Legislation & Politics

AFSCME Urges Full Funding for East-West Center

This letter was also sent to the Senate Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs   

  March 19, 2007

Members of the Committee on Appropriations
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative:

On behalf of the 1.4 million members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and our members who work for the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii and the Voice of America (VOA), I am writing to urge you to fully fund the East-West Center and the VOA. 

The East-West Center is an education and research organization established by the U.S. Congress in 1960 to strengthen relations and understanding among the peoples and nations of Asia, the Pacific, and the United States.  The Center provides vital services in the continuing relationship with the Asia Pacific community by serving as a vigorous hub for cooperative research, education, and dialogue on critical issues of common concern to the Asia Pacific region and the United States.  Funding for the Center comes from the U.S. government, with additional support provided by private agencies, individuals, foundations, corporations, and the governments of the region.

The President's FY 08 budget funds the East-West Center at only $10 million dollars which is a reduction of 46 percent from the current level.  The current level was only funded at the FY 06 level in the Continuing Resolution so this further reduction would cause layoffs and job losses.  The funding for this important center has been reduced over the years, and additional resources are needed to sustain this function.  As a national and regional resource, the Center offers:
• An interdisciplinary research program that examines major issues of critical importance in U.S.-Asia Pacific relations including trade and investment relations.
• Dialogue and professional enrichment programs that focus on groups central to the communication of ideas, the media, political and policy leaders, and educators.
• Educational programs to develop the human resources needed by the United States and the Asia Pacific region in a new era of increased interdependence.
We are also concerned about funding levels at VOA.  The President’s budget for FY 08 includes the elimination of VOA and Radio Free Asia broadcasts in a number of sensitive 
regions.  In addition to these cuts in services, the budget seeks to reduce support and administrative services and the transmission network.
Several of these reductions were proposed for FY 07 and are again included in the FY 08 request.  We urge you to reject these reductions in VOA programs and to fully fund such programs.  The East-West Center needs at least $21 million to operate effectively.
We thank you for your continued leadership and for your serious consideration of AFSCME’s funding request for the East-West Center and the VOA.


Sincerely,
Charles M. Loveless
Director of Legislation


 

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