Exchange Plan With Ex-Soviet States Pushed

The United States and the former Soviet Union would engage in the largest educational exchange program in history under a proposal emerging in Congress.

As the United States and former Soviet republics work out more details of new economic and security relationships, U.S. plans so far have “ignored the importance of the people,” said Sen. Bill Bradley (D-N.J.)., chief author of a proposal that would bring more than 215,000 students and business people to the United States over the next five years.

“What we have now in our relationship with Russia is a lot of discussion about economic data,” Bradley told reporters. “What we need to do is focus on people. And I think the important thing is to get as many Russians, Ukrainians and other residents of former republics to the United States in as great a number as possible so they can experience what America is all about.”

Bradley, Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) and Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa) plan to advance the idea in the form of legislation, possibly as an amendment to the Russia aid package now pending in Congress. Bradley estimated that over the five years, the program would cost about $1.9 billion, which he said could come out of the budget for foreign military aid.

The program could begin next year, with about 7,000 students and 2,000 managers, Bradley said. It would gradually expand to include 50,000 high school students, 10,000 college students, 1,000 graduate students and 10,000 managers in the fifth year.

The Bush Administration is “a little queasy” about the proposal and has declined to endorse it, Bradley said.