House Committee Approves East-West Center Funding 

by Andrew Walden

Including $16.7M for the East-West Center, the US House Appropriations Committee has advanced “FY26 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill” in a ‘mark-up’ hearing held on Capitol Hill, 11am July 15, 2025.

A line-item on page 17 of the bill reads:

EAST-WEST CENTER To enable the Secretary of State to provide for carrying out the provisions of the Center for Cultural and Technical Interchange Between East and West Act of 1960, by grant to the Center for Cultural and Technical Interchange Between East and West in the State of Hawaii, $16,700,000.

A source tells Hawai’i Free Press, “(The appropriation amount is) Much better than I thought!  With the cuts and personnel losses already in place, this may mean no layoffs--If this funding level is maintained throughout the House and Senate processes.”

The billl will next head to the floor of the US House for a vote.

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Text: “FY26 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill”

SA: U.S. House panel proposes $16.7M for East-West Center | Honolulu Star-Advertiser