US-Ireland Alliance

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS URGE STATE DEPARTMENT REVERSAL

ON MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING DECISION

JULY 24, 2012.  Twenty-eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives have written to House leaders John Boehner and Nancy Pelosi, as well as the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House Appropriations Committee and its Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, to “express strong opposition” to the State Department’s decision to eliminate funding for the George J. Mitchell Scholarship program. 

The scholarship program is the flagship project of the non-partisan, nonprofit US-Ireland Alliance.  The program sends American young people to Ireland and Northern Ireland for a year of post-graduate study.  Applicants must have demonstrable records of leadership and service, as well as academic excellence. Each year, up to 12 Scholars are selected from among 300 applications, making it one of the most sought after scholarships in the country.   The government of Northern Ireland makes an annual contribution to the program and the Irish Government has committed to match anything the Alliance raises, up to 20 million euros, for an endowment for the program.  But the US Government’s annual contribution of less than $500,000 is crucial for the operation of the program until an endowment can be raised.   The State Department recently decided to eliminate all funding for the program, telling the Alliance that Europe was no longer a priority.

The letter that was sent today, initiated by Minnesota Democratic Congresswoman Betty McCollum, asks the Appropriations Committee to direct the State Department to provide funds so that the program can continue uninterrupted.  Anne Glusker, director of the Mitchell Scholarship program, welcomed the letter saying,  “We are grateful that so many members of Congress are expressing their support for the program, and we hope that the Department of State will reverse its decision immediately so that we may select a next class of Scholars in the fall.” 

In addition to the support of the 28 members of Congress, nearly 1,200 people have signed an online petition asking for the restoration of funding. US-Ireland Alliance President Trina Vargo noted that a wide range of people, including American and Irish university presidents and professors as well as the Irish and Northern Ireland governments have also urged the Department of State to reverse this decision.  Vargo said, “Only 1 percent of American students study abroad.  That number is far too low. If the US is to remain competitive and create relationships around the world which will allow us all to confront the very serious global problems we face, we should be creating more such programs -- not eliminating existing ones with an excellent track record.”

In addition to Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN), others who signed the letter are:  Hank Johnson (D-GA), Mark Critz (D-PA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Michael Michaud (D-ME), James McGovern (D-MA), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Russ Carnahan (D-MO), Laura Richardson (D-CA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Bill Owens (D-NY), Howard Berman (D-CA), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Sam Farr (D-CA)

Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Mike Fitzpatrick  (R-PA), Bill Keating (D-MA), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Sander Levin (D-MI), Joe Courtney  (D-CT), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). 

CLICK HERE to read the letter from the Members of Congress.

CLICK HERE to see the 1100+ names of those who have signed the petition.

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