“To clarify the Department of State's exclusive regulatory authority over the au pair cultural exchange program, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section declares congressional findings concerning the Federal au pair exchange program under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq., known as the Fulbright-Hays Act), including (1) its authorization through public-private partnerships initially administered by the U.S. Information Agency (USIA), launch as a 1986 USIA pilot for young foreign students to provide childcare while pursuing academic credits, permanent authorization in 1997 (P.L. 105-48), and 1999 transfer of regulatory authority to the Department of State; (2) its role as a public diplomacy tool providing affordable childcare that addresses an estimated $122 billion annual U.S. economic loss from lack of access to such care, with over 10% of host families comprising active duty military personnel and others including first responders, single parents, and shift workers; and (3) the need for federal regulations to ensure national uniformity in stipends (based on federal minimum wage, assumed hours, and 40% room-and-board credit), affordability, and exclusive federal oversight consistent with congressional intent.
This section prohibits a State or political subdivision from enacting or enforcing any law, regulation, or other provision having the force or effect of law related to the au pair program administered by the Department of State. (Thus, it clarifies exclusive federal regulatory authority over the program, which designates approved sponsor organizations to place foreign nationals with U.S. host families for one year of cultural exchange and limited childcare in exchange for room, board, and a stipend.)
This section directs the Secretary of State, not later than 90 days after enactment, to submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget a proposed rule for the au pair program (i.e., a J-1 visa cultural exchange program in which participants provide up to 45 hours per week of childcare for host families in exchange for room, board, a weekly stipend, and an educational stipend) that (1) establishes a uniform national modification to the weekly stipend and educational stipend paid by host families, reflecting room, board, and other programmatic costs borne by host families without making the program prohibitively expensive; (2) enhances program flexibility to accommodate scheduling needs of military families, first responders, single parents, shift workers, and other host families with non-traditional work schedules; and (3) promotes au pair immersion in host family life consistent with the program's cultural exchange purposes.