The Senate Appropriations Committee released its report this week detailing funding provisions contained in its version of the fiscal year (FY) 2007 spending bill for the State Department. The bill was approved by the Committee on June 29. As previously reported by the Alliance, the bill includes an increase for the Department’s educational and cultural exchange programs, calling for a total of $445.522 million in FY 2007. That level is above the $436.275 million included in the House version of the bill and below the $474.288 million proposed by President Bush. It is also $19.25 million above the $426.275 million approved by Congress in FY 2006 (this number incorporates the across-the-board cut and rescissions that were applied to last year’s funding bill).