Despite attempts by Hawaii’s two Democratic congressional members to restore funding for the East-West Center, a U.S. House committee approved a measure today that would abolish the Manoa institution.

Ashley Nagaoka, spokeswoman for Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, said the House Committee on Foreign Affairs rejected an amendment this morning to save the center. American Samoa Rep. Eni Faleomavaega (D), a member of the committee, offered the amendment.

The Foreign Relations Authorization Act before the Republican-controlled House would repeal the 1960 law that established the center, which promotes cultural and technical interchanges between East and West and provides funding for students from Pacific Rim nations to study at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Nagaoka said Hanabusa will introduce a floor amendment restoring the proposed funding cut if the House Rules Committee allows floor amendments.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, who also supports the center, said: "Eliminating the East-West Center would have an immediate and potentially devastating impact on our country’s foreign policy and national security interests in the Asia-Pacific region," she said. "Its work addressing trade, security, human rights, and energy security among other key issues is needed today more than ever."

The East-West Center was established on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus in 1960. It is a nonprofit organization with annual federal funding of about $21 million and additional support of about $10 million provided by private agencies, individuals, foundations, corporations and governments. The center helps foreign students receive higher education on scholarships in the United States and provides programs related to training, research and economic development.

In recent years it has been target of budget cuts as lawmakers seek ways to cut the federal deficit.

Last year, President Barack Obama proposed reducing its federal funding from $21 million to $12 million, arguing that this would encourage the center to seek other sources for money.

However, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, increased its funding.

In February, the Republican-controlled House tried again and voted to strip $10.7 million, half the center’s budget. A House-Senate conference committee restored its funding to $21 million for the fiscal year ending in October.

About 200 people work at the East-West Center, said center spokeswoman Karen Knudsen. 

If the bill passes the House without authorization for the center, Inouye is expected to try to restore funding in the Senate.

Knudsen said the State Department has indicated strong support for the program and she believes eliminating the center and its funding are unlikely, given the support in the Senate and the Hawaii congressional delegation.

Obama’s half-sister, Maya Soetero-Ng, was hired about a year ago to work as a part-time educator at the center. Her work is paid for by private funds.

Obama’s mother, Stanley Anne Dunham, was an East-West Center fellow.

The center has nearly 60,000 alumni worldwide including people in key positions, such as Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak and India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

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Star-Advertiser reporter Gary Kubota contributed to this story.