Take Action: Join Us in the Effort to Save ECA Funding

Seventy years ago, CIEE was founded by men and women devoted to humanizing international relations, increasing global harmony, and nurturing peace in our world by bringing people together. American luminary Senator J. William Fulbright, the founder of the Fulbright Scholarship Program, spoke directly to this mission when he commented at CIEE’s 25th anniversary in Japan that “CIEE has shared my dedication to the belief that we must all strive to be able to perceive the world as others see it. Educational exchange can humanize international relations by turning nations into people.”

The Trump administration’s FY2018 budget, which was released on March 16, calls for an unprecedented cut of 28 percent to the Department of State. Language in this budget directs a dramatic cut to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), which funds and administers a broad cross-section of study abroad programs for Americans and international exchange programs that enable international students and scholars to come to the United States.

If enacted into law by Congress, these cuts would result in the:

• Elimination of the Gilman Program, which helps Pell-eligible college students study abroad
• Elimination of Critical Language Scholarships, which support Americans learning critical languages overseas
• Elimination of the EducationUSA program, which promotes the American higher education system to foreign students through more than 300 centers around the world
• Significant reductions to the Fulbright Program

In addition, these cuts would have an adverse impact on countless other programs that our higher education community values so greatly.

We believe in the power of global experiential learning and feel these cuts would significantly harm our nation’s public diplomacy effort and, ultimately, our national security and economy.

Congressman Hank Johnson is collecting signatures on a letter to the House State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittees, in support of exchange program funding. His letter calls for the highest possible funding level for exchange programs in FY2018. Fostering the exchange of ideas and experiences to advance peace between people from all nations has never been more important than it is today. That’s why CIEE is supporting our friend, Congressman Johnson, in this effort.

Fostering the exchange of ideas and experiences to advance peace between people from all nations has never been more important than it is today. That’s why CIEE and The Alliance for International Exchange are supporting our friend, Congressman Johnson, in this effort. 

Click here to access a prewritten, customizable letter to your representative in Congress. It only takes a minute or two. The deadline for members of Congress to join the “Dear Colleague” letter is Wednesday, March 22.

Thank you for your support. Adding your voice to this effort will truly make a difference.