John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act of 2023

The John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act of 2023 establishes a program funding U.S. early- to mid-career individuals for 10-month international research or internships focused on nonviolent civil rights movements. Administered by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, it requires fellows to work with approved organizations in countries with Fulbright programs, attend a Washington, D.C. orientation, and present findings at an Atlanta summit. The bill mandates outreach to minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities to recruit participants and requires annual congressional reports tracking fellow demographics, project topics, and diversity trends. This program directly supports U.S. citizens pursuing civil rights-focused international work while honoring John Lewis’s legacy.