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Managing America: Education

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Week Ending September 7, 2007

H.R.3062 To authorize appropriations to provide for South Pacific exchanges, provide technical and other assistance to countries in the Pacific region through the United States Agency for International Development, and authorize appropriations to provide Fulbright Scholarships for Pacific Island students.
 

Upon request of a government of a countries in the Pacific region, the State Department cultural exchange program will provide technical and other assistance to aid in the process of participating in the soon to be developed one-year J. William Fulbright Educational and Cultural Exchange Program that will make awards to Pacific Island students to permit them to study in the US. The governments can submit between three and five Pacific Island students to participate in the program.

The bill notes that between 1949 and 2003, 13,176 Fulbright Scholarships went to students from East Asia and the Pacific but only 31 went to Pacific Island students. None were awarded between 2003 and 2004.

Students who may participate in the new program will be from the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Independent State of Samoa. The Kingdom of Tonga, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshal Islands, the Republics of Nauru, Palau and Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.

Sponsor:  Rep. Eni Faleomavaega (D-AZ)

Vote: Agreed to by voice vote September 5, 2007

Cost to the taxpayers: $1 million for FY 2008 and 2009.

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