Please see below recent letter from AFS-USA Executive Vice President Keri Dooley, also sent via email, that details how you can help to support funding for student exchange programs like those offered by AFS-USA.

I am writing to bring to your attention a letter currently being circulated by Rep. Hank Johnson’s (D-GA-04) office. The letter calls on the House Appropriations Committee to fund the State Department’s Educational and Cultural Exchange (ECA) programs at amounts equal to FY2023 levels for FY2025.  

At AFS-USA, these programs include the Kennedy Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES), YES Abroad, Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX), Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX), and National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) Programs. More information on these programs can be found here. 

These programs continue to operate due to congressional support, and we’re asking you to help support all types of exchange programs by sending a letter to your representative.  

Our colleagues in international education at NAFSA have made the process simple by creating an easy letter-generator that you can use here.  

Thank you for supporting AFS-USA and intercultural exchange. Please reach out to me with any questions, 

Keri Dooley 
Executive Vice President Compliance and Government Relations 
AFS-USA 

Email: kdooley@afsusa.org 
Tel: (646) 751-2009