for assistance for basic education in prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs are in excess of the absorptive capacity of recipient countries, such funds may be made available for other programs authorized under chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, notwithstanding such funding designation: Provided , That the authority of the previous proviso shall be subject to prior consultation with, and the regular notification procedures of, the Committees on Appropriations. (C) Of the funds appropriated under title III of this Act for assistance for basic education programs, not less than $90,000,000 shall be made available for a contribution to multilateral partnerships that support education. (2) Higher education Of the funds appropriated by title III of this Act, not less than $235,000,000 shall be made available for assistance for higher education: Provided , That such funds may be made available notwithstanding any other provision of law that restricts assistance to foreign countries, and shall be subject to the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations: Provided further , That of such amount, not less than $35,000,000 shall be made available for human and institutional capacity building partnerships between higher education institutions in the United States and developing countries, of which not less than $15,000,000 shall be for new partnerships which should be competed and awarded not later than one year after enactment of this Act: Provided further , That not later than 45 days after enactment of this Act, the USAID Administrator shall consult with the Committees on Appropriations on the proposed uses of funds for such partnerships. (3) McCain scholars program Funds appropriated by this Act under the heading Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs that are made available for the Benjamin Gilman International Scholarships Program shall also be made available for the McCain Scholars Program, pursuant to