# Plain Language Summary: John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act of 2023

This bill creates a new fellowship program named after Congressman John Lewis that would send American professionals abroad to study how nonviolent movements have fought for civil rights around the world. The program would be run through the State Department's existing Fulbright exchange program, which already sends Americans to study and work internationally. Each year, the program would select at least 25 fellows—early-to-mid-career professionals from the United States—to spend roughly 10 months or longer working with universities, nonprofits, or other organizations in foreign countries. These fellows would focus on researching and learning about peaceful civil rights movements in places like South Africa, India, or other countries with active Fulbright programs.

The fellows wouldn't just work abroad in isolation. They'd attend an orientation program in Washington, DC (or another location) that honors John Lewis's legacy and civil rights history. After their time abroad, they'd come back to attend a summit where they'd present what they learned, ideally held somewhere significant to the American civil rights movement. The State Department would cover all their costs during the fellowship, including travel, housing, and living expenses for both the work placement and the required meetings back home.

The program is designed to serve two main goals: honoring John Lewis's legacy by promoting understanding of nonviolent civil rights movements, and advancing U.S. foreign policy by building connections between American professionals and civil rights activists and scholars worldwide. The bill requires the State Department to report annually to Congress on how the program is working, including information about the fellows' backgrounds, what projects they worked on, and whether the program is reaching diverse applicants. The program would run for seven years from when the bill becomes law, after which Congress would need to decide whether to continue it.

John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act of 2023

Williams, Nikema

John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act of 2023 This bill establishes the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Program within the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program (commonly referred to as the Fulbright Program). The fellowship program shall honor the legacy of Representative John Lewis and advance U.S. foreign policy priorities by promoting studies, research, and international exchange in the subject of nonviolent civil rights movements around the world. The Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board shall annually select qualified individuals to serve as fellows in the fellowship program. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs may determine the number of fellows for each year, with at least 25 fellows each year whenever feasible. Each fellow shall (1) work in an internship or research position with an approved organization in a country with an operational Fulbright U.S. Student Program, and (2) receive an award sufficient to cover the fellow's reasonable costs during the fellowship period and certain travel and lodging expenses related to the program.