House and Senate Appropriations Committees are in the process of finalizing fiscal year (FY) 2017 Department of Education funding bills. Unfortunately, severe cuts to Title VI/Fulbright-Hays international education programs are on the table.

The Labor, HHS and Education bill that recently cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee would fund Title VI (A&B) Domestic Programs at $65 million and Fulbright-Hays Overseas Programs at $2.1 million for FY 17. While this reflects level funding from FY 16 for Title VI, the Fulbright-Hays program would be slashed by $4.9 million, or a 69 percent cut. Perhaps even more important, the Senate bill, if enacted by Congress, would represent over a six year period a massive $58.63 million cut, or 47 percent reduction, since the FY 2010 high point for Title VI/Fulbright-Hays.

Act now to tell House appropriators that international education programs are crucial for educating U.S. students for our interconnected world and training experts in foreign languages and cultures!  Please follow this link to the National Humanities Alliance’s legislative alert center where you can contact your Representative and tell them to oppose these cuts. If possible, we strongly encourage you to personalize this message, telling Congress why these programs are important to you, your institution, your field, state, or district.