The DC Digest

Duke Government Relations

Duke in DC's Top News Today:

Federal Judge Blocks Rules That DACA Can't Approve New Applicants; Higher Education Community Urges Senate to Support the Dream Act of 2021
President Biden Announces Several New Nominations
FAFSA Sees Lower Applicants Compared to 2020
Hearings This Week!

Immigration

The latest updates on legislation and regulatory actions related to immigration that are relevant to Duke.

NAFSA resources on COVID-19 restrictions on U.S. visa and entry

JUDGE RULES AGAINST ALLOWING NEW DACA APPLICANTS AND HIGHER EDUCATION COMMUNITY REEMPHASIZES SUPPORT FOR DREAMERS

Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen found that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is unlawful and that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can no longer approve new applicants into the program. However, he also ruled that DHS could continue to process DACA renewals.

In response Duke University President Vincent Price joined over 400 other university and business leaders in a letter, led by the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) and Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, to Senate leadership in support of the Dream Act of 2021.

Dream On

Research

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

AAU's resources on science and security legislative actions in 116th Congress

REPUBLICAN SENATORS RELEASE COUNTERPROPOSAL TO USICA

The Republican Study Committee, which includes 154 House Republicans, has drafted a 300-page counterproposal to the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA). Reported by Axios, this proposal would cost $1 billion, though no new research funding, and contains a host of provisions targeting research security.

300-Pages

NIH AND OSTP ARE HOSTING LISTENING SESSIONS

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) are organizing a series of listening sessions to get feedback from patient advocacy groups, industry, scientific professional organizations, and other stakeholders. Use the link before to learn more about the sessions.

Listen In

Biden Administration

Biden-Harris Transition Appointees & Nominees

PRESIDENT BIDEN NOMINATES LOCASCIO AND ESTEVEZ TO HIS ADMINISTRATION

President Biden recently announced his nomination of Laurie Locascio to be director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Locascio is the vice president for research at the University of Maryland’s College Park and Baltimore campuses. Biden also announced his selection for under secretary of commerce and industry and security, Alan Estevez, former Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition official.

NEW STUDENT AID LEADERSHIP AT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

The Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid announced its new leaders that will focus on improving operations and accountability in the areas of student loan servicing and postsecondary institution compliance, including:

Sartaj Alag, Senior Advisor for Management
Kristen Donoghue, Senior Advisor
Bonnie Latreille, FSA Ombudsman
Colleen McGinnis, Chief of Staff
Stephanie Richo, Executive Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer

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.

NACUBO's coronavirus guidance for colleges

NASFAA Student Aid Reference Desk

FAFSA SEES NEARLY 5% LESS APPLICANTS

By July 2, the high school class of 2021 completed 4.8% fewer FAFSAs than the class of 2020. The largest declines in FAFSA completion are among low-income and students of color, highlighting how COVID-19 has put higher education further out of reach for some.

5 Percent

Additional Federal Relations Items of Interest to Duke

FEDERAL JUDGE SIDES WITH INDIANA UNIVERSITY ON VACCINE MANDATE

A federal judge sided with Indiana University in a lawsuit filed by students who challenged the university’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate and related face-masking and testing requirements. The ruling is the first evaluating the constitutionality of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Upheld

Upcoming Congressional Hearings

HEARINGS THIS WEEK

Tuesday, July 20

10 a.m. Senate Banking Committee hearing on climate change, resilience, and reinsurance
10 a.m. House Small Business Committee hearing on strengthening the cybersecurity of small businesses

Wednesday, July 21

10 a.m. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on cybersecurity vulnerabilities of the U.S.’ physical infrastructure
10 a.m. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on immigrant farmworkers
10 a.m. House Oversight Committee hybrid hearing on environmental justice and the American Jobs Plan
11:15 a.m. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hybrid hearing on U.S. policy on Turkey

Thursday, July 22

10 a.m. Senate HELP Committee hearing on American workers and the right to organize

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT FEDERAL ISSUES IMPACTING DUKE?

Join Duke’s Office of Government Relations Fridays at 10:00 am for Federal Forum, weekly virtual office hours for members of the Duke community where you can hear OGR staff give a quick rundown of the latest news out of DC of most relevance to Duke, then field questions, provide connections to resources and more! Register in advance to receive the Zoom link and, if possible, include issues you'd like to discuss.

RSVP Here

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