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Panel hears wide support for a Vermont sister‑state exchange program to boost education and cultural ties
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Summary
The Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee heard testimony in favor of a proposed sister‑state program, with speakers citing student exchanges, arts and tourism benefits and the need for administrative checks (sanctions screening) and quarterly startup meetings. Former Justice John Dooley recounted long-running rule-of-law exchanges in Russia as a model.
The committee shifted midsession to consider a proposed sister‑state exchange program and heard supporters from education, arts and international‑engagement communities describe potential benefits for students, cultural institutions and tourism.
Judge John Dooley recounted Vermont’s prior sister‑state work with regions in Russia and the long USAID‑funded exchange programs that established legal clinics and rule‑of‑law training. “We were able to get that sort of activities,” Dooley said, describing nearly two decades of programming that brought Vermont legal educators and students into exchanges and created lasting institutional ties.
Local educators and civic volunteers described hands‑on examples of exchanges, from high‑school internships to community festivals. Alice Litton of Hartford detailed student exchanges in which participants formed strong, durable connections; Steven Evans Laplar, executive director of the Vermont Arts Council, described artist exchanges and recommended that any program include a federal sanctions/Entity‑check process to screen partners.
Panelists urged quarterly meetings while the program is established and emphasized the need for state administrative support and clear funding pathways—public and private—to sustain exchanges. Committee members generally expressed support and asked staff to coordinate with ACCD and other partners on next steps.
The committee indicated a goal of voting on the sister‑state measure in the near term, subject to administrative and drafting work.
