Republicans Warn Reconciliation May Stall Bipartisan R&D Proposals
House Republicans who worked with Democrats this summer to pass bills aimed at boosting U.S. scientific research and development are warning that the budget reconciliation process may undercut those efforts and endanger the prospects of a bipartisan science authorization bill becoming law this year. Both chambers passed bipartisan science bills in June that would authorize billions for the National Science Foundation, the Energy Department and other agencies to conduct basic and applied research in fields ranging from climate science to artificial intelligence. Republicans say the partisan budget process under which Democrats intend to pass a domestic spending bill with a potential $3.5 trillion price tag and a packed legislative calendar are lowering the chances of the chambers hammering out the differences and sending a bill to President Joe Biden’s desk. They also object to Democrats using the budget process to provide billions in funding for research without the policy guidelines set by the bipartisan authorization bills. ( Roll Call - Sept. 14, 2021)
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BUDGET RECONCILIATION NEWS
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House Committee Approves Substantial Increases for Higher Education Programs, Student Aid in Reconciliation Bill
On Friday, the House Committee on Education and Labor voted 28-22 along party lines to advance its portion of the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package, proposing to invest roughly $111 billion in higher education programs and federal student aid. ACE and 33 other higher education organizations sent a letter to the committee in advance of the vote expressing the community's views on the bill and suggestions for revision as it moves through the process. The four main higher education proposals in the measure are a $500 increase for Pell Grants for 2021-22—which would bring the maximum award to $6,995—and for each award year through 2029-30; a federal-state partnership to provide free community college tuition and subsidize two years of tuition at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and other minority serving institutions (MSIs); $9 billion to help states and institutions improve college retention and completion; and an additional $3.45 billion for HBCUs and other MSIs. ( American Council on Education - Sept. 13, 2021)
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House Members Want Rollback of Title IX Rules to Begin Soon
Fifty-nine members of the House sent a letter Monday to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Suzanne Goldberg, urging the Department of Education to issue proposed changes to the Trump administration's Title IX rules in October. The department has said that proposed rule changes to the controversial regulations for Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 —put into place in 2020 under former secretary Betsy DeVos —won't be released until May 2022. That's far too long for students to wait, the representatives wrote. The representatives also ask the department to issue a nonenforcement directive on parts of the Title IX rule to prevent colleges and universities from dismissing complaints under certain circumstances, keep survivors from enduring "unjust and hostile" investigations and hearings, and allow institutions to follow state or local laws that address sex-based harassment. They also urge an update to the department's case processing manual so that survivors have more time to file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights. ( Inside Higher Ed - Sept. 14, 2021)
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Major College Sports Are Under Siege and They Want K Street to Save Them
Over the past year or so, the college sports industry has taken it on the chin. States have passed laws allowing student athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. And this June, the Supreme Court struck down restrictions on benefits for college athletes. For most of 2021, the NCAA and its large and powerful athletic conferences have moved aggressively to steer name, image and likeness (NIL) legislation, which would allow players to profit from their own celebrity but put rules on that compensation. In conversations on the Hill, they sought to limit their liability from future lawsuits that could result from congressional action. So far, the NCAA and the major conferences have little to show for their investments. Democrats and Republicans have been negotiating on compromise legislation to create a national law governing pay for college athletes, but have butted heads over what financial protections the legislation should give schools, conferences and the NCAA itself—including shields from potential legal liability—and whether schools should share revenue with their athletes. ( Politico - Sept. 14, 2021)
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Over 500 Chinese Students Rejected for U.S. Visas Under Trump Policy, Beijing Says
[There are] at least 500 students the Chinese government says have been rejected under a policy issued by then-President Donald Trump to block Beijing from obtaining U.S. technology with possible military uses. Students argue it is applied too broadly and fume at what they say is an accusation they are spies. The policy is necessary to “protect U.S. national security interests," the U.S. Embassy in Beijing said in a statement. It said the policy is a response to “some abuses of the visa process” and is “narrowly targeted.” More than 85,000 visas for Chinese students have been approved over the past four months, according to the embassy. “The numbers show clearly that the United States stands ready to issue visas to all those who are qualified — including Chinese students and scholars,” it said. Rejection letters received by several students cited Trump's order but gave no details of the decision. However, some students said they received rejections immediately after being asked which university they attended. ( Bloomberg - Sept. 13, 2021)
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