During the campaign, Barack Obama promised to "improve and expand public-private partnerships to expand cultural and arts exchanges throughout the world."

Promoting cultural exchange comes under the authority of the State Department, particularly the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The bureau was established under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchanges Act of 1961, which called on the State Department to "foster mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries to promote friendly, sympathetic, and peaceful relations."

The bureau oversees a multitude of national and international programs, from the Bangladesh Global Connections and Exchange Program to the Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange Program. The bureau's Web site says the programs are based "on the benefits of mutual understanding, international educational and cultural exchange, and leadership development."

To see how President Obama was doing with his promise, we decided to check whether the 2010 budget increased funding for the State Department to administer these exchange programs.

Funding for the State Department comes from the 2010 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. The legislation was passed by the House on July 9, 2009. It includes $600 million for educational and cultural exchanges. That's $62 million more than was allocated in 2009, though $33 million below President Obama's original request. Over in the Senate, the Senate Appropriations Committee provided $635.2 million, $2 million above President Obama's request and $97.2 million more than 2009. The bill, however, still has to be approved on the full Senate floor.

A bill that would expand funding for international cultural exchange programs is under consideration in Congress. So we rate this promise In the Works.