Message and Letter to Senate offices from Sen. Schatz's office
Senator Schatz would like to invite your bosses to join him in sending a letter to the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee requesting at minimum $80.938 million for Title VI/Fulbright-Hays International Education and Foreign Language programs. These programs enhance instruction in foreign language and area studies in order to advance our nation’s diplomacy, national security, and trade competitiveness. The President’s FY 2014 budget requests $80.938 million for these programs.
The deadline to sign on is 12:00 noon Thursday, April 25.
April __, 2013
The Honorable Tom Harkin The Honorable Jerry Moran
Chairman Ranking Member
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
On Labor, Health and Human Services On Labor, Health and Human Services
and Education and Education
Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Moran:
As you draft your Fiscal Year 2014 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations bill, we request that you include robust funding for Title VI/ Fulbright-Hays International Education and Foreign Language program, at minimum the President’s request of $80.938 million.
Title VI/Fulbright-Hays programs have had a tremendous impact on our nation over the years by developing a strong foundation in international education, research, and foreign language studies, especially in the less-commonly taught languages of U.S. strategic interest. The FY 2014 budget is particularly critical, because the nation’s premier Title VI language, area, and international business resource centers and fellowships will compete for the next cycle of 4-year grants. Given the 44 percent funding reduction since FY 2011, without an adequate restoration of Title VI funds, we could potentially lose nearly half of these centers that form the cornerstone of the nation’s deep international knowledge and expertise.
The various programs funded under this account serve to strengthen the nation’s educational infrastructure in areas where the need grows greater by the day. Strong academic programs in critical foreign languages and intensive training in multi-disciplinary regional studies including socio-economic, cultural, security, and religious aspects among others are vital to our national security. It is also important to keep in mind that, beyond the intensive curriculum development and related academic programming that is possible thanks to these programs, these resources make possible extensive outreach to K-12 classrooms, strong collaborations between four year postsecondary institutions and community colleges, and strengthened ties between U. S. postsecondary institutions and international partners.
We strongly urge a robust restoration of funding for these programs to preserve this critical international and foreign language education infrastructure. This is a small, but vitally important investment both in education and national security, as well as economic competitiveness.
Sincerely,
