WASHINGTON -- Legislation moving through the U.S. House and Senate would slightly increase funding for the Fulbright Program, rather than cut funding by $30.5 million as President Barack Obama requested.

The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to "mark up" or modify its version of the appropriation bill today. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the bill Thursday.

Obama had proposed cutting 13 percent of funding from the international education exchange program named for a former U.S. senator from Arkansas, sparking objections from alumni around the world.

Much of the $30.5 million Obama proposed taking from the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program would instead go toward shorter-term exchange programs, according to the U.S. State Department.

Obama has repeatedly proposed broader exchanges to include more people from minority groups and countries that haven't been the focus of past exchanges. The president's proposed 2015 budget shifts money to create short-term programs for people in countries that are experiencing conflicts or crises, dramatic leadership transitions, or significant societal changes.

The Senate version of the appropriation bill increases funding for the Fulbright Program by $1.3 million to $236 million. It also allows for $20 million in additional federal spending for the programs in Africa and Asia that Obama wanted increases for, with the expectation that private groups will match the funding.

The version being considered by the House Appropriations Committee states that "not less than $236,974,000 shall be for the Fulbright Program." That would be a $2.3 million increase over fiscal 2014.

In its report to the Senate, the Senate Appropriations Committee took the State Department to task for the proposed cut, saying that in past years the Department had tried to cut exchanges with a regional focus in favor of supporting the Fulbright Program.

"This reversal indicates a lack of long-term planning," it states.

U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., said it is encouraging that both chambers are considering rejecting the cut.

"The fact that both the House and the Senate are pretty much on the same track, I think that that indicates that there's a good chance that the funding will be very close to what they stipulated," he said.

He said it isn't clear when the bill will go before the Senate. Both the House and Senate are scheduled to meet sporadically from the July 4 holiday until after the November election. If the House and Senate bills still differ after they are passed, the two chambers will conference to resolve the differences.

"I suspect most of this stuff will be done after the election," Boozman said.

In a statement, Mississippi Delta Grassroots Caucus Executive Director Lee Powell praised Arkansas' senators for resisting the cut. Both Boozman and U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., are on the Appropriations Committee. The group, a coalition of leaders from the Delta region, prodded members of the House and Senate to avoid the cut.

"This is a huge victory for the venerable Fulbright Program that has promoted education in the Delta and all 50 states and across the globe since Senator Fulbright and President Harry S. Truman worked together to create it shortly after World War II," he said.

In a statement, Pryor said he was proud the Senate committee resisted the proposed cut.

"By giving our students the chance to experience the diverse cultures and history of other countries, this program is helping strengthen American ties around the globe. I will continue to work with the Delta Grassroots Caucus, as well as Senator Boozman, to secure funding to keep the Fulbright Program strong," he said.

U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who is challenging Pryor for the U.S. Senate seat in November, said in a statement that he is proud of the program's connection to Arkansas.

"If President Obama had his way, that legacy would be in jeopardy as the program would see major cuts. I am pleased my colleagues on the [House] Appropriations Committee intend to protect the Fulbright Program and I will review the final bill before it comes to the House floor for a vote," he said.

U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., generally defers to Appropriations Committee members to set funding amounts, his Chief of Staff Jonah Shumate said. In a statement the congressman called the Fulbright Program a "conduit for students" to learn about the contributions made by other countries.

"I believe that members of the Appropriations Committee will take in to account the work this program has done over the last several decades and fund it in a way they believe is a good use of taxpayer dollars," he said.

U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin, R-Ark., said he is happy the cut isn't in the House bill.

"I'm glad to see the Appropriations Committee support the proven, well-respected Fulbright Program despite President Obama's opposition," he said in a statement.

The State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs awards approximately 8,000 Fulbright grants each year, according to the department website. About 1,600 U.S. students and about 1,200 U.S. college and university faculty members receive grants to visit other countries, and about 4,900 foreign students and scholars receive grants to visit the United States to teach or learn.

About 325,400 people have participated in the Fulbright program since 1946, according to the department. Since Obama's proposed budget was announced, alumni started petition drives and urged supporters to call members of Congress to prevent the changes.

Metro on 06/24/2014