US Senate Saves Foreign Language Assistance Program

From the Joint National Committee for Languages (JNCL) and the National Council for Languages and International Studies (NCLIS):

The Senate Appropriation Committee has prepared their version of the FY 2011 Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government and its programs through the remainder of this fiscal year.  The Senate bill reduces the President’s budget request by $50 billion as opposed to the House bill, H.R. 1, which has a $100 billion reduction.

The positive news is that the Senate bill level funds the Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP) at $26.928 million and Title VI, Foreign Languages and International Education in Higher Education, at $125.881 million.

Nevertheless, the House and Senate budget bills differ by about $50 Billion ($10 Billion for education alone).  They will attempt to resolve these differences by March 18.  Please contact your Senators and Representatives and urge them to support the more reasonable and workable Senate reductions. 

Final figures will be posted on the JNCL/NCLIS web site.