Alliance Commentary
Analysis of the latest news around Washington, D.C. and the exchange community from Alliance staff and members.Advocacy Update: Amendments threatening exchanges defeated
On Thursday, June 20, 2024, lawmakers introduced three amendments to the FY25 House State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) funding bill that threatened to cut funding and programming for educational and cultural exchanges (ECE). One amendment was withdrawn and two were voted down.
ACTION Alert: Write your House Representative TODAY to oppose amendments eliminating funding for exchanges
This is a call to action regarding a number of amendments to the House’s Department of State funding bill that eliminate funding for DOS educational and cultural exchange programs. Amendment 38 (#158) submitted by Rep. Mast (R-FL, 21) threatens to eliminate all...
Exchanges Funding Cut in House FY25 State-Foreign Operations Bill Hinders American Foreign Policy Goals
By: Mark Overmann The Alliance and our members are very concerned about the proposed 2.7% cut to educational and cultural exchanges in the House bill advanced by the State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee earlier this week. If enacted, this would further...
Bringing Life to Foreign Policy: Summer Work Travel and Camp Counselor Program Impact Webinar
What do a water park in Wildwood, New Jersey and a summer camp in Wilmot, New Hampshire have in common? They both engage with and benefit from educational and cultural exchange programs! On April 17, the Alliance hosted a webinar for the Summer Work Travel and Camp...
Announcing new local advocacy initiative: Summer of Action
The Alliance is excited to announce a new local advocacy initiative for members, supporters, and exchange stakeholders: Summer of Action. #ExchangesStartHere #StrongerCommunities #GlobalConnections
Building Champions One Meeting at a Time: Advocacy Day 2024
By: Andrea Bodine Nearly a month ago now, Alliance members arrived in Washington DC to raise their voices in support of international exchange programs. This year’s event on March 7 brought an exciting, and somewhat hectic, energy to Capitol Hill with the looming...
Same Number, Different Story: Takeaways from the President’s FY25 Budget Request
The FY25 request includes a proposed 1% increase ($656 million) for the IA Budget from the FY23 adjusted enacted level, raising it to $64.4 billion. Within that funding, Educational and Cultural Exchange Program (ECE) funding has been allocated $777.5 million (DOS Budget Appendix, pg. 751-752), which is the same amount as the current FY23 enacted level.
Ensuring Programmatic Integrity: Commenting on the Au Pair Proposed Regulation
By Mark Overmann A critical area of the Alliance’s advocacy efforts is engaging in the Department of State’s regulatory processes. When the Department proposes changes to the function and implementation of a program, the Alliance engages impacted members, partners,...
Meeting Unfulfilled Demand: $808.6 million for exchange programs in FY25
The Appropriations Working Group recently decided on an ask of $808.6 million for DOS educational and cultural exchanges (ECE) in FY25. Here’s how we arrived at that number.
Au Pair Program Clarifying Regulation
Background: On October 30, 2023, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at the Department of State (DOS) released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) outlining significant regulatory changes to the federal au pair cultural exchange program. These...