| Budget & Appropriations The latest coverage on Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations that are relevant to Duke.
| |
AAU LETTER URGES CONGRESSIONAL INVESTMENTS IN HIGHER ED, RESEARCH, AND STUDENT AID
In a letter sent to the leadership of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, AAU, of which Duke is a member, urged prioritizing investments in higher education, scientific research, and student aid in FY24 302(b) discretionary spending allocations. The letter asked Congress to provide sufficient allocations “to effectuate the CHIPS and Science Act” and to reflect the “administration’s recommended FY24 boosts in student aid – such as an $820 increase to the maximum annual Pell Grant as a down payment toward eventually doubling it.” The letter also recommended investments in key federal scientific research and education agencies and programs, such as the National Institutes of Health; NASA’s science, aeronautics, and space technology programs; and more.
| |
Research
The latest updates on legislation and regulations that impact Duke's research enterprise.
| |
NATIONAL DEFENSE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY RELEASED
This week, the Department of Defense (DOD) released its National Defense Science and Technology Strategy. According to the DOD, the strategy will focus on investing in information systems; creating and fielding “capabilities at speed and scale;” and expanding on efforts to “recruit, retain, and cultivate talent” and revitalizing physical and digital infrastructure. The strategy will also “continue to emphasize the 14 Critical Technology Areas” detailed in the DOD Chief Technology Officer’s strategic vision.
| |
NDAA MARKUPS DELAYED
As reported this week by POLITICO Pro, "the House Armed Services Committee is pushing back plans to mark up annual defense policy legislation that was supposed to start this week...It’s not immediately clear if the committee has set a new date to consider the defense bill. Subcommittees were slated to debate their portions of the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act starting on Thursday, but that plan has been scuttled."
| |
WHITE HOUSE HOSTS CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS TO DISCUSS FARM BILL
Yesterday, the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack hosted bipartisan, bicameral Congressional leaders at the White House to discuss the Farm Bill reauthorization. Attendees released a joint statement afterward noting, “The Farm Bill is a jobs bill. It is a safety net for farmers and consumers, and it is an investment in our rural communities and the health of the American people. The Agriculture Committees have a long tradition of bipartisan cooperation, and we look forward to continuing that tradition through our work on the 2023 Farm Bill.”
| |
| 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.
| |
SECRETARY CARDONA TESTIFIES IN SENATE DEFENDING FY24 BUDGET REQUEST
Testifying before the Senate Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies this week, Secretary Cardona defended the Department's $90 billion request. At the hearing, Secretary Cardona confirmed the Department will resume collecting student loans this year and is also on target to launch the new simplified FAFSA form this year. The hearing also featured bipartisan support for Pell Grants.
| |
HOUSE COMMITTEE VOTES TO REPEAL STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS
Our colleagues at NAICU reported on the House Education & Workforce votes this week noting the committee approved, "legislation that would repeal the Biden Administration’s action to cancel up to $20,000 in individual student loan debt. The measure would also immediately reinstate the repayment of student loans by borrowers, which has been paused since the onset of the pandemic, and which is currently set to restart September 1. The bill was approved on a party-line vote but is unlikely to pass the Democratically-controlled Senate or be signed by the president."
| |
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCES IMPROVEMENTS TO PSLF HELP TOOL
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Help Tool, which borrowers use to apply for the program, was updated by the Department of Education this week. The Department also said in its Monday announcement, which coincided with the start of Public Service Recognition Week, that over 625,000 borrowers have received more than $42 billion in Public Service Loan Forgiveness since October 2021.
| |
Have questions about federal issues impacting Duke? Duke's Office of Government Relations (OGR) is kicking off its weekly virtual office hours for members of the Duke community, "Federal Forums," again starting Jan. 27. 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.
| |
|