On April 27 and for the first time in five years, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed a State Department authorization bill, which contains provisions on a wide range of foreign policy issues and authorizes funding levels for State Department programs. The specific Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 and 2011 funding for the Fulbright and other programs will depend on the outcome of the appropriations process.
The bill was passed by voice vote and would work to accomplish a number of goals: modernizing the State Department and building U.S. diplomatic capacity; increasing the accountability of diplomatic and development programs; strengthening U.S. public diplomacy, including the (re)opening of publicly accessible American Centers; reforming visa and passport processing; and renewing U.S. commitment to international organizations. The bill also authorized $2 million for exchange programs in the science and technology fields and authorized awards for exchanges in documentary film making.
