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Efforts to secure congressional funding for both the International Fund for Ireland and the Mitchell Scholarship program have gained momentum in Congress over the St. Patrick's Day period.
But it was unclear this week if the two bids are on parallel tracks, or on a potential collision course.
With Congress watching every penny and some members opposed outright to continued IFI funding in particular, the effort to maintain U.S. support will require a lot of supportive signatures.
Twenty of them, all from House of Representatives members, are attached to a letter urging $15 million in IFI funding for fiscal year 2013 and sent to Reps. Kay Granger and Nita Lowey, chair and ranking member respectively, of the House State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee.
The top two signatures on the letter are those of Congressman Joe Crowley, the New York Democrat, and Peter King, the New York Republican who is also chairman of the Friends of Ireland in Congress.
The letter states in part: "For nearly two decades, the United States has been at the forefront of international efforts to promote peace in Northern Ireland.
"The United States has consistently demonstrated its commitment to peace in Northern Ireland through high-level negotiations, diplomacy and grassroots peace-building. While many Americans, including those active in the Irish-American community, are proud of the United States role in these achievements so far, there is still much work to be done moving forward.
"Unfortunately, a very real increase in sectarian violence in the North has recently erupted, including more bombing incidents in recent years than at any time since 2002-2003. The surge in hostility may aim to derail what has been achieved throughout the peace process, or to take advantage of ongoing tensions and provocations.
"We understand that budgetary pressures on our own government call for careful decisions about funding. Yet, the IFI has already been out substantially in recent years - even as important matters there remain unresolved. The United States has a solid history of maintaining support for the IFI and deserves considerable credit. With so many Americans of Irish descent, our ties to Ireland are strong, and our interests are well-served by remaining deeply engaged in the peace process."
The letter concluded: "We respectfully request your continued support in providing $15 million for the IFI in the FY 2013 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill."
Meanwhile, the Mitchell program, named after North peace broker Senator George Mitchell, and which sends a dozen top U.S. scholars to Irish universities annually, is also seeking congressional funding.
Trina Vargo, who heads the US-Ireland Alliance, which runs the program, said in a recent email to supporters that "Senator John Kerry is spearheading the Senate letter in support of our Mitchell Scholarship program. Please call your Senators' offices and ask them to sign Kerry's letter."
A House letter has already been sent on behalf of the program's dollar pitch. It also has close to 20 signatories, including some of the congressmen who signed the IFI letter: Reps. Richard Neal, Jim McGovern and Joe Crowley.
