Biden House Allies Map Path to Speed China Bill, Hand Him a Win
House Democrats are maneuvering to quickly pass a measure countering the economic challenge from China, setting up a bipartisan win for President Joe Biden, in the wake of Senate passage of a similar bill. Under the strategy being considered, the House Science Committee would amend a measure it’s set to begin working on next week to wrap in elements of the $250 billion package that cleared the Senate in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote, according to two people familiar with the negotiations. Several other House panels, including the Foreign Affairs Committee, are working on related components that would likely have to be integrated. Still, the eventual House legislation is expected to emerge close enough to the Senate bill to allow them to be reconciled by a House-Senate conference committee, the person said. The House Science Space and Technology Committee is scheduled to begin work Tuesday on two pieces of legislation related to bolstering U.S. innovation . . . . ( Bloomberg - June 10, 2021)
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AAU Sends Letter to House Science Committee Expressing Support for NSF for the Future Act
AAU President Barbara R. Snyder has sent a letter to House Science Committee Chair Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) expressing support for H.R. 2225, the National Science Foundation for the Future Act, in advance of the bill’s markup on Tuesday, June 15. The letter commended specific provisions in the current legislation, including the strong five-year funding authorization levels and the bill’s attention to graduate education. In our letter, AAU also expressed appreciation for the committee’s work on the research integrity and security provisions of H.R. 2225 and support for the creation of and NSF Directorate for Science and Engineering Solutions. “AAU has consistently supported the idea that NSF should be open to big and bold ideas and to experimenting with its own structure and funding mechanisms,” the letter noted. ( Association of American Universities - June 11, 2021)
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The Biden Administration Launches the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Task Force
The U.S. National Science Foundation and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy today announced the formation of the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Task Force. As directed by Congress in the "National AI Initiative Act of 2020," the task force will serve as a federal advisory committee, developing an implementation roadmap for the National AI Research Resource, a shared research infrastructure providing AI researchers and students across all scientific disciplines with access to computational resources, high-quality data, educational tools and user support. The task force will provide recommendations for establishing and sustaining the National AI Research Resource, including technical capabilities, governance, administration, assessment and requirements for security, privacy, civil rights and civil liberties. ( National Science Foundation - June 10, 2021)
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Education Dept. Delays Simplification of the FAFSA
The Education Department is delaying changes to the federal financial aid application meant to streamline the process, disappointing advocates who worry about the pandemic’s continued effect on students from lower-income households. On Friday, the department said it will need another year to implement provisions to streamline the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA, that Congress included in the $1.4 trillion spending package in December. House and Senate leaders agreed to reduce the number of questions on the aid application from 108 to 36 and limit requirements for students experiencing homelessness and those formerly in foster care to receive financial assistance. They decided to shield more of the money that working students earn from the formula used to determine aid. Those changes will enable an additional 1.7 million students to qualify for the maximum award each year and make an additional 555,000 newly eligible, according to lawmakers. ( The Washington Post - June 11, 2021)
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AAU Submits Title IX Comments, Joins ACE Comment Letter
AAU submitted comments to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights regarding the agency’s review of regulations and actions related to Title IX provisions on campus sexual misconduct. Throughout this week, OCR has held virtual public hearings on the issue. In our comment letter, AAU expressed deep commitment to complying with federal civil rights law and to providing a safe learning environment for all students. “Any changes to the current regulations,” the letter noted, “should respect the autonomy and educational missions of America’s institutions of higher education, while allowing them to tailor their sexual harassment proceedings to effectively protect the rights of all students, faculty, and staff members.” AAU also urged the department “to include campus advocates for survivors of sexual misconduct as part of the conversation as it moves forward” in the regulatory process. AAU also joined ACE and 41 other higher education organizations in submitting an additional written comment to OCR encouraging the department to adopt a less-prescriptive framework that “provides flexibility for campuses to ensure that survivors are not denied their ability to participate in their education programs, while ensuring fair processes for all.” ( Association of American Universities - June 11, 2021)
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Federal Student Aid Head Richard Cordray Talks Student Loans: ‘We Intend and Will Hold the Servicers Accountable.’
The federal student aid system is in the midst of a fundamental overhaul. A long-standing effort to revamp the management of student loans is coming to a head, as are efforts to make it easier to enroll in income-driven repayment plans and obtain financial aid. The stakes are high for millions of Americans who have relied on federal aid to finance their education, those who will need such support in the future and those responsible for the transformation. None of this is lost on Richard Cordray, the newly appointed head of the Education Department’s federal aid office tasked with instituting those reforms. Although the student aid office is overhauling the way it administers and manages federal loans—a project dubbed NextGen—pushback from contractors and members of Congress has resulted in delays. This week, Cordray extended the department’s contracts by six months with existing servicers to give the agency more runway. ( The Washington Post - June 11, 2021)
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FY 22 APPROPRIATIONS NEWS
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AAU, Associations Send Letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committees on FY22 Appropriations
AAU, ACE, and 46 other organizations sent a letter to the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees reiterating the higher education community’s funding requests for the FY22 appropriations process. The letter requests support for critical programs serving students, institutions, and researchers —including Pell Grants and other financial aid programs, institutions serving historically underserved populations, scientific research and development programs across multiple agencies, and more. “It is critical,” the letter states, “that existing federal investments to strengthen our workforce, advance scientific research and develop new technologies, enhance the capacities of postsecondary institutions, and promote the greatest possible opportunity for students and their families are expanded in the Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations process.” ( Association of American Universities - June 11, 2021)
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AAU, ACE, Other Associations Request Briefing from State on Presidential Proclamation 10043
AAU, ACE, and 39 other associations sent a letter yesterday requesting a briefing from State Department officials on the implications of Presidential Proclamation 10043, “Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Students and Researchers from the People’s Republic of China,” for international students and scholars. The letter raises concerns about troubling reports that the proclamation is being applied very broadly and “is causing delays in students’ academic careers and critical projects.” ( Association of American Universities - June 11, 2021)
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