AAU Association of American Universities APLU Association of Public and Land-grant Universities COGR Council on Governmental Relations Association of American Universities  1200 New York Ave., NW, Suite 550, Washington, DC 20005  (202) 408-7500 Association of Public and Land-grant Universities  1307 New York Ave., N

On behalf of the leading U.S. research universities that our associations represent, we write to express our support for the goals of S. 3600, the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA). We strongly believe that financial transparency of federal award funds is essential to ensuring public trust. Universities take very seriously their obligation to be responsible stewards of federal funds, and we support the aim of the legislation to make financial information more transparent so that the federal government and the public have sufficient information to ensure that taxpayer monies are spent for their intended purposes.

On behalf of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the Association of American Universities (AAU), whose combined members include the majority of the nation’s public and private research universities, we write to express our serious concern with Section 308 of H.R. 2146, the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act, and Sec. 501 of S. 1789, the 21st Century Postal Service Act. These provisions, inserted as amendments to the underlying bills in their respective chambers, would place severe restrictions on the ability of government employees to attend important meetings, workshops, and conferences at our educational institutions.

AAU-APLU Response 4/30/2012 AAU Association of American Universities APLU Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Association of American Universities •1200 New York Ave., NW, Suite 550, Washington, DC 20005 •(202) 408-7500 Association of Public and Land-grant Universities • 1307 New York Ave., NW, Washington

 Joint Association Letter to House Members on the DATA Act, HR 2146

 AAU position statement on DATA Act, HR 2146

APEC SCIENCE PRIZE for INNOVATION, RESEARCH and EDUCATION (ASPIRE) OVERVIEW The APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (“ASPIRE”) is an annual award to recognize young scientists who have demonstrated a commitment to both excellence in scientific research, as evidenced by scholarly publication, and c

 A group of four associations, including AAU, sent a letter to White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Controller Daniel Werfel on March 7 requesting a 30-day extension of the comment period on OMB’s request for comments on its Advanced Notice of Proposed Guidance (ANPG) on grant reform.

 AAU Position Statement on GRANT Act, HR 3433

We write in opposition to the Grant Reform and New Transparency (GRANT) Act of 2011

(H.R. 3433) because as written this bill could have unintended adverse effects on the

continued development of the scientific and engineering research enterprise and compromise

the U.S. innovation system.

 Sign On Letter on GRANT Act to Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi from Reps Holt and Price

AMENDMENT TO H.R. 3433 OFFERED BY MR. CONNOLLY OF VIRGINIA Page 9, lines 20 and 21, strike ‘‘Except as provided in paragraphs (2)(B) and (3), the and insert ‘‘The. Page 10, strike lines 9 to 14 and insert the followwing ‘‘(B) COPY OF ABSTRACT OF PROPOSAL, 1 APPLICATION, OR PLAN.—A copy of the ab-2 stract of any proposa

 AAU APLU COGR Joint Letter on GRANT Act

FEDERAL DEMONSTRATION PARTNERSHIP Redefining the Government University Research Partnership FDP ARRA Administrative Impact Survey Report Executive Summary Prepared by the Federal Demonstration Partnership ARRA Subcommittee of the Research Administration Committee For more information about the FDP, please visit our web

AAU Association of American Universities APLU Association of Public and Land-grant Universities COGR Council on Governmental Relations Association of American Universities 1200 New York Ave., NW, Suite 550, Washington, DC 20005 (202) 408-7500 Association of Public and Land-grant Universities 1307 New York Ave., NW, Was

The nation’s research university community is deeply concerned about the potential impact of HR 2146, the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2011, on our nation’s innovation capacity. This legislation would impose substantial new costs on universities’ research enterprises, significantly reducing productivity with little benefit to the nation.

We are encouraged that President Obama has asked the federal agencies to conduct this retrospective review of existing rules to assess which should be maintained, modified, strengthened or repealed to increase efficiencies and decrease burden. Research institutions seek to find a balance between achieving regulatory compliance and conducting research. We have advocated for a fundamental examination and evaluation of the current relationship between research institutions and the federal government to strengthen and, in some cases, repair the relationship to ensure increased productivity. One of the key aspects of this assessment is regulatory reform.

 A group of 138 associations, institutions, and patient groups, including AAU, sent a letter to congressional appropriations leaders on April 4 opposing statutory mandates on the number and size of grants made by the National Institutes of Health.  The restrictions have been included in the House-passed FY11 continuing resolution (H.R. 1). 

 A summary of recommendations for revitalizing America's research universities that AAU has provided to the National Research Council Committee on Research Universities.

The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) is an association of 182 research universities and their affiliated academic medical centers and research institutes. COGR concerns itself with the impact of federal regulations, policies, and practices on the performance of research conducted at its member institutions. The
Association of American Universities (AAU) is an association of 61 preeminent public and private U.S. research universities. AAU focuses on national and institutional issues important to research-intensive universities, including funding for research, research and education policy, and graduate and undergraduate
education. The institutions represented by COGR and AAU conduct a significant number of clinical trials under the sponsorship of external companies and organizations that eventually support applications to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Research organizations, themselves, provide support for investigator-initiated clinical research and trials that build the foundation for future FDA applications. As research performers, we are particularly concerned with the FDA’s proposal concerning the reporting of information regarding the falsification of data.

Dear Dr. Holdren: We appreciate the opportunity to offer our thoughts on recommendations for the President concerning scientific integrity in the executive branch. The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) is an association of more than 175 research universities and their affiliated academic medical centers and research institutes. COGR concerns itself with the influence of federal regulations, policies, and practices on the performance of research conducted at its member institutions. The Association of American Universities (AAU) is an association of 60 leading public and private U.S. research institutions. AAU focuses on issues important to research intensive universities, such as funding for research, research policy issues, and graduate education. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (A۰P۰L۰U) is comprised of the 217 flagship and other major public universities in each state including all the land-grant universities.

 Ms. Pridgen: On behalf of the Association of American Universities (AAU), I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the standard data elements for reporting under section 1512 of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Ms. Pridgen: The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) is an association of more than 175 U.S. research universities and their affiliated academic medical centers and research institutes. COGR concerns itself with the influence of federal regulations, policies, and practices on the performance of research and other sponsored activities conducted at its member institutions. Our members are committed to meeting the reporting requirements for funds received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) to meet the goals of transparency and accountability.

Dear Chairman Leahy: As Senate consideration of S. 386, the ―Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009,‖ continues, I contact you to provide input on behalf of the nation’s leading research universities.

Dear Chairman Conyers: The Association of American Universities (AAU) comprises 60 leading U.S. research universities which together perform 60 percent of federally funded university-based research. Many of our member institutions also have academic medical centers that provide clinical care under Medicare and Medicaid. AAU stands for the principles of academic integrity and financial honesty. We fully support the government’s efforts to fight fraud and abuse of federal programs and to recover damages under the statutes of the False Claims Act.

Dear Dr. Orszag: We write to request an opportunity to meet with you along with a group of Senior Research Officers from our universities to discuss the need for short and long-term enhancements to the capacity of the Federal government’s grants application portal, Grants.gov.

Dear Chairman Conyers: The Association of American Universities (AAU) comprises 60 leading U.S. research universities which together perform 60 percent of federally funded university-based research. Many of our member institutions also have academic medical centers that provide clinical care under Medicare and Medicaid.

Dear Mr. Chairman: We fully support the government’s ability to fight fraud and recover damages under the False Claims Act statutes. I write you today to express the reservations of the university community about unintended consequences associated with the new authorities provided for in S. 2041, the False Claims Correction Act of 2007.