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Floor Situation
H.R. 3062 is being considered on the floor under suspension of the rules and will require a two-thirds majority vote for passage. This legislation was introduced by Delegate Eni Faleomavaega (D-AS) on July 17, 2007. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and was reported out by voice vote.

H.R. 3062 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House of Representatives on September 5, 2007.


Summary
H.R. 3062 authorizes $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009 to the Secretary of State for South Pacific exchanges carried out under the educational and cultural exchange programs of the Department of State.

H.R. 3062 requires the Secretary to establish an annual one-year program within the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange program providing scholarships to Pacific Island students for study in the United States pursuant to the terms of such exchange program. It authorizes $500,000 for this purpose.

Additionally, the legislation requires the Secretary of State to submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, a report regarding the number of Pacific Island students awarded Fulbright Scholarships.


Background
The Fulbright Scholarship was established in 1964 as a tool for American students to study abroad and to allow non-American students to study in the States. Approximately 279,500 "Fulbrighters," 105,400 from the United States and 174,100 from other countries, have participated in the Program since its inception over fifty years ago. The Fulbright Program awards approximately 6,000 new grants annually.

The current concern with the program is the lack of numbers of Pacific Island students receiving Scholarships.

From 1949 until 2003, the State Department awarded 13,176 Fulbright Scholarships to students from East Asia and the Pacific, 31 of those scholarships went to Pacific Island students.

In the 2003-2004 academic year, the State Department awarded 315 scholarships to students from East Asia and the Pacific, but none were awarded to Pacific Island students.


Cost
At the time of publication the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) had not yet scored H.R. 3062.


Staff Contact
For questions or further information contact Luke Hatzis at (202) 226-2302.