John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act of 2023

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.

Bill 118 s 1945, also known as the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act of 2023, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress. The bill aims to establish a fellowship program in honor of the late civil rights leader, John Lewis, to provide opportunities for individuals to learn about and engage in civil rights and social justice work.

The fellowship program created by this bill would be administered by the Library of Congress and would provide participants with the opportunity to work in congressional offices, federal agencies, or non-profit organizations focused on civil rights issues. The program would be open to individuals who are recent college graduates or current graduate students, with a focus on individuals from underrepresented communities.

The John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act of 2023 seeks to honor the legacy of John Lewis by providing opportunities for young people to learn about and contribute to the ongoing fight for civil rights and social justice in the United States. The bill has garnered bipartisan support in Congress and is seen as a way to inspire the next generation of leaders to continue the work started by John Lewis and other civil rights activists.