Haley Stevens: “I understand full well the amendment of the Senator from Illinois. It is one directed toward preserving the Boren fund…”

“I understand full well the amendment of the Senator from Illinois. It is one directed toward preserving the Boren fund concept, that provided for education, particularly educational opportunities in foreign cultures and languages. The House had totally eliminated this program. Our committee tried to fund the ongoing grants and those that had already been approved under the Boren plan. We provided for the elimination of the fund at the end of the settlement of the obligations that have been made to date. I think there is a serious question about the redundancy in the defense bill of moneys for research and activities of this type. The university grants under the current bill, this year, amounted to $1.6 billion. We are looking now at, really, a difference of some $16.5 million, as far as the amendment of the Senator from Illinois is concerned, and our position as represented by the Senate report. My advice--and I have conferred with my good friend from Hawaii--my advice to the Senate is we accept the amendment of the Senator from Illinois, knowing full well that the full spectrum of the House's recommendations will still be in conference.”