The DC Digest

Duke Government Relations

Duke in DC's Top News Today:

House GOP to Consider Budget Bills and Appropriations this Week
$7.75M Grant Awarded to Research Co-Led by Duke Professor
Biden Admin Releases New Draft of Student Debt Relief Plan
New AI Executive Order Issued by White House
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The Highlights 📰

Budget & Appropriations

The latest coverage on Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations that are relevant to Duke.

Duke Government Relations' primer on the federal appropriations process.

HOUSE GOP GET BACK TO WORK, CONSIDERS VARIOUS BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS THIS WEEK

House GOP Members will consider several funding bills this week, including a $14.5B standalone bill for Israel, three bills for the Legislative Branch, Interior-Environment and Transportation-HUD, plus amendments to the minibus package. New Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) said that he is committed to passing all 12 of the fiscal 2024 funding bills plus gave a nod to the likelihood of another continuing resolution (CR) when the previous CR runs out in two weeks.

Bills, Bills, Bills

Research

The latest updates on legislation and regulations that impact Duke's research enterprise.

GRANT AWARDED TO NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER ON HISPANIC CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

The National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families (Center) has received a $7.75 million grant, under the co-leadership of Sanford's Pritzker Professor of Early Learning Policy Studies Lisa Gennetian from the Office of Planning Research and Evaluation within the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant extends the center's research through 2028.

For the Families

Student Aid, Institutional Support and Taxes

The latest updates regarding legislation and regulatory actions related to student aid, higher education institutional support, taxes and more.

NASFAA Student Aid Reference Desk

BIDEN ADMIN RELEASES NEW SCOPE ON STUDENT DEBT RELIEF PLAN DRAFT

After the last proposal was struck down by the Supreme Court this summer, the Biden administration has released its newest--and more narrow--draft plan for student debt relief. Instead of canceling student debt for all 45 million borrowers like originally proposed, the new scope targets specific groups, including borrowers whose student loan balances are more than what they borrowed and those who have been paying off their loans for 25 years or more.

Trying to Compromise

MOHELA FAILS TO SEND 2.5M BORROWERS' BILLING STATEMENTS ON TIME

The Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA) failed to send timely billing statements to 2.5 million borrowers over the past month, resulting in hundreds of thousands of borrowers missing their payments according to the Department of Education. Typically statements are required to be sent 21 days in advance, but in some cases, MOHELA only gave a seven-day notice--800,000 borrowers subsequently became delinquent on their loans, according to the department.

Bad News Bears

Additional Federal Relations Items of Interest to Duke

BIDEN ADMIN ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER ON AI

The Biden administration issued an executive order this week calling for "safe, secure and trustworthy" artificial intelligence. The EO sets forth new safety standards for AI, such as requiring developers to share results of safety tests, and the development of a National Security Memorandum that directs further actions on AI and security. The EO also has provisions calling for catalyzing research through the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) and additional R&D funding in areas like healthcare and climate change.

(AI)m High

ACE PENS LETTER URGING MSCHE PAUSE THIRD-PARTY PROVIDER POLICY PROPOSAL

The American Council on Education (ACE), of which Duke is a member, as well as other higher education organizations signed a letter to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) asking it to pause movement and allow the Department of Education to take the lead based on continuing engagement with such providers. The letter urges MSCHE to pause these efforts until the U.S. Department of Education finalizes its efforts and to limit the scope of a new definition of third-party provider.

Stop the Presses

U.S. LEADERS, JEWISH OFFICIALS MEET TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM ON CAMPUSES

In response to growing anti-Jewish incidents on college campuses across the U.S., American Jewish leaders and Biden administration officials met to discuss possible solutions to counter such acts. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and White House Domestic Policy Adviser Neera Tanden will visit a university and meet with Jewish students later this week.

Campus Concerns

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT FEDERAL ISSUES? SIGN UP FOR FEDERAL FORUMS

Have questions about federal issues impacting Duke? Duke's Office of Government Relations (OGR) hosts its weekly virtual office hours for members of the Duke community, "Federal Forums." Join us on Fridays at 10:00 AM to hear OGR staff give a quick rundown of the latest news out of DC of most relevance to Duke, answer questions, provide connections to resources and more! Register in advance to receive the Zoom link, and please include any issues you'd like to discuss.

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