CONTENTS:
- SCOTUS Begins Travel Ban Review
- Another Federal Judge Rules Against DACA's End
- Associations Express Concerns with Elimination of FBI Higher Education Board
- Coalitions Request Robust FY19 Federal Research, Higher Ed Investments
- NIST Releases RFI on Return on Investment Initiative
- House Advances "Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act"
- NEH Chairman Receives Senate Confirmation
- Bridenstine Sworn in as NASA Administrator
- 2018 Golden Goose Award Sponsorship Opportunities Available
SCOTUS BEGINS TRAVEL BAN REVIEW
The Supreme Court began its last session of the term Wednesday by hearing arguments in Trump v. Hawaii, a challenge to the administration's third travel ban. The first iteration of the ban forbade travel to the U.S. by nationals of seven majority Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The current ban affects nationals from Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.
The Supreme Court in December allowed the third version to go into effect pending the outcome of litigation. The justices are now reviewing a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco, which held that President Trump had exceeded his legal authority and had not made a legally sufficient finding that entry of those blocked would be "detrimental to the interests of the United States." A decision is expected in June.
AAU and 31 other organizations in March submitted an amicus brief to the Court to express the higher education community's deep concerns.
A transcript of Wednesday's arguments is available here.
ANOTHER FEDERAL JUDGE RULES AGAINST DACA'S END
A D.C. federal judge on Tuesday rejected the administration's justifications for ending DACA, stating "DACA's rescission was arbitrary and capricious because the Department failed adequately to explain its conclusion that the program was unlawful." Judge Bates stayed his decision for 90 days to give DHS the opportunity to explain its justification for ending the program. Should the Department fail to do so, it must "accept and process new as well as renewal applications."
Last month, a Maryland federal judge struck down a legal challenge to DACA's termination, saying that although he disagrees with administration's move, it is not his job to set immigration policy. Previously, two district court judges from Brooklyn and San Francisco ruled against the winding down of DACA.
AAU continues to advocate for a permanent legislative solution on behalf of those affected by DACA's rescission.
ASSOCIATIONS EXPRESS CONCERNS WITH ELIMINATION OF FBI HIGHER EDUCATION BOARD
AAU, along with 14 other higher education associations, wrote to FBI Director Christopher Wray to request a meeting with relevant federal agencies to discuss national security issues that intersect with higher education. The letter notes that a prior forum for such discussions, the National Security Higher Education Advisory Board (NSHEAB), has been disbanded. As part of the government-university partnership, the letter says, "it is critical to provide an appropriate forum for the higher education community and the key national security agencies to discuss common concerns."
The joint association letter was submitted a day before the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee penned a similar letter to FBI Director Wray questioning the FBI's dissolution of the NSHEAB. The House committee earlier this month held a hearing focused on foreign nations' exploitation of U.S. universities to exfiltrate science and technology research and development.
COALITIONS REQUEST ROBUST FY19 FEDERAL RESEARCH, HIGHER ED INVESTMENTS
FY19 funding request letters for the various funding coalitions (CAS, CNSF, CNSR, ESC, and SAA) in which AAU participates are now available on the AAU Federal Budget page.
- The Coalition for Aerospace and Science requests at least $21.7 billion for NASA in FY19;
- The Coalition for National Science Funding requests at least $8.45 billion for NSF in FY19;
- The Coalition for National Security Research requests at least $2.436 billion for DOD 6.1 in FY19;
- The Energy Sciences Coalition requests at least $375 million for ARPA-E in FY19;
- The Energy Sciences Coalition requests at least $6.6 billion for DOE Office of Science in FY19; and
- The Student Aid Alliance on April 3 submitted an amended FY19 appropriations request for various Department of Education student aid programs.
NIST RELEASES RFI ON RETURN ON INVESTMENT INITIATIVE
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) yesterday released an advance copy of its Request for Information (RFI) regarding the current state of federal technology transfer and the public's ability to access federally funded R&D through collaborations, licensing, and other mechanisms. The information received will inform the agency's Return on Investment (ROI) Initiative, announced last week. NIST has scheduled four public forums regarding the initiative and the stakeholder engagement process. Space is extremely limited so interested parties should register soon.
AAU will work with its partner associations to respond to the RFI and will encourage AAU universities to provide input, including seeking responses from faculty members that have benefited from existing university technology transfer practices. It is unclear when comments are due as the RFI has not yet been published in the Federal Register.
HOUSE APPROVES "INNOVATORS TO ENTREPRENEURS ACT"
Yesterday evening, the House approved the Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act (H.R. 5086), a bill that supports the expansion of NSF's Innovation Corps program to teach scientists and engineers how to turn their research into successful commercial products and services. Bill sponsor Rep. Daniel Lipiniski (D-IL) said of the bill's passage, "America's future depends on job creation through innovation, and I-Corps is a program that has proven to be successful in helping turn federally-funded research into innovative products and services. By increasing the accessibility of I-Corps, this bill will significantly increase the return on our research investment and keep America at the cutting edge of innovation. I want to thank Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Johnson for their leadership in the Science Committee, as well as the lead cosponsor, Mr. Webster of Florida, and Senator Coons, who is leading a companion bill in the Senate."
AAU supports and will continue to monitor the bill as it moves through the legislative process.
NEH CHAIRMAN RECEIVES SENATE CONFIRMATION
President Trump's nomination for Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Jon Parrish Peede, was confirmed yesterday by the Senate on unanimous consent. Peede joined the NEH in April 2017 and most recently served as the agency's Senior Deputy Chairman. Once sworn in, Peede will become the 11th chairman of the NEH.
BRIDENSTINE SWORN IN AS NASA ADMINISTRATOR
On Monday, Vice President Mike Pence swore in former Oklahoma Rep. Jim Bridenstine as the 13th NASA administrator. During the ceremony, Vice President Pence said, "Under Space Policy Directive 1, we will send American astronauts back to the Moon, and after that we will establish the capacity, with international and commercial partners, to send Americans to Mars. And NASA will lead the way." Bridenstine was confirmed by the Senate last Thursday by a 50-49 vote after receiving President Trump's nomination in September 2017.
2018 GOLDEN GOOSE AWARD SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
Sponsorship opportunities for the 2018 Golden Goose Award are now available. Your organization's contributions help fund awardee travel, production of the 2018 awardee documentary, and support efforts to engage an ever-expanding audience. Funds are not used for staffing, which is provided in-kind by the Golden Goose Award Steering Committee organizations.
The deadline for sponsoring is July 31, 2018. Please contact Julia Smith ([email protected]) if your organization is interested in supporting the award.
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