A funding bill in the U.S. House would eliminate the East-West Center, going above and beyond the budget trimming that Republicans have proposed in previous years.

House Resolution 2583, also known as the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for fiscal 2012, would repeal a 1960 law that established the center for cultural and technical interchange between East and West.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono said she has asked that language to repeal the law be removed from the bill.

"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 bill is before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

East-West Center spokeswoman Karen Knudsen said the State Department has indicated strong support for the program and she feels eliminating the center and its funding is unlikely, given the support in the Senate and the Hawaii congressional delegation.

Knudsen said there are a number of budgetary steps before a final decision is made.

"This is one committee action in a long process," she said. "Everyone is watching the whole budget … as we move forward."

The East-West Center, established on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus in 1960, 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.

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.

Knudsen said the center helps to provide a vital network in public diplomacy and a place for robust dialogue between international professionals who otherwise might not speak to each other.

Hirono’s office said congressional delegate Eni Faleomavaega of American Samoa, who is on the Foreign Affairs Committee, will ask for an amendment to remove the proposed funding cut.