Following is a statement by Association of American Universities President Mary Sue Coleman regarding the passage of the bipartisan deal to raise the Budget Control Act spending caps for FY20 and FY21 and raise the debt limit until July 31, 2021:
I am pleased to see the House and Senate come together to reach a bipartisan agreement to raise the Budget Control Act spending caps for FY20 and FY21 and raise the debt limit until July 31, 2021. These measures will help avoid the kind of harmful shutdown we saw in FY19 while preventing the United States from defaulting on our spending obligations.
I encourage the president to sign the agreement without delay.
However, this is only part of the work Congress must do to support important budget priorities, including research that makes our nation safer, healthier, and more prosperous. Congress has only 13 combined legislative days before September 30 to reach an agreement on the 12 annual spending bills and fund the government. As they continue their work on these measures, I urge continued bipartisan cooperation to strongly support federal research and student aid investments.
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Founded in 1900, the Association of American Universities is composed of America’s leading research universities. AAU’s 62 research universities transform lives through education, research, and innovation.
Our member universities earn the majority of competitively awarded federal funding for research that improves public health, seeks to address national challenges, and contributes significantly to our economic strength, while educating and training tomorrow’s visionary leaders and innovators.
AAU member universities collectively help shape policy for higher education, science, and innovation; promote best practices in undergraduate and graduate education; and strengthen the contributions of leading research universities to American society.