February 2008
The Bush Administration’s fiscal year (FY) 2009 budget proposal released this morning includes $522.444 million for the educational and cultural exchange programs of the U.S. Department of State, the fourth year in a row the President has proposed an increase for these programs. The budget provides a $21.097 million increase over the FY 2008 funding level for exchanges of $501.347 million.
Sens. Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) last week introduced the American Competitiveness Through International Openness Now (ACTION) Act of 2008. The legislation, S. 2653, would make changes in the visa system to “encourage American openness to international students, scholars, and businesspersons”, Coleman noted in his statement of introduction on the floor of the Senate.
The Bush Administration’s fiscal year (FY) 2009 budget proposal released this morning includes $522.444 million for the educational and cultural exchange programs of the U.S. Department of State, the fourth year in a row the President has proposed an increase for these programs. The budget provides a $21.097 million increase over the FY 2008 funding level for exchanges of $501.347 million.
Members of both the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee this week commended Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for the increases sought by President Bush in his fiscal year (FY) 2009 budget request for the Department of State. Rice appeared before both committees on Wednesday to present the request.
Members of both the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee this week commended Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for the increases sought by President Bush in his fiscal year (FY) 2009 budget request for the Department of State. Rice appeared before both committees on Wednesday to present the request.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today approved, by voice vote, legislation to authorize the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act of 2007. The Committee also moved the nominations of Mr. James Glassman to be Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, and Ms. Goli Ameri to be Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs to the Senate Floor for confirmation.
Noting that visas for foreign students and scholars will be a “predominant theme” for the House Subcommittee on Research and Science this year, Chairman Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) stated, “All of us are committed to increasing the pipeline” of foreign students in the U.S. who “broaden and enrich” our campuses and bring different perspectives.
The Alliance’s eighth annual Advocacy Day was held last Thursday, February 21, 2008. The event was sponsored in conjunction with the Association for International Education Administrators (AIEA), an Alliance member that has partnered with us on this event for four (non-consecutive) years. The event was held in conjunction with AIEA’s Washington conference.
