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Fiscal Year 2009 Appropriations
The 2009 federal fiscal year runs from October 1, 2008, through September 30, 2009.
Status: Most observers anticipate right now that very few, if any, appropriations will be finalized before the November election. In that case, all affected federal agencies would be funded under a continuing resolution likely through the beginning of the new Administration.
In the Committee's recommendations, $311.311 million is included for academic programs, $167.917 million for professional and cultural exchanges, $8 million for a one-time grant program, with the remaining amounts to be left for program evaluation and support.
Of the amount included for academic exchanges, the committee recommends: $233.841 million for Fulbright, $12 million for Educational Advising and Student Services, $29 million for English Language Programs, $22 million for Regional Graduate Fellowships, and $7.2 million for the Benjamin Gilman International Scholarship Program.
In addition, the Committee recommends $10 million “for programs to increase the number of U.S. students studying abroad and foreign students studying in the U.S., and to improve the capacity of educational institutions in non-traditional study abroad locations, especially developing countries, to receive additional U.S. students for quality overseas study.” Recognizing the role of institutions of higher education both in the U.S. and abroad, Senate report language states that “Institutional capacity is critical to successful expansion of American study abroad programs, and the Committee recommends the Department of State use additional resources to: 1) provide direct grants to students for study abroad; 2) replicate existing capacity in targeted regions at quality overseas educational institutions; and, 3) engage U.S. educational institutions to reduce barriers to study abroad, such as improving advising and credit systems.”
Of the amount alloted for professional and cultural exchanges, the Committee recommended: $78.777 million for the International Visitor Program, $57.377 for Citizen Exchange Programs and $24 million for the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Ambassadors Program (also known as the YES Program).
In that same funding bill, the Senate also recommended $5.29 billion for the Department’s Diplomatic and Consular Affairs programs. Of that amount, $4.152 billion is provided for ongoing operations, including public diplomacy activities. The Committee directs the Secretary of State to continue to monitor implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) according to the statutory deadline of no earlier than June 1, 2009, and, as needed, to increase temporary staffing to quickly respond to increases in demand for passports or passport cards. Report language further directs the Departments of State and Homeland Security to provide quarterly briefings to the Committee on the progress of the WHTI.
Specific details are not yet available.
Of that amount, the Committee recommends that Title VI and Fulbright-Hays be funded at last year's level, $108.983 million, including $94 million for Title VI-Parts A&B, $13.4 million for Fulbright-Hays, and $1.7 million for Title VI-Part C IIPP. The President's budget request for an additional $1 million for developing new language assessment tools was not included.
Report language suggests that $93.941 be "used for domestic program activities related to international education and foreign language studies, including international business education, under title VI of the HEA." And continues to recommend that $13.372 million be used "for overseas programs authorized under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, popularly known as the Fulbright-Hays Act... Under these overseas programs, grants are provided for group and faculty research projects abroad, doctoral dissertation research abroad, and special bilateral projects. Unlike other programs authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act and administered by the Department of State, these Department of Education programs focus on training American instructors and students in order to improve foreign language and area studies education in the United States."
NAFSA Guide to the Appropriations Process (38kb
)
Read more on the President's FY 2009 request.
| Dept. of State, Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs |
Fulbright Hays Programs |
|
| Appropriations, FY 2008 | $501.347 | $108.983 |
| Emergency supplemental (Public Law 110-28), FY 2008 |
$10.0 | --- |
| President's Budget Request, FY 2009 | $522 | $108.983 |
| Senate appropriation, FY 2009 | $545.25 | $108.983 |
| House appropriation, FY 2009 | $522 | not yet available |
Status: Most observers anticipate right now that very few, if any, appropriations will be finalized before the November election. In that case, all affected federal agencies would be funded under a continuing resolution likely through the beginning of the new Administration.
Department of State: Educational and Cultural Exchanges
Senate
On July 17, 2008, the Senate Appropriations Committee marked up a bill that included $545.25 million for the Department of State's Educational and Cultural exchanges for FY09. This represents a $23.25 million increase over the President's request and a $44 million increase over 2008 funding levels.In the Committee's recommendations, $311.311 million is included for academic programs, $167.917 million for professional and cultural exchanges, $8 million for a one-time grant program, with the remaining amounts to be left for program evaluation and support.
Of the amount included for academic exchanges, the committee recommends: $233.841 million for Fulbright, $12 million for Educational Advising and Student Services, $29 million for English Language Programs, $22 million for Regional Graduate Fellowships, and $7.2 million for the Benjamin Gilman International Scholarship Program.
In addition, the Committee recommends $10 million “for programs to increase the number of U.S. students studying abroad and foreign students studying in the U.S., and to improve the capacity of educational institutions in non-traditional study abroad locations, especially developing countries, to receive additional U.S. students for quality overseas study.” Recognizing the role of institutions of higher education both in the U.S. and abroad, Senate report language states that “Institutional capacity is critical to successful expansion of American study abroad programs, and the Committee recommends the Department of State use additional resources to: 1) provide direct grants to students for study abroad; 2) replicate existing capacity in targeted regions at quality overseas educational institutions; and, 3) engage U.S. educational institutions to reduce barriers to study abroad, such as improving advising and credit systems.”
Of the amount alloted for professional and cultural exchanges, the Committee recommended: $78.777 million for the International Visitor Program, $57.377 for Citizen Exchange Programs and $24 million for the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Ambassadors Program (also known as the YES Program).
In that same funding bill, the Senate also recommended $5.29 billion for the Department’s Diplomatic and Consular Affairs programs. Of that amount, $4.152 billion is provided for ongoing operations, including public diplomacy activities. The Committee directs the Secretary of State to continue to monitor implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) according to the statutory deadline of no earlier than June 1, 2009, and, as needed, to increase temporary staffing to quickly respond to increases in demand for passports or passport cards. Report language further directs the Departments of State and Homeland Security to provide quarterly briefings to the Committee on the progress of the WHTI.
House
The House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its bill on July 16, 2008. The bill provides $522 million for exchanges, a figure representing a $21 million increase over 2008 levels and consistent with the President's budget request.Specific details are not yet available.
Department of Education: Title VI and Fulbright Hays
Senate
On June 26, 2008, the Senate Appropriations Committee marked up the FY 2009 Labor/HHS/ED Appropriations bill. The bill recommends an overall increase of $3.4 billion over FY 2008 levels, and represents a $2.4 billion increase over the President's request.Of that amount, the Committee recommends that Title VI and Fulbright-Hays be funded at last year's level, $108.983 million, including $94 million for Title VI-Parts A&B, $13.4 million for Fulbright-Hays, and $1.7 million for Title VI-Part C IIPP. The President's budget request for an additional $1 million for developing new language assessment tools was not included.
Report language suggests that $93.941 be "used for domestic program activities related to international education and foreign language studies, including international business education, under title VI of the HEA." And continues to recommend that $13.372 million be used "for overseas programs authorized under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, popularly known as the Fulbright-Hays Act... Under these overseas programs, grants are provided for group and faculty research projects abroad, doctoral dissertation research abroad, and special bilateral projects. Unlike other programs authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act and administered by the Department of State, these Department of Education programs focus on training American instructors and students in order to improve foreign language and area studies education in the United States."
House
A bill was reported from Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee on June 19, 2008, but details of the bill have not yet been released, pending consideration of the bill by the full Committee.President's Budget Request
On February 4, 2008, the president announced his budget request for FY 2009, including a $522 million request for the educational and cultural exchange programs of the U.S. Department of State and $108.983 million for the Department of Education’s Title VI and Fulbright Hays programs.NAFSA Guide to the Appropriations Process (38kb
) Read more on the President's FY 2009 request.
