Capitol Hill Supports Mitchell Scholarship Program

Bipartisan support for the George J. Mitchell Scholarship remained strong as Capitol Hill voted to provide $500,000 in continued funding for the scholarship program in the Omnibus spending bill. This is the sixth consecutive year that the Congress has supported the Mitchell Scholarship, which is the flagship program of the US-Ireland Alliance.

Under the strong leadership and backing of Congressman Peter King (R-NY) and Joseph Crowley (D-NY), a letter of support was initiated to Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Chairwoman of the subcommittee responsible for State Department appropriations. The House members who support the successful educational initiative are: Thomas H. Allen (D-ME), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Henry E. Brown (R-SC), Michael Capuano (D-MA), William Lacy Clay (D-MO), William Delahunt (D-MA), Brian Higgins (D-NY), Sander Levin (D-MI), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), Jim McDermott (D-WA), James McGovern (D-MA), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Michael Michaud (D-ME), George Miller (D-CA), Richard Neal (D-MA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and Donald Payne (D-NJ).

In the Senate, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) chairs the relevant subcommittee and Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) is the Ranking Member. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) annually lead the Senate effort. They are joined this year by Democratic Senators Max Baucus (MT), Sherrod Brown (OH), Joe Biden (DE), Maria Cantwell (WA), Benjamin Cardin (MD), Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY), Chris Dodd (CT), John Kerry (MA), Robert Menendez (NJ), Barbara Mikulski (MD), Barack Obama (IL), Jack Reed (RI), Charles E. Schumer (NY), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), Republican Olympia Snowe (MN) and Independent Democrat Joseph Lieberman.

The Mitchell Scholarship program was created in 1998 with an endowment from the Irish Government at the initiative of Prime Minister Bertie Ahern. In February 2007 the Irish government announced that it would match whatever the Alliance raises, up to 20 million euros over the next five years, to establish a permanent Mitchell endowment. Derek Quinlan, the founder and head of Quinlan Private, is spearheading the initiative to help raise funds in the private sector.

Other significant financial support is provided by the Northern Ireland Department for Employment and Learning, BD (Becton, Dickinson & Company), Bombardier Aerospace (NI) Foundation, Cross Atlantic Capital Partners, and The Crucible Corporation. Universities in Ireland and Northern Ireland contribute housing and tuition to the Mitchell Scholars. In just six years, the Mitchell Scholarship program has become one of the most competitive scholarships for young Americans. Close to 300 individuals apply annually for the 12 scholarship awards. Recipients are selected on the basis of academic excellence, leadership, and sustained commitment to public service. The Scholarships are named in honor of former Senator George Mitchell’s contributions to the Northern Ireland peace process.

Supporters of the US-Ireland Alliance include benefactor Quinlan Private and corporate sponsors CRH, Cross Atlantic Capital Partners, Diageo Ireland, and IONA Technologies.