The budget recommended continued financing for children and parents already in the program, and proposed cutting its budget from $250 million in 2002 to $175 million in 2004.
Zhao Jiping, a well-known composer, took his chance to speak as an opportunity to plead politely for continued financing of artistic ventures.
The economic crisis made continued private financing imperative but problematic.
Russia is also providing $200 million annually in continued financing for Cuba's eavesdropping facility at Lourdes.
Lucent's credit rating is so low that it cannot sell commercial paper, leaving it at the mercy of its banks for continued financing.
The Office of Management and Budget, the Administration's budgetary arm, has also called for continued financing of the Superconducting Supercollider, provided that Congress agrees.
And it now seems that the Republicans working to broker a compromise may be best positioned to make continued financing palatable to the majority in Congress.
Another failure would have seriously crippled the missile-defense system's chances for continued financing by Congress.
Rumsfeld supporters say the continued financing of Future Combat Systems illustrates how his agenda to use technology to overhaul the Army is still being pursued.
The local officials also called for continued federal financing for their program, which is expected to cost $37 million a year through 2005 but has been allocated only about half that to date.