Contact your Congressional representatives to advocate for exchange programs!

Download a template of an advocacy letter HERE

Contact with Iowa Senators:

Charles Grassley –R

Cedar Rapids Office:
7th Avenue SE, Box 13
Suite 6800
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: 319-363-6832
Fax: 319-363-7179

Joni Ernst- R

Cedar Rapids Office:
111 Seventh Avenue SE
Suite 480
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: (319) 365-4504
Fax: (319) 365-4683

Washington, D.C. Office:
111 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3254
Fax: (202) 224-9369

Contact with Iowa Congressional Representatives:

Rod Blum- R 1^st District

Cedar Rapids Office:
310 3rd Street SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: (319) 364-2288
Fax: (319) 364-2994

Building Washington D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2911

David Loebsack- D 2^nd District

Iowa City Office:
125 South Dubuque Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: (319) 351-0789
Fax: (319) 351-5789

Washington, DC Office:
1527 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6576
Fax: (202) 226-0757

David Young- R 3^rd District

Des Moines Office:
601 East Locust Street
Suite 204
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (515) 282-1909

Steve King- R 4^th District

Ames Office:
1421 S Bell Avenue
Suite 102
Ames, IA 50010
Phone: 515.232.2885
Fax: 515.232.2844

Washington, D.C. Office:
2210 Rayburn Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515
Phone: 202.225.4426
Fax: 202.225.3193

CIVIC in collaborations with the Global Ties U.S. networks works with the U.S. Department of State’s Education and Cultural Affairs Bureau to administer the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).  While the State Department engages in rapid response initiatives, the IVLP program is a long-term, strategic foreign policy initiative.

International exchange programs not only help build a more peaceful world, they also help make the United States more prosperous and secure. With over one million exchange program alumni around the world—which includes almost 1,700 government ministers and 364 current and former heads of state—it is no surprise that U.S. ambassadors and military leaders say exchanges are essential to our security.  The Global Ties network alone created $57 million dollars in positive economic impact nationally in fiscal year 2015.

The IVLP allows CIVIC to build global ties locally. CIVIC permits area students to meet international visitors and learn about different cultures, introduces eastern Iowa businesses and organizations to their professional peers and potential customers from around the globe, and provides individuals interested in maintaining or forging international ties the chance to engage in people-to-people exchanges, or citizen diplomacy.

The return on federal dollars makes the IVLP smart policy.  Through volunteerism and member support, organizations like CIVIC across the country turns every $1 in federal funds into $5.85.  The IVLP program has enjoyed bipartisan support for 75 years, but given the political climate in Washington D.C. today, it is more important than ever that CIVIC supporters tell their elected representatives to fully fund the IVLP program.

Please write to your representatives to let them know that supporting international exchanges, like the International Visitor Leadership Program, is smart policy because it is cost-effective and has a lasting positive impact in the U.S. and abroad!