FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C, June 13th, 2024 – This afternoon, the House Appropriations Committee approved its version of Fiscal Year 2025 Department of Defense Appropriations (DOD) legislation, which included $15 million for the World Language Advancement and Readiness Grants program (WLARP). This is a significant funding victory for world language advocates as the same committee voted to cut the program in half for FY24, which ultimately resulted in a $5 million reduction for the program.
Authorized in 2020, WLARP has provided more than $50 million in multi-year grants for innovative world language and dual language immersion programs to 24 military-connected public school districts, spread across 16 states. Languages represented by the awards include ASL, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish.
“The House Appropriations Committee’s vote to restore WLARP funding to $15 million is a major step forward in ensuring continued funding to support innovative language programs in military-connected schools,” said JNCL-NCLIS Executive Director, Amanda Seewald. “The swift mobilization and dedicated advocacy of our JNCL-NCLIS advocates and current WLARP grantees undoubtedly played a pivotal role in this decision.”
This significant WLARP funding increase over last year’s appropriated amount is particularly gratifying during this time of federal budget austerity. The full FY25 DOD bill approved by the Committee hews to the very low budget caps agreed to by Congress last year, which allowed for only a 1% overall funding increase, causing tough budget cuts in this and other funding legislation.
The full House is expected to take up the Committee’s approved FY25 DOD Appropriations bill later this summer. Ultimately, the final House bill will need to be reconciled with the Senate’s version of the same bill, which has not yet moved.
“JNCL-NCLIS truly appreciates the House Appropriations Committee’s action and recognition of the importance of language education. We are grateful for the support of our House WLARP champions Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Rep. Young Kim (R-CA), and we look forward to continuing to work together to show Congress and the Administration that WLARP provides essential value for our nation,” concluded Seewald.
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About JNCL-NCLIS: Established in 1972, the Joint National Committee for Languages (JNCL) and the National Council for Languages and International Studies (NCLIS) unites a national network of leading organizations and businesses comprised of over 300,000 language professionals to advocate for equitable language learning opportunities. Our mission is to ensure that Americans have the opportunity to learn English and at least one other language.
Contact: info@languagepolicy.org
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