Justification for Emergency Review

JUSTIFICATION FOR EMERGENCY REVIEW

U.S. National Commission for UNESCO Laura W. Bush Traveling Fellowship

A critical goal of the Administration is the encouragement of freedom and the adoption of democratic processes throughout the world. This goal is an integral part of the U.S. National Security Strategy. The State Department’s component of this agenda is reflected through efforts of transformational diplomacy and our goals of international understanding and investing in people. These goals are pursued, bilaterally and multilaterally, by means of public diplomacy. The Administration believes that international fellowships are at the heart of public diplomacy efforts. To aid in accomplishing this public diplomacy effort, The First Lady has agreed to allow the U.S. State Department to award a fellowship in her honor to a U.S. college student proposing to undertake activities that employ education, natural science, social and human science, culture, or communication and information—the mandate of UNESCO—to build strong ties among nations. The National Security Council also supports the awarding of this fellowship in a timely manner. The White House has expressed interest in awarding the first fellowship during the May 18-19, 2008 Annual Meeting of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO, and therefore it is required that the call for applications for the fellowship be open by April 1, 2008. The State Department will collect and review proposals submitted by applicants. An emergency approval is needed to permit awarding of the Fellowship by the indicated date.

The Department has therefore determined that:

1. This collection is needed prior to the expiration of time periods normally associated with a routine submission for review under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act;

2. This collection is essential to the mission of the Department of State, in particular in timely implementation of the President’s stated goals for promotion of our vital national interest in building strong foundations of knowledge that bridge nations, encourage freedom, and promote democracy, as it relates to the National Security Strategy (2006) and the Department of State’s Strategic Plan (2007-2012); and

3. The use of normal clearance procedures will prevent the Department from obtaining the information needed to implement this White House public diplomacy initiative that is intended to foster the spread of knowledge, encourage freedom, and promote democracy.

Therefore, the Department of State requests OMB approval for this collection as soon as possible, but no later than April 1, 2008.

Drafted By: IO/UNESCO – Alex Zemek, 3-0024 2/21/08

Clearances: IO – Gerald C. Anderson -ok

IO/UNESCO – Susanna B. Connaughton - ok

IO/UNESCO – Kelly Siekman - info

L/M –Alice Kottmyer, Jeremy Weinberg - ok

L/PD – Lorie Nierenberg -ok

L/UNA – Darin Johnson -ok

A/ISS/IPS/PRV – Paula Ferguson -ok

IRM/BPC/EAP/PL – Cecelia Henderson -ok

A/ISS/DIR – Mike Cheman -ok

A/ISS/DIR – TJ Furlong -ok

A – Robert Hansgen -ok