*UPDATE: Senate Defeats Coburn's Amendment to Reduce Federal Funding
On Friday, Senator Coburn (R-Okla.) offered an amendment to H.J.Res.45, a joint resolution that is currently being considered in the U.S. Senate to increase the statutory limit on the public debt. The amendment is cosponsored by Senators Enzi (R-Wyo.), LeMieux (R-Fla.), and McCain (R.-Ariz.). As one of its measures to limit government spending, the amendment requires all federal agencies to consolidate numerous programs, including several international education programs.
Among the programs targeted in the amendment are several that support international education opportunities for students and campuses in the United States, including: the Department of Education’s fourteen Title VI Programs and Fulbright Hays Programs; the Department of State's Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program; the Defense Department's National Security Education Program; and the Office International Science and Engineering at the National Science Foundation.
The Senate is scheduled to resume debate on H.J.Res.45 at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon, and will vote on amendments tomorrow.
While it is unclear what chance this amendment has for passing, please don’t miss this great opportunity to educate your members of Congress about the importance of international education.
Please call your senators today! Sample talking points can be found on the Take Action Center.