- Education Department Releases Proposed Changes to Title IX Rules
- Associations Express Concerns with Reported HHS Proposal to Narrowly Define Sex
- CNSR Urges Robust Support for Defense S&T Programs in FY20
- Senate Panel Advances Education Department Nomination
- Associations Comment on Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Implementation
- Ways and Means Chairman Proposes Repeal UBTI Transportation Fringe Benefit Tax
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT RELEASES PROPOSED CHANGES TO TITLE IX RULES
The Education Department yesterday formally published in the Federal Register proposed changes to Title IX rules governing how colleges and universities handle allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. A 60-day public comment period will begin when the proposal is published, making the expected deadline January 28, 2019.
AAU will submit comments regarding issues of importance to the research universities.
ASSOCIATIONS EXPRESS CONCERNS WITH REPORTED
HHS PROPOSAL TO NARROWLY DEFINE SEX
AAU and 28 other associations yesterday sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to express serious concerns with a proposal reportedly under consideration that would limit the legal definition of sex to either female or male as determined by a person’s genitals at birth. The letter says, “Our associations believe that the federal definition of sex under discussion, which is so narrowly drafted as to exclude the identities of numerous faculty, staff and students already acknowledged by our institutions, is an unnecessary and unreasonable step that is bound to cause fear and confusion.”
AAU President Mary Sue Coleman earlier this month wrote to Secretary Azar and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to convey her deep objections to the reported proposal.
CNSR URGES ROBUST SUPPORT FOR DOD S&T PROGRAMS IN FY20
The Coalition for National Security Research, of which AAU is a member, on Tuesday wrote to Defense Secretary Mattis and OMB Director Mulvaney to request robust and sustained support for Defense Science & Technology accounts in FY20. The letter notes that the Defense S&T program creates new technologies that enable future weapons and equipment capabilities providing the U.S. military with a competitive advantage over foreign adversaries and the resources needed to deter and succeed in conflicts.
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ICYMI: AAU, APLU Ask OMB Director to Prioritize Research, Higher Education Funding in FY20 |
SENATE PANEL ADVANCES EDUCATION DEPARTMENT NOMINATION
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee yesterday advanced the nomination of Robert King to serve as the Education Department’s assistant secretary for postsecondary education. Mr. King is the current president of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and formerly served as president and CEO of the Arizona Community Foundation and chancellor of the State University of New York System. King earned his B.A. from Trinity College and J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law.
ASSOCIATIONS COMMENT ON TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT IMPLEMENTATION
AAU and seven other associations today sent a letter to the IRS in response to the implementation of the guidance issued for UBTI basketing in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and offer several specific recommendations in the implementation of this new provision under the TCJA. Prior to the Enactment of the TCJA, colleges, universities, and other exempt organizations were able to aggregate UBTI and losses and pay taxes on the net income the same as taxable entities. However, the new “basketing rule” requires tax-exempt entities to compute taxable income separately with respect to each of their trades or businesses giving rise to UBTI. This prevents higher education institutions and other nonprofit entities from offsetting the UBTI of one trade or business with the loss of another and increases the institution’s overall tax burden.
WAYS AND MEANS CHAIRMAN PROPOSES REPEAL OF
UBTI TRANSPORTATION FRINGE BENEFIT TAX
On Monday, Chairman Brady released a year-end tax package containing provisions that address tax break extenders, retirement savings, IRS reform, and make several technical corrections to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The legislation would extend until December 31, 2018 the above-the-line deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses and some two dozen other tax breaks. The package does not address the TCJA’s 1.4 percent excise tax on certain university endowments. The package does, however, include an amendment that would repeal the increase in unrelated business taxable income related to certain transportation fringe benefits.
Even if the House approves the package, it is unclear if the Senate would take up the legislation.