a Department proposes to: Specify general Bureau of Educational and Cultural potentially unfamiliar environment in program administration requirements Affairs, U.S. Department of State, SA–5, the United States. The decision also for sponsors and their third parties; Floor 5, 2200 C Street NW., Washington, involves a significant investment of time enhance transparency in the recruitment DC 20522–0505; Email: JExchanges@ and money on the part of these of exchange visitors; limit exchange state.gov. exchange visitors. It is, therefore, visitor repeat participation to a total of essential that sponsors—and host SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For the entities and third parties working with three visits; require all exchange visitors past fifty years, the Summer Work to be placed in advance of the exchange sponsors—take all necessary steps to Travel program has served as one of the ensure that every exchange visitor visitor’s arrival in the United States; most popular exchange opportunities outline additional sponsor enjoys a safe, rewarding, enjoyable, and for foreign post-secondary school memorable U.S. exchange experience. responsibilities for use and vetting of students to visit and learn about the host entities; and specify host entity Sponsors and host entities play vital United States. It is also one of the roles in the success of the program. This requirements for program participation. Department’s largest avenues to In addition, the proposed rule limits proposed rulemaking is intended to influence the opinion and attitudes of promulgate new minimum standards, the number of late night and early foreign post-secondary students toward morning hours during which exchange clearly articulate program requirements, the United States through people-to- and advance consistency throughout the visitors may work; adds a section people diplomacy. The program also program. regulating placements in door-to-door helps these students improve their The Department’s insight from its sales; explains new processes for English language proficiency. In 2015, monitoring role, as well as from exchange visitor housing; and the Summer Work Travel Program complaints, incidents, and lessons introduces Form DS–7007 (Host provided students from approximately learned, informs the contents of this Placement Certification). The proposed 125 countries the opportunity to earn rulemaking. The Department has rule also specifies more exactly pre- money to help defray some expenses of interviewed thousands of exchange departure orientation and a short stay in the United States by visitors and host entities taking part in documentation requirements, including working in seasonal or temporary host the SWT program and interacts with respect to bicycle safety; ensures placements that require minimal regularly with program sponsors. The that sponsors and host entities provide training. proposed rule’s provisions are intended exchange visitors with cross-cultural The Summer Work Travel program to improve the program as, first and activities; and outlines processes for links university students from every foremost, a cultural exchange and sponsor use and vetting of domestic and region of the world to the people of the public diplomacy program of the foreign third parties. United States. In the past decade alone, highest quality. As a private sector DATES: The Department of State will approximately one million foreign post- exchange model, the program’s success accept comments on this proposed rule secondary school students have visited is based on creating standards of until February 27, 2017. the United States, improved their practice common across all sponsors. In ADDRESSES: You may submit comments English language skills, developed ties many cases, the proposed requirements by any of the following methods: with U.S. persons, and experienced U.S. are actions already being taken by some • Email: [email protected]. You culture while sharing their own cultures sponsors. In others, the Department must include the Regulatory with those they meet. They have views the requirement as essential to Information Number (RIN) 1400–AD14 returned to their home countries and, protect the program and/or the exchange in the subject line of your message. after graduation, have begun careers in visitor. • Persons with access to the Internet nearly every field. They remain lifelong As a public diplomacy program, also may view this notice and provide ambassadors between their home exchange visitors’ successful experience comments by going to the countries and the United States. with this program will create lifelong regulations.gov Web site at: http:// The Department views Summer Work ambassadors of goodwill between the www.regulations.gov/and search the RIN Travel as an important and uniquely United States and other countries. As VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:48 Jan 11, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\12JAP4.SGM 12JAP4 mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS4 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 8 / Thursday, January 12, 2017 / Proposed Rules 4121 such, the quality of the program for the they recruit so that they come to the responded to emerging program issues exchange visitor is the essential goal. In United States already understanding the requiring monitoring and enforcement. addition, placement at a host entity underlying cross-cultural purpose of the Comments received in response to the permits exchange visitors of all means program; their responsibility to fulfill 2012 IFR are addressed below. The 2012 to know their host communities, engage their program obligations as defined IFR strengthened protections for in cross-cultural activities, and travel. through the Exchange Visitor Program exchange visitors and reemphasized the Such exchange visitors also are regulations by the Department and by cross-cultural component of the provided the opportunity to gain work the rules set by their sponsor; the program, consistent with the and English language skills and interact necessity for them to abide by U.S. laws requirements of the Mutual Educational with Americans in the workplace. during their programs; and also their and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as Sponsors must ensure that all parties responsibilities toward their hosts, co- amended (Pub. L. 87–256) (22 U.S.C. involved in this exchange commit to its workers, and local U.S. community. 2451, et seq.) (Fulbright-Hays Act), and success. Exchange visitors who have an 22 CFR 62.8(d). First, sponsors must provide exchange enjoyable and productive experience The Department received comments visitors with clear, easy-to-read through the program become on the 2012 IFR from 171 parties, orientation materials and transparent ambassadors of goodwill and including: 102 former exchange visitors information on fees, costs, program understanding between their countries previously hosted in mobile concession requirements, and wages; place and the United States. businesses; 21 leaders of different local, exchange visitors with only those host In order to strengthen the Summer county, and state fairs; ten organizations entities that commit to advance the Work Travel program, the Department representing and/or advocating for foreign policy and cultural exchange reviewed its implementation of the trafficking