- From Mary Sue’s Desk: Protecting the Dreamers
- Budget and Appropriations Update
- Second CR Funds Government Until December 20
- Lawmakers Work on 302(b) Allocations
- AAU Staffing Announcement
FROM MARY SUE’S DESK: PROTECTING THE DREAMERS
President Mary Sue Coleman released a new blog post about the pending U.S. Supreme Court Case concerning DACA Participants. Though the outcome of the case is in doubt, President Coleman highlights that AAU has “long supported federal efforts to secure the futures of DACA recipients and other Dreamers who attend universities,” and will “continue to press for a permanent legislative solution that takes the fate of thousands of our students out of the hands of shifting Executive Branch priorities.”
BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE
The president yesterday signed into law a second continuing resolution that would fund the government at current levels through December 20. The 2020 fiscal year began on October 1, 2019, and so far none of the 12 appropriations bills have been approved by Congress or signed into law.
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Meanwhile, according to Bloomberg Government lawmakers have again reached a stalemate in their negotiations on 302(b) spending levels for all 12 FY20 appropriations measures. The main sticking points include the White House’s $8.6 billion request for a border wall and a disagreement about veterans’ healthcare funding.
Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) yesterday seemed to suggest that 302(b) subcommittee allocations are not directly linked to funding for a wall along the southern border when speaking to reporters, according to the Chicago Tribune. Shelby seemed to say that funding allocations could be finalized before lawmakers reach an agreement on border wall funding. House Appropriations Chair Nita Lowey (D-NY) yesterday said to CQ Budget that she did not expect an agreement on FY20 spending levels before lawmakers leave for Thanksgiving recess, but that progress would continue via staff discussion and phone calls between lawmakers.
Previously, Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Roy Blunt (R-MO) told Bloomberg Government that if topline subcommittee allocations were set before yesterday, November 21, Congress could complete the FY20 appropriations process before December 20.
AAU STAFFING ANNOUNCEMENT
We are pleased to welcome Dr. Julia Jester as Associate Vice President for Federal Relations beginning January 5. She will lead NSF, NASA, and research integrity issues and work on other science policy issues with AAU’s federal relations and policy teams. Jester served at the U.S. Geological Survey in Congressional and Legislative Affairs since 2016. Her experience includes leadership posts at the NSF’s Office of Legislative and Public Affairs; the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee; and the Office of Rep. Vern Ehlers. She earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from the College of William and Mary.