If you were able to join us on Saturday, thank you for taking time out of your weekend. Whether or not you were able to attend, I’m deeply grateful for your commitment to ensuring the future of AFS-USA — by welcoming a student into your home, inviting others to join you, and advocating for the continuation of the YES program.

During the meeting, several of you asked which Senators and Congressional Representatives, beyond your own, might be most relevant to contact. In addition to your representatives, here are links to the committees whose members have the greatest influence on YES funding:

• The Senate Foreign Relations Committee
• The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs
• The House Committee on Foreign Affairs
• The House Appropriations Subcommittee for National Security, Department of State and Related Programs

Here’s how you can act immediately:

• Consider hosting — even for a few weeks as a Welcome Family.
• Commit to finding one more placement by reaching out to friends, family, co-workers, or community contacts.
• Contact your elected officials to tell them why YES matters and urge them to release funding for 2026–27.

Every placement we secure now is more than a home for a student — it is living proof to our communities, our government, and the world that America still welcomes and values cultural exchange.

Thank you for stepping up in this moment. If each of us takes action, we will meet this challenge together.

With gratitude,



Tara Hofmann
CEO and President
AFS-USA