- Budget and Appropriations Update
- Senate, House Continue Push on FY20 NDAA
- SCOTUS Will Hear DACA Arguments
- AAU, Associations Urge Senate to Support Legislation to Protect Dreamers
- AAU, Associations Submit Comments on USPTO’s SUCCESS Act of 2018
- CNSR Thanks House Appropriators for FY20 Defense Spending Levels
- House Lawmakers Introduce Expanding Access to Graduate Education Act
- AAU, Associations Urge Lawmakers to Quickly Pass Kiddie Tax Scholarship Fix
- RESOURCE AVAILABLE: Education Materials for Facilities and Administrative Issues
BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE
The House Tuesday passed on a nearly party-line vote of 227-194 the second five-bill minibus package, H.R. 3055. The measure includes $383.3 billion in FY20 appropriations for Commerce-Justice-Science, Agriculture-Rural Development-FDA, Interior-Environment, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development. Several of AAU’s priority agencies would receive funding increases, including NSF, NASA, and NEH. The measure included $460 million for AFRI, above the subcommittee mark of $445 million.
The House Wednesday passed along party lines the FY20 Financial Services appropriations bill, H.R. 3351. The measure budgets nearly $25 billion for Financial Services, $1.4 billion above current levels.
With the Legislative Branch and Homeland Security funding measures outstanding ahead of the July 4 recess, House Democratic leaders will fall just short of their goal of passing all FY20 appropriations measures by the end of June. The current appropriations bills face major changes before they become law. The House appropriations bills include 8.7 percent more spending than the administration’s budget, and the House measures have largely been passed without Republican support. The Senate has not yet begun their appropriations process due to uncertainty over a deal to raise the Budget Control Act’s spending caps for FY20 and FY21. Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) has reportedly considered moving forward with a “deeming” resolution if a caps deal is not made in early July.
RESOURCE AVAILABLE: FY20 Budget and Appropriations Resources | AAU and APLU Urge Congressional Leaders to Raise Discretionary Spending Caps for FY20 and 21
SENATE, HOUSE CONTINUE PUSH ON FY20 NDAA
The Senate yesterday passed its version of the FY20 NDAA. Currently, the chamber is voting on an amendment introduced by Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) that would prevent the president from initiating hostilities in Iran without congressional approval. As of now, this vote is still open.
The House Rules Committee could as early as July 8 consider the FY20 NDAA, and the House is expected to vote on the measure the same week. As of noon today, there were 623 amendments. AAU is reviewing the list of amendments and will provide talking points for amendments of interest as needed.
RESOURCES AVAILABLE: Department of Defense Research Funding Table FY20
SCOTUS WILL HEAR DACA ARGUMENTS
The U.S. Supreme Court today announced it would hear arguments as early as October regarding the legality of the Trump administration’s decision to terminate the DACA program, which has protected nearly 700,000 people brought to this country as children, commonly known as “dreamers.” The administration has repeatedly asked the Supreme Court to take up the case prior to lower court rulings, where it believes the more conservative wing will be on its side. The case, Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California , was heard by the 9th Circuit last November and blocked termination of the program. The 4th Circuit made a similar ruling while the 2nd Circuit has yet to issue a final decision.
AAU will coordinate with the University of California to determine how we can assist their efforts.
AAU, ASSOCIATIONS URGE SENATE TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO PROTECT DREAMERS
AAU, together with ACE and 42 other higher education organizations, Wednesday sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) urging them to consider legislation that provides permanent protection for Dreamers. The letter expresses support for the bipartisan S. 874, the “Dream Act of 2019,” and H.R. 6, the “American Dream and Promise Act.” In the letter, the organizations urge Senate leaders to “consider legislation as soon as possible to provide permanent protection for “Dreamers,” young, undocumented, high-achieving individuals who contribute to our nation’s economy and security.”
AAU, ASSOCIATIONS SUBMIT COMMENTS ON USPTO’S SUCCESS ACT OF 2018
AAU, along with AAMC, APLU, AUTM, and COGR, Wednesday submitted comments on the USPTO’s preparation of a study for Congress with data on entrepreneurship and patenting among woman, minorities, and veterans, as required by the Study of Underrepresented Classes Chasing Engineering and Science Success Act of 2018. The SUCCESS Act also directs the USPTO to provide Congress with legislative recommendations on how to promote the participation of women, minorities, and veterans in entrepreneurial activities and patenting. In the letter, the associations express their support for the goals of the SUCCESS Act and for the attendant efforts of the USPTO and the SBA as our institutions “seek to advance the numbers of women, minority and veteran scientists within the ranks of recognized inventors.” In August 2018, the associations issued a statement applauding the introduction of the SUCCESS Act.
RESOURCE AVAILABLE : Higher Education Associations Submit Statement on the SUCCESS Act
CNSR THANKS HOUSE APPROPRIATORS FOR FY20 DEFENSE SPENDING LEVELS
The Coalition for National Security Research today sent a lette r to House Defense Committee Leaders to thank them for their support of Defense science and technology programs in the FY20 Defense Department appropriations bill. The organizations say the “resources for defense basic research programs, such as University Research Initiatives, and applied research programs, like the Defense-Wide Manufacturing S&T program, will support innovative scientific research to help the U.S. military maintain technical superiority now and in the future.”
HOUSE LAWMAKERS INTRODUCE EXPANDING ACCESS TO GRADUATE EDUCATION ACT
House Lawmakers last week introduced the bipartisan “Expanding Access to Graduate Education Act,” H.R. 3334. Introduced by Representatives Ann Kuster (D-NH), Fred Upton (R-MI), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Tim Burchett (R-TN), and Harley Rouda (D-CA), the legislation would allow income-eligible graduate students who received Pell Grant support as undergraduates to roll over unused Pell funds to their first graduate degree. A similar provision was included in the “Aim Higher Act,” H.R. 6534 , which was introduced in the 115th Congress.
AAU, ASSOCIATIONS URGE LAWMAKERS TO QUICKLY PASS KIDDIE TAX SCHOLARSHIP FIX
AAU, along with ACE, APLU, and other higher education organizations, yesterday sent a letter to House leaders urging they correct a provision in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act known as the “Kiddie Tax.” The Kiddie Tax increased taxes on the net unearned income of a child, which was intended to stop wealthy parents from sheltering income by shifting it to their children. This provision had inadvertently increased taxes for low- and middle-income families with children who received financial aid packages including assistance for room and board. The letter says that the tax has far-ranging consequences beyond higher education and urges the Senate to “swiftly correct” this mistake.
RESOURCE AVAILABLE: EDUCATION MATERIALS FOR FACILITIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES
AAU, together with AAMC, APLU, COGR, and NACUBO, recently created a video primer that outlines how federal research funds are used and how vital support for facilities and administrative related expenses is to keeping America at the forefront of research and innovation. COGR released a paper titled “Excellence in Research: The Funding Model, F&A Reimbursement, and Why the System Works.” CFR are encouraged to use these resources along with AAU’s Cost of Research resources, in efforts to educate faculty, staff, and administrators about the importance of F&A cost reimbursements.
RESOURCE AVAILABLE: F&A Costs – Resources for Educating Faculty and Administrators