American Councils Urges Congress to Support International Exchange and Assistance Programs in Critical World Regions

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) March 31, 2015

Dr. Dan E. Davidson, President of American Councils for International Education, testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, chaired by Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), Nita Lowey (D-New York) ranking member, on the vital need for support of international exchange, research and training programs--with the regions of the world which are critical for U.S. national security and economic competitiveness, in particularly with East Europe and Eurasia and the Middle East, where bloodshed, immense social dislocation and serious, potentially long-term political divisions have recently occurred.

Speaking before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, Dr. Davidson recommended funding for FY 2016 in the State, Foreign Operations bill at $630 million for programs under the U.S. Department of State's Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), a level slightly above that requested by the Obama Administration for FY 2016.

"Our own national security and global competitiveness depend on our ability to understand and engage peoples with diverse histories, cultures, politics, economies and languages, and the portfolio of National Security Language Initiative programs is producing results for American students that are unprecedented in the history of U.S. education," testified Dr. Davidson.

This funding is enormously important to the educational sector that supports a new generation of leaders and provides access to opportunities in areas of the world that previously were only available through patronage and political connection. Dr. Davidson lauded the committee for their historical support of these invaluable programs that encourage democratic engagement and overseas immersion training for U.S. high school and university students in critical languages.

Dr. Davidson also noted how the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) and the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) programs--with a network of alumni now approaching 40,000 around the world--serve as highly visible educational models of transparency, inclusion, and acceptance of ethnic diversity and physical challenge.

Dr. Davidson continued, "[These programs] have created real access to opportunity in countries where, in the past, such opportunities were available only through patronage. In that respect, they represent American values and ideals in action, rather than as words on a page. Moreover, exchange alumni take on increasingly important roles in their home countries in government, business, and the NGO community."

In the past, Chairwoman of the Committee Kay Granger has publicly expressed how her own life has been impacted by these types of exchange programs, after her son and his family hosted two international exchange students in Texas.

To express your support for international educational exchange programs and activities, join the conversation on Twitter @AC_Global.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/04/prweb12619530.htm

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