- Pelosi Outlines Sticking Points of Pandemic Aid Negotiations, Looks to Make “Lame Duck” Deal
- House Education Committee Requests Education Department Explain Actions to Prevent Discussions About Race
- NIH Announces Final Policy for Data Management and Sharing
- AAU, Associations, and Members of Congress Call on DHS to Withdraw Duration-of-Status Rule
- Administration Touts First Term Science and Technology Accomplishments
- AAU Job Openings: Policy Research Associate, Executive Assistant for Federal Relations and Communications
- Upcoming Events
PELOSI OUTLINES STICKING POINTS OF PANDEMIC AID NEGOTIATIONS, LOOKS TO MAKE “LAME DUCK” DEAL
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin listing sticking points in COVID-19 relief negotiations, including funding for: testing, tracing, and treatment; state and local governments; K-12 and higher education; tax credits for working families; unemployment insurance; and more. In the letter, Pelosi points to the goal of delivering a pandemic aid package after Nov. 3 and highlights the administration’s need to ensure Republicans are on board with any future agreement. Additionally, Roll Call reports that following the election, pandemic aid could be rolled into the FY21 appropriations measure, which lawmakers must address before stopgap funding expires Dec. 11.
HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE REQUESTS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT EXPLAIN ACTIONS TO PREVENT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT RACE
The House Education and Labor Committee yesterday sent a letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos about the department’s “recent actions to prevent public discussion of systemic racism and critical race theory.” The letter, which references investigations into Princeton University and the University of California, Los Angeles, says that the department’s actions are being used to chill the free exchange of ideas at universities. Ultimately, the committee requests that the department “provide all records concerning, relating to, or referencing the Department’s investigation into Princeton University.”
RESOURCE AVAILABLE: AAU, Associations Call on President to Withdraw Executive Order Prohibiting or Limiting Diversity and Inclusion Training by Federal Contractors and Grantees
NIH ANNOUNCES FINAL POLICY FOR DATA MANAGEMENT AND SHARING
Yesterday, the National Institutes of Health announced its final “NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing” to “promote the management and sharing of scientific data generated from NIH-funded or conducted research.” Previously, AAU, APLU, and several other organizations sent comments outlining their feedback about certain aspects of the proposed policy, including: the broad definition of “scientific data;” potentially burdensome and vague information collection requirements; and local data management costs. AAU looks forward to collaborating with NIH regarding steps to implement the policy, which takes effect January 25, 2023.
AAU, ASSOCIATIONS, AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CALL ON DHS TO WITHDRAW DURATION-OF-STATUS RULE
On Monday, AAU joined ACE and 82 other higher education organizations to submit comments to the Department of Homeland Security to urge the department to withdraw its proposed rule , titled “Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media.” The comments highlight the detrimental effects of the rule, including: a two- or four-year limit for admission for many international students; the creation of a new, complicated Extension of Stay process; and needless confusion and administrative burden for international students, scholars, and institutions amid a global pandemic.
The Compete America Coalition, of which AAU is a member, also commented on the department’s proposed rule. The coalition outlines the importance of international students and scholars to the nation’s competitiveness on the world stage, and it outlines the implications that limiting international scholars’ access to the country would have on America’s position as a global leader in science and technology.
On Monday, a group of 50 House Democrats sent a letter to DHS to express concern that the rule would “introduce needless administrative paperwork into an already overburdened system without meaningfully improving program integrity.” The members also noted that the rule is not linked to its stated goals, its potential negative economic and operational impact, and the arbitrary nature of the limitations on admission.
Last week, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) and 19 other Republican members of Congress sent a letter to DHS to express concerns with the rule. The letter says that the proposed rule would “be detrimental to the United States’ ability to attract the best and brightest international students and exchange visitors from around the world.”
RESOURCE AVAILABLE: AAU Comments Urge DHS to Withdraw Proposed Duration-of-Status Rule
ADMINISTRATION TOUTS FIRST TERM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The White House on Tuesday released a report titled “Advancing America’s Global Leadership in Science and Technology – Trump Administration Highlights: 2017-2020,” which highlights actions the administration “have taken … to help the Federal Government do its part in advancing America’s global [science and technology] preeminence.” Among its accomplishment, the report lists policies and increased investments in industries of the future, health and security innovation, national security, space exploration, science and technology discovery and innovation, and more.
“We have achieved a proud record of results, and under President Trump’s leadership, science and technology will continue to inspire us, unite us, and guide us to ever greater progress,” White House Office of Science and Technology Director Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier said in a statement accompanying the report. Politico has more.
AAU JOB OPENINGS: POLICY RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT FOR FEDERAL RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
AAU is seeking applicants for the positions of Policy Research Associate and the Executive Assistant for Federal Relations and Communications.
The Policy Research Associate provides initial quantitative analysis; compiles and organizes data; and uses new and existing data sources to prepare, enter, arrange, and display data in meaningful and useful formats for a wide audience. A description of the position and application requirements is available here. To be considered, please send by Nov. 6 a cover letter, salary requirements, and resume to [email protected].
The Executive Assistant for Federal Relations and Communications provides executive, committee, and development support for the Executive Vice President/Vice President for Federal Relations and the Vice President for Communications. A description of the position and application requirements is available here. To be considered, please send by Nov. 9 a cover letter, salary requirements, and resume to [email protected].
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOVEMBER 12 OFFICE OF SCIENCE GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH PROGRAM NOMINATIONS DUE; Nominations can be submitted by 5:00 p.m. ET Thursday, Nov. 12. More information and nomination instructions can be found here.
DECEMBER 1 GOLDEN GOOSE AWARD VIRTUAL CEREMONY; 4:00 p.m. ET. More information available here.