CONTENTS:
- Budget and Appropriations Update
- FY18 Omnibus Negotiations Continue
- House Appropriations Committee Schedules FY19 Budget Hearings
- DACA Update
- DHS Clarifies the Agency Continues to Process DACA Renewals
- Federal Judge Strikes Down Legal Challenge to DACA's Rescission
- AAU, APLU Submit Advanced Manufacturing Joint Comment Letter
- 49 University Presidents Call for College Endowment Tax Repeal
- Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Repeal Endowment Tax
- Nominations Sought for National Medals of Science, and Technology and Innovation
BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE
The House continues to work on a $1.3 trillion omnibus appropriations legislation which must be passed by March 23 to avoid another government shutdown. As is common with "must-pass legislation," the omnibus may contain a variety of policy riders, possibly including immigration policy riders. It is unclear which, if any, may be incorporated into the omnibus funding bill, which is slated for introduction by the middle of next week.
In preparation for FY19 budget and appropriations deliberations, the House Appropriations Committee scheduled numerous FY19 budget hearings for next week, including the Department of Energy and the Department of Health and Human Services. AAU has updated its funding priorities table to include preliminary FY19 funding recommendations for higher education and research programs.
DACA UPDATE
The Department of Homeland Security released a statement Wednesday clarifying that USCIS continues to process DACA renewal applications but will not accept new requests at this time. The statement also says that current and expiring DACA recipients are not a targeted group for arrest or removal from the U.S. - except for recipients who have violated DACA's terms.
Monday, March 5 marked the end of a six-month deadline President Trump gave Congress to act to ensure permanent protections for DACA registrants. That day, a Maryland federal judge struck down a legal challenge to DACA's termination, stating that although he disagrees with President Trump's move, it is not his job to set immigration policy. He said of DACA, "Hopefully, Congress and the President will finally get their job done."
AAU, APLU SUBMIT ADVANCED MANUFACTURING JOINT COMMENT LETTER
AAU and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) submitted a comment letter Wednesday in response to an Office of Science and Technology Policy and National Science and Technology Council Request for Information (RFI) on the development of a National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing. The joint comment letter stresses the important role U.S. research universities play in supporting advanced manufacturing research and training. Specifically, the response emphasizes the need for federal advanced manufacturing programs that leverage public-private partnerships, bolster existing manufacturing innovation institutes, and support education and training programs that employ "work-and-learn" strategies (i.e. internships, co-ops, apprenticeships). The letter also adds that the plan should recognize the value of long-standing Manufacturing Extension Partnership program to supporting small and medium-sized manufacturers.
49 UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS CALL FOR COLLEGE ENDOWMENT TAX REPEAL
On Wednesday, the presidents and chancellors of 49 colleges and universities, including 17 AAU institutions, wrote to House and Senate leaders to urge Congress to repeal or amend the Tax Cut and Jobs Act's (H.R. 1) net investment income tax on certain private university endowments. This new tax, the letter says, "will constrain the resources available to the very institutions that lead the nation in reducing, if not eliminating, the costs for low- and middle-income students, and will impede the efforts of other institutions striving to grow their endowments for this very purpose."
BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO REPEAL ENDOWMENT TAX
Representatives John Delaney (D-MD) and Bradley Byrne (R-AL) yesterday introduced legislation that would repeal the Tax Cut and Jobs Act's (H.R. 1) 1.4 percent excise tax on certain private university endowments. In a joint press release, Rep. Byrne said of the bill, "While the impact of the excise tax on college endowments may be small today, I worry about future growth and expansion of this misguided tax on higher education."
NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR NATIONAL MEDALS OF SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
Nominations for the National Medal of Science, awarded to individuals deserving recognition for their outstanding contributions in the physical, biological, mathematical, or engineering sciences are now being accepted. Nominations must be submitted through NSF's FastLane system by April 16, 2018. Eligibility and selection criteria is available on the National Medal of Science website.
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation (NMTI), is awarded to individuals, teams, or companies that have made outstanding contributions to United States' economic, environmental, or social well-being . Nominations must be submitted on or before April 6, 2018. The nomination form, a sample recommendation letter, and FAQs are available on the NMTI website.
Please visit us at www.aau.edu and follow AAU on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.