CONTENTS
BUDGET, APPROPRIATIONS, & TAX ISSUES
- New Report Highlights Alternative Approaches to Predictable Funding for NIH
- House Votes to Expand Tax Benefits for 529 College Savings Plans
OTHER CONGRESSIONAL ISSUES
- Senators Reintroduce Legislation to Address Campus Sexual Assault Issues
- Universities Warn Congress That Pending Patent Bill Would Harm U.S. Innovation System
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
- NACIQI to Hold Virtual Public Meeting on its Draft Recommendations for Accreditation Reform,/li>
- AAU Submits Comments to NACIQI on Accreditation Reform
- Administration Will Allow Spouses of Certain High-Skilled Immigrants to Work in the U.S.
BUDGET, APPROPRIATIONS, & TAX ISSUES
NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO PREDICTABLE FUNDING FOR NIH
In a report issued on February 26, two Washington-based organizations argue that because the current budget and appropriations process is unable to deliver the robust federal funding for biomedical research that the public strongly supports, new options are needed for greater and more predictable funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Policymakers “should consider separating NIH’s budget from the broader deficit battles,” they write. The report notes that funding for NIH has declined by 22 percent in real terms over the past decade.
The report, Health Funding: Ensuring a Growing and Predictable Budget for the National Institutes of Health, was issued by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a nonprofit, non-partisan think tank, and United for Medical Research (UMR), a coalition in which AAU participates that advocates on behalf of NIH funding.
Among other options, the ITIF/UMR report calls for:
- “Adjusting discretionary spending caps to favor NIH funding increases;
- Implementing multi-year budgeting and advance appropriations for NIH programs to increase year-to-year stability and predictability; and
- Examining changes in mandatory programs, trust funds, and dedicated funding streams to increase both funding amounts and stability for biomedical research.”
The report concludes:
“This report points to research showing that science funded by NIH can be expected to reduce government spending on health care and increase future productivity by delivering cures to some of society’s most pressing problems. The challenge for Congress is to find consensus and innovative means to provide the agency with predictable, sustainable, and increased funding to continue that mission. The options contained in this report provide a starting place for this important debate.”
HOUSE VOTES TO EXPAND TAX BENEFITS FOR 529 COLLEGE SAVINGS PLANS
The House on February 26 voted overwhelmingly to extend and expand the tax break for 529 college savings plans. The measure, which was approved by a vote of 401 to 20, would add to current benefits by allowing participants to use the accounts for computers and other technology and to redeposit campus refunds back into the accounts without penalty. The Chronicle of Higher Education notes that the measure enjoys bipartisan support in the Senate and seems likely to be signed into law.
Earlier this year, President Obama proposed to eliminate the 529 savings plan tax break as part of a broader education tax reform package to help fund his proposal to provide two free years of community college and bolster the main tuition tax credit. His proposal to cut the 529 benefit was criticized by both Republicans and Democrats.
OTHER CONGRESSIONAL ISSUES
SENATORS REINTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT ISSUES
A bipartisan group of 12 Senators yesterday introduced a revised version of legislation to address sexual assault on college campuses. Like the bill introduced in the last Congress, the new Campus Accountability and Safety Act (CASA) would require colleges and universities to institute explicit disciplinary procedures for handling charges of sexual harassment and assault on campus, better coordinate with local police departments, expand reporting of their efforts, and provide expanded assistance and information to victims.
The new version responds to a number of substantive concerns identified by AAU, other organizations, and colleges and universities. It strengthens the rights of the accused, clarifies details related to the responsibilities and training of campus confidential advisors, and clarifies the requirement for institutions to enter into memoranda of understanding with law enforcement agencies, among other changes. The new bill would also use funding from campus penalties to support a new Department of Justice research program, rather than on the Department of Education’s enforcement activities.
There are several remaining issues of concern to higher education, including, but not limited to, the mandated federal climate survey, the penalties and fines, and training for responsible employees. AAU looks forward to working with congressional staff to address these and other issues.
UNIVERSITIES WARN CONGRESS THAT PENDING PATENT BILL WOULD HARM U.S. INNOVATION SYSTEM
A group of 144 universities, under the auspices of AAU and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), sent a letter to leaders of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on February 24 expressing concern about pending legislation to address abusive patent litigation practices. (The accompanying press release can be viewed here.)
The letter, which was copied to the full Congress, specifically addresses the Innovation Act (H.R. 9), legislation introduced earlier this month by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), and expresses readiness to work on “targeted, measured, and carefully calibrated” legislation to address patent litigation abuses.
The universities warn that much of the patent legislation currently being discussed in Congress, including the Innovation Act, “goes well beyond what is needed to address the bad actions of a small number of patent holders, and would instead make it more difficult and expensive for patent holders to defend their rights in good faith.” They add, “The resulting uncertainty and increased financial risk surrounding university patents would discourage potential licensees and venture capitalists from investing in university discoveries, thus disrupting the nation’s innovation ecosystem.”
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
NACIQI TO HOLD VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING ON ITS DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACCREDITATION REFORM
The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) announced in the Federal Register on February 25 that it will hold a “virtual” public meeting on March 23 to discuss the committee’s draft policy recommendations on college and university accreditation and recognition.
The session is scheduled for Monday, March 23, 1:00-4:00 p.m. ET.
The Federal Register notice contains information on registering for the meeting and on submitting written comments and requests to make oral comments. The deadline for all three is Monday, March 9.
AAU Submits Comments to NACIQI on Accreditation Reform
AAU submitted comments to NACIQI on the panel’s draft policy recommendations on February 26. The comments address six recommendations in the report and express particular support for granting accrediting agencies authority to develop and implement expedited review procedures for institutions of higher education with a record of stability and successful performance.
ADMINISTRATION WILL ALLOW SPOUSES OF CERTAIN HIGH-SKILLED IMMIGRANTS TO WORK IN THE U.S.
The Obama Administration announced on February 24 that it will allow individuals holding H-4 dependent spouse visas to work legally in the United States while their working spouses are seeking employment-based permanent resident status (a green card). The regulation will take effect on May 26.
Current law prevents spouses of H-1B visa holders seeking green cards from being able to work legally while their spouses’ applications are being processed.
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