Subj: NOTICE: Fulbrights Threatened with Cuts--Mail Your Congressperson
Date: Wed, 13 Mar 96 15:48:35 PST
From: pp001366@pop3.interramp.com
TO: FULBRIGHTERS AND FRIENDS OF THE FULBRIGHT PROGRAM AND OTHER EXCHANGES
From: Fulbright Association
Re: Foreign Affairs Agencies Reauthorization Bills (S. 908/H.R. 1561)
This message is for all Fulbrighters. PLEASE CALL OR FAX
YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND SENATORS TODAY TO ASK THEM TO
OPPOSE THE CONFERENCE REPORT FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND
RELATED AGENCIES FISCAL YEAR 1996/1997 AUTHORIZATION
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(Message)
The Senate will consider on Tuesday, March 12, a conference report that
would mandate the elimination of one foreign affairs agency -- the United
States Information Agency, the U.S. Agency for International Development,
or the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency through consolidation into the
State Department -- and that would mandate further extreme cuts in exchange
budgets in fiscal year 1997. The House will consider the bill on Tuesday,
March 12, and Wednesday, March 13. Please contact your member of congress
and senators today -- via phone call or fax -- asking them to oppose
(S. 908/H.R. 1561.
The legislation results from the House-Senate conference on the FY 96-97
authorization bill for the Staet Department and related agencies. After
much debate over the course of a year, the bill includes a provision which
would force the President to eliminate one foreign affairs agency --
AID, USIA, or ACDA -- and make deep cuts in foreign affaris budgets for the
next fiscal year.
THE PROPOSED CUTS WOULD SET A CEILING OF $183MILLION FOR USIA EXCHANGES
(FROM THIS YEAR'S APPROPRIATIONS BILL LEVEL OF $200 MILLION). The bill also
calls for a $15 million cut in USIA's salaries and expenses account. Cuts
of this magnitude will further erode the ability of the Fulbright and other
exchange programs to serve the national interest and will require program
and staffing cuts that will severely impede the effectiveness of USIA and
the exchange organizations.
BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT MAY VETO THIS LEGISLATION, CALLS TO DEMOCRATES ARE
PARTICULARLY IMPROTANT TO HELP ENSURE THAT THE VOTES ARE NOT ADEQUATE TO
OVERIDE A VETO. OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE ARE SENATORS JOHN KERRY (D-MA),
CHRISTOPHER DODD (D-CT), AND PAUL SARBANES (D-MD), THE KEY DEMOCRATIC
LEADERS ON THIS ISSUE.
CALL THE CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD AT (202) 224-3121 AND ASK TO BE CONNECTED
TO THE MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OR SEANTE THAT REPRESENTS THE DISTRICT IN WHICH
YOU LIVE. You may also give the operator your zip code and he/she will
connect you to the appropriate office. (If your zip code covers two
districts, you will need to know your congressional district.)
A sample letter to send via fax follows. If you choose to call, the
letter can also be used for talking points in your call to your representative.
The Honorable_________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
or
he Honorable
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
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(Sample Letter)
Dear Senator/Congressman:
I am writing today to urge your opposition to the conference report for the
State Department authorization bill (H.R. 1561/S. 908). The conference
reprot mandates authorization levels for FY 97 that will seriously undermine
the ability of the United States to conduct its foreign affaris, and unwisely
seeks to force the President to eliminate a foreign affairs agency.
Cuts in the bill would negatively affect the administration of the Fulbright
Program and other exchanges. Additional reductions in USIA exchange programs,
after this year's cuts in the 20 per cent rgane, will severely hamper the
effectiveness of these programs, which are among our most cost-effective
foreign affairs efforts.
Elimination of one of the foreign affairs agencies, as proposed in the bill,
is likely to compromise the long-term interests of the United States.
Each of the three agencies -- USIA, AID, and ACDA -- has a distinct and vital
mission. Those missions are likely to be less well served in the State Dept.
A better and more cost-effective course would be to preserve the agencies'
autonomy, but to continue the economies and restructuring already underway.
We believe that the United States needs to remain positively engaged in the
world and that this legislation signals a withdrawal that will not serve
our interests. We urge you to oppose all efforts on the floor to enact
this legislation.
Thank you in advance for your interest and support.
Sincerely,