Good afternoon. I am Representative Phil Gingrey and a member of the Subcommittee on Select Education. Unfortunately, Chairman Hoekstra had an obligation arise with another committee and is not able to join us today. Thank you all for being here today to talk about the international education programs authorized under Title VI of the Higher Education Act. We appreciate your willingness to share your insights and expertise about the various programs and offer suggestions for the reauthorization of this title. The reauthorization of the Higher Education Act offers Congress an opportunity to enact needed modifications to the programs covered under the Act and the rules that govern them, with the goal of building upon the programs that are working well.

This subcommittee has jurisdiction over Title VI in the Higher Education Act. Therefore, in preparation for the reauthorization, we are here today to learn more about a number of programs that are authorized and funded under Title VI, which are some of the oldest programs of support to higher education. These programs reflect the priority placed by the federal government on diplomacy, national security, and trade competitiveness. International studies and education have become an increasingly important and relevant topic of conversation and consideration in higher education. It is apparent that the need for institutions of higher education to provide American citizens of all ages the opportunity to learn more about world people and cultures has become a national priority. However, with mounting global tensions, some programs under the Higher Education Act that support foreign language and area studies centers have recently attracted national attention and concern due to the perception of their teachings and policies.

Today, we want to get more information about the various programs that are authorized under Title VI. First, I am interested in learning about how Title VI programs can provide innovative ways to help bridge the international knowledge gap in our nation. Second, the reauthorization allows us a forum to consider what changes need to be made in the federal programs and I would like to use this opportunity to learn more about how institutions of higher education and the general public benefit from the programs within Title VI. Lastly, I am interested in opening the discussion and debate to learn more about the merits of and concern for federal support given to some of the international education programs that have been questioned in regard to their teachings, which have been associated with efforts to potentially undermine American foreign policy.

Again, I thank our witnesses for being here today and I look forward to their testimony.