CONTENTS:
- Budget and Appropriations Update
- AAU Thanks FY19 NDAA Conferees
- New Report Highlights AAU’s Role in Achieving STEM Education Reforms
- Associations Submit Comments to NIST on ROI Initiative
- Administration Proposes Changes to Borrower Defense to Repayment Rules
- White House Nominates Six to National Humanities Council
- House Democrats Introduce Aim Higher Act
- House Ways and Means Committee Releases Tax Reform 2.0 Framework
- Senate Approves DOE Research and Innovation Act
BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) yesterday moved to invoke cloture on the chamber’s four-bill FY19 spending package, setting up for a potential floor vote next week. The four-bill “minibus” spending package (H.R. 6147) contains Interior-Environment, Financial Services, Transportation-HUD, and Agriculture-FDA. The House has yet to approve its FY19 Agriculture-FDA and Transportation-HUD bills, a must-do before House and Senate lawmakers can move to conference.
Senate leaders are also working to combine the two largest spending bills into a single package – Department of Defense and Labor-HHS-Education – and vote in the coming weeks. Combining the two FY19 spending bills would make up two-thirds of all discretionary funding, most of which goes to the Pentagon. Proponents of combining the bills argue it would likely be difficult for President Trump to veto the legislation given his prior comments when signing the FY18 Omnibus Appropriations Act into law, “We had no choice but to fund our military.” See an updated version of AAU’s FY19 funding priorities table here.
AAU THANKS FY19 NDAA CONFEREES
On Monday evening, House and Senate FY19 NDAA conferees released the final conference report, which includes language directing the Department of Defense to form an initiative to better engage with U.S. universities to protect intellectual property and other controlled information from foreign security threats. This provision was adopted in place of Rep. Mike Gallagher’s (R-WI) amendment which would have restricted DOD funding for researchers who have participated in foreign talent and expert recruitment programs.
AAU President Mary Sue Coleman earlier this week issued a statement to thank the conferees for their efforts to promote better collaboration between universities and the national security agencies. She said, “This new initiative will play a pivotal role in convening key stakeholders to find workable solutions for existing and future threats.” AAU also thanked those members of Congress who helped shepherd this language into the final conference report via Twitter. The House passed the legislation Thursday, sending it to the Senate where it is expected to be taken up next week.
NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS AAU’S ROLE IN ACHIEVING STEM EDUCATION REFORMS
AAU yesterday released a new report with Dr. Adrianna Kezar, a noted expert in higher education change, governance, and leadership at the University of Southern California. The report evaluates the association’s role in improving undergraduate STEM education at its member universities. Dr. Kezar and her team found that AAU has had a substantial positive impact on educational reforms on its campuses both for the eight project sites and the larger network of universities.
ASSOCIATIONS SUBMIT COMMENTS TO NIST ON ROI INITIATIVE
AAU and four other higher education associations today submitted comments to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in response to a May 1 Request for Information regarding state and federal technology transfer and the public’s ability to access federally funded R&D through collaborations, licensing, and other mechanisms. The comment letter notes the associations appreciate NIST’s and the administration’s efforts to improve technology transfer and they look forward to continuing to work closely with NIST as it moves forward with the Return on Investment initiative.
ADMINISTRATION PROPOSES CHANGES TO BORROW DEFENSE TO REPAYMENT RULES
The Education Department on Wednesday released a proposal to overhaul the Obama-era “borrower defense” rule, which governs how the Education Department cancels federal student loans of borrowers defrauded by their colleges. The department said it will accept public comments for 30 days and plans to publish the final rule by November 1, so it can take effect July 2019.
AAU and 13 other higher education organizations submitted comments on the current rule in 2016.
WHITE HOUSE NOMINATES SIX TO NATIONAL HUMANITIES COUNCIL
The administration has nominated six individuals to the National Council on the Humanities, the advisory board to the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The nominations are timely given twenty-five of the twenty-six seats on the Council are currently held by individuals serving on expired terms. NEH Chairman Jon Peede was confirmed earlier this year.
HOUSE DEMOCRATS INTRODUCE AIM HIGHER ACT
House Democrats introduced their version of Higher Education Act reauthorization legislation Tuesday. Dubbed the “Aim Higher Act,” the bill would incentivize states to increase higher education spending in exchange for free tuition at community colleges for all. The proposal would also increase the maximum Pell Grant award, tie future award increases to inflation, and make Pell funds available to certain short-term programs.
AAU commended the proposed student aid increases via Twitter. Read the bill summary here and the fact sheet here.
HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE RELEASES TAX REFORM 2.0 FRAMEWORK
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Brady released a broad two-page outline for the next phase of tax code changes Tuesday to serve as a basis for listening sessions with House Republicans and constituents. Chairman Brady said the listening sessions will run through August and he anticipates the House will vote on legislation in September. The outline proposes “locking in” individual and small business tax cuts, proposes creating a new Universal Savings Account, and references a range of retirement plans without providing specific details. The 2.0 plan also proposes allowing Section 529 plans to pay apprenticeship fees, cover the cost of home schooling, and help pay student debt.
SENATE APPROVES DOE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION ACT
The Senate approved the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act (S. 2530) Monday, which establishes policy for science and energy R&D programs, authorizes new energy initiatives, and endorses the strategic plans and research directions of all six Office of Science Programs. The bill included one amendment to remove provisions relating to nuclear energy, which was adopted by unanimous consent.
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