November 2005
President Bush signed the final conference agreement to legislation funding the Department of State’s educational and cultural exchange programs into law on November 22, 2005. Public Law 109-108 provides $431.790 million for exchanges in FY 2006, an increase of $71.04 million over last year’s levels.
The Senate voted today to approve the conference report to the legislation that will fund the Department of State’s educational and cultural exchange programs at $431.790 million for FY 2006, an increase of $71.04 million over last year’s funding. As previously reported by the Alliance, the funding level for these programs is higher than the $410.4 million approved by the House in mid-June, less than the $440.2 million approved by the Senate in July, and slightly above the $430.4 million requested by the President in his FY 2006 budget. The legislation, which was approved by a vote of 94 to 5, will now be sent to the President for his signature.
Sens. Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Thursday agreed to move jurisdiction over the development of a strategic marketing plan to increase the number of international students in the United States from the Department of Education to the Department of State. The amendment was originally approved last month by the Senate as part of the FY 2006 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations legislation. Since its passage, Senators have determined that the provisions would be more appropriately suited to the State Department.
Responding to the Bush Administration’s call for increased funding for exchange programs, the House of Representatives approved legislation yesterday to boost exchange appropriations by over $70 million for FY2006. The conference report, which may be considered by the Senate today, includes increased funding for core academic, citizen, and professional exchange programs, a requirement that at least $10 million be spent on exchanges with China, and modest funding for the Abraham Lincoln Fellowships program.
The House and Senate approved the final conference report to the Foreign Operations appropriations legislation for FY 2006 earlier this month, providing increases for Development Assistance programs, including basic education, and for programs in the Middle East. The legislation creates a new program to oversee democracy programs, particularly in countries outside the Middle East region that have a significant Muslim population.
Sens. Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Thursday agreed to move jurisdiction over the development of a strategic marketing plan to increase the number of international students in the United States from the Department of Education to the Department of State. The amendment was originally approved last month by the Senate as part of the FY 2006 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations legislation. Since its passage, Senators have determined that the provisions would be more appropriately suited to the State Department.
Congress completed action last month on the final conference report to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations legislation for FY 2006. The final version of the legislation provides $31.9 billion for the Department, of which $30.8 billion is for discretionary spending for the Department’s operations and activities. The conference agreement provides an increase of $1.4 billion over FY 2005 levels, and is $1.3 billion above the level requested by the President. The conference report includes DHS organizational changes recommended by Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff in July. President Bush signed the bill into law on October 18, 2005.
President Bush signed the final conference agreement to legislation funding the Department of State’s educational and cultural exchange programs into law on November 22, 2005. Public Law 109-108 provides $431.790 million for exchanges in FY 2006, an increase of $71.04 million over last year’s levels.
The Senate voted today to approve the conference report to the legislation that will fund the Department of State’s educational and cultural exchange programs at $431.790 million for FY 2006, an increase of $71.04 million over last year’s funding. As previously reported by the Alliance, the funding level for these programs is higher than the $410.4 million approved by the House in mid-June, less than the $440.2 million approved by the Senate in July, and slightly above the $430.4 million requested by the President in his FY 2006 budget. The legislation, which was approved by a vote of 94 to 5, will now be sent to the President for his signature.
Responding to the Bush Administration’s call for increased funding for exchange programs, the House of Representatives approved legislation yesterday to boost exchange appropriations by over $70 million for FY2006. The conference report, which may be considered by the Senate today, includes increased funding for core academic, citizen, and professional exchange programs, a requirement that at least $10 million be spent on exchanges with China, and modest funding for the Abraham Lincoln Fellowships program.
