CONTENTS:
- FY17 Omnibus Appropriations Package Enacted
- Higher Education Associations Thank Congressional Leaders for FY17 Omnibus Bill
- DOE Will Honor “All” Funding Commitments, Reports Publication
FY17 OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS PACKAGE INCREASES RESEARCH AND HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING
Earlier today, President Trump signed into law the FY17 Consolidated Omnibus Appropriations bill ( H.R. 244, ) which incorporates 11 out of 12 FY17 appropriations bills (Military Construction-Veterans Affairs was enacted earlier).
The package, which passed the House on May 3 and the Senate on May 4, includes funding increases for several research and higher education programs, including a $2-billion increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and restoration of the year-round Pell Grant.
AAU has prepared an FY17 funding summary for key research and higher education agencies and programs, and has updated its FY17 funding table.
HIGHER EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS THANK CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS FOR FY17 OMNIBUS BILL
AAU President Mary Sue Coleman issued a statement May 2 applauding the House and Senate leadership for coming together and forging the agreement, which “supports our efforts to spur job growth, improve our national health, and reinforce our national security.”
Similarly, a group of 37 higher education associations, including AAU, on May 3 thanked congressional leaders for the increased funding for student aid and research in the FY17 package. They wrote, “Across the board, this bill provides needed funding in the programs that educate American students, drive technological innovation, strengthen our economy, and build opportunity.”
DOE WILL HONOR “ALL” FUNDING COMMITMENTS, REPORTS PUBLICATION
The Department of Energy (DOE) sent a memorandum to DOE program offices on May 4 stating that the agency “will honor all commitments for funds previously obligated for grants and cooperative agreements," reports E&E Daily. A DOE spokeswoman said that included funding agreements for the entire agency, not just the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), according to the story.
The Trump Administration’s FY18 budget blueprint calls for eliminating funding for ARPA-E and cutting funding for the agency’s fossil energy, renewable and efficiency programs.
The story says that funds withheld from ARPA-E affect at least 10 projects that were announced publicly but did not have finalized contracts. It adds that Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) told reporters that the ARPA-E funding awards were “on hold,” but not canceled.
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