Testimony Submitted by Elizabeth Chazottes Chair, Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange and Executive Director, Association for International Practical Training (AIPT)
For the Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Concerning State Department Exchanges
U.S. House of Representatives
March 18, 2008
As Chair of the Board of the Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange, I appreciate the opportunity to submit testimony in strong support of the budget request of $522.444 million for the educational and cultural exchange programs administered by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) in FY 2009. If additional funds are available, the Alliance urges an increase to $600 million in order to deepen the public diplomacy impact of existing activities and to develop new and innovative programs. The Alliance also strongly supports the President’s request for consular resources.
