CONTENTS
BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS
- House Approves FY17 Defense Funding Bill; AAU Commends Support for DARPA, NDEP
- AAU Letter Requests Priority for Research and Higher Education in FY17, FY18 Appropriations
- Student Aid Alliance Urges Funding Priority for Student Aid Programs
OTHER CONGRESSIONAL ISSUES
- Congress Approves Resolution Blocking Teacher Preparation Rule
BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS
HOUSE APPROVES FY17 DEFENSE FUNDING BILL, AAU COMMENDS SUPPORT FOR DARPA, NDEP
The House on March 8 approved the FY17 Defense appropriations bill ( HR 1301), with increased funding for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the National Defense Education Program (NDEP). Funding for Defense basic research (6.1) is below the FY16 enacted level, but above the level requested by the previous administration and above the level in the predecessor bill (HR 5293) approved by the House late last year.
AAU issued astatement on March 9 that thanks the House for approving increases for DARPA and NDEP and urges steady growth for defense basic research in FY18 and beyond.
AAU LETTER REQUESTS PRIORITY FOR RESEARCH AND HIGHER EDUCATION IN FY17, FY18 APPROPRIATIONS
AAU today sent a letter to the President and to House and Senate leaders asking them to use the unfinished FY17 appropriations process and the new FY18 budget process to “revitalize the federal government’s scientific research and higher education investment strategy.”
The letter urges the lawmakers to replace the Budget Control Act’s sequestration process and discretionary spending caps. In their place should be a comprehensive budget agreement that incorporates entitlement and tax reform and provides increased discretionary spending that “will permit sufficient investment in scientific research, higher education, and other important programs that will build a better America and sustain our nation’s global leadership.”
STUDENT AID ALLIANCE URGES FUNDING PRIORITY FOR STUDENT AID PROGRAMS
The Student Aid Alliance, in which AAU participates, sent a letter on March 6 to House and Senate appropriators encouraging them to give high priority to student financial aid programs in the FY17 and FY18 appropriations bills. Included in the request are calls for a maximum Pell grant of $5,920 and reinstatement of year-round Pell grants.
OTHER CONGRESSIONAL ISSUES
CONGRESS APPROVES RESOLUTION BLOCKING TEACHER PREPARATION RULE
The Senate on March 8 approved a House-passed resolution (H. J. Res. 58) blocking implementation of the Obama Administration’s rule on teacher preparation programs. President Trump has indicated he will sign the measure.
AAU and several other higher education associations earlier wrote to House and Senate education committee leaders in support of the resolution. The letters noted that the final teacher preparation rule fails to reflect cutting-edge professional practice and could have significant adverse consequences.