The DC Digest

Duke Government Relations

Duke in DC's Top News Today:

Government Funding and Shutdown Update
AAU Letter to HHS on Research Misconduct
House GOP Introduces Bill to Address College Costs
Bipartisan Senate Bill Introduced on Antisemitism and OCR Reporting
Sign Up for a Duke Office of Government Relations Federal Forum!
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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.

ONE WEEK UNTIL PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

With a deal announced to fund the government at a topline level of $1.59T, there was hope this week that real progress would be made to avoid a shutdown. While much noise has been made this week, little progress has happened due to a revolt from hardline House Republicans. See the overall spending level details in the graphic below and a more detailed recap of the latest progress, or lack thereof, below.

What Is or Isn't Happening

Research

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

AAU SUBMITS COMMENTS ON HHS RESEARCH MISCONDUCT POLICY

In response to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Research Integrity's notice of proposed rule making on Public Health Service Policies on Research Misconduct, AAU has expressed concerns in a letter to the Department. AAU is apprehensive about the potential outcome of the proposed regulations, stating that they might "substantially increase – not decrease – the complexity of the research misconduct review process." In its letter, AAU also noted its support for comments submitted by COGR, the Association of Research Integrity Officers and APLU.

Dear HHS

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

HOUSE GOP INTRODUCES 'COLLEGE COST REDUCTION ACT'

House Republicans, led by Committee on Education & the Workforce Chair Virginia Foxx (R-NC) introduced the College Cost Reduction Act (H.R.6951) yesterday. The legislation aims to make comprehensive changes to the federal student aid programs and substantial updates to the relationship between the federal government and institutions of higher education. According to a quick readout from NAICU, the proposal addresses numerous issues, including:

The elimination of the SEOG, Parent and Grad PLUS programs;
Requirements for institutional cost sharing on unpaid interest and principal from prior students’ federal loans;
The elimination of many recent regulatory requirements, including Financial Value Transparency;
Limitations on federal student aid based on “the median cost of college of the program the student is enrolled in;” and
Substantial restrictions on accreditors’ policies and actions.

The Office of Government Relations is reviewing the legislation and working with the higher education associations to develop a deeper understanding of the proposal.

Bill Summary and Fact Sheet

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO SAVE PLAN FOR SMALLER BORROWER AMOUNTS

The Biden Administration took steps this week intending to help borrowers who attended community college. Since these borrowers usually take out smaller loans, the administration announced that "it will start providing forgiveness after as few as 10 years of payments for borrowers on the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan who originally took out $12,000 or less for college. Borrowers enrolled in SAVE who are eligible for early forgiveness will have their debts canceled immediately starting next month, with no action on their part."

SAVE More

Additional Federal Relations Items of Interest to Duke

SENATE INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN BILL TO ADDRESS CAMPUS ANTISEMITISM

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), the ranking member on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), along with Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), introduced legislation yesterday that aims to mandate colleges to provide students with information on how to file a complaint with the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Under the legislation, colleges and universities must report annually the number of civil rights complaints they receive and how they address them. The lawmakers emphasize their goal is to support any students facing violence or harassment based on their heritage. Yet, this bill is primarily a response to the recent rise in reported antisemitic incidents on college campuses.

OCR Reporting Notices

PREGNANT STUDENTS' RIGHTS ACT ADVANCES IN HOUSE COMMITTEE

As we shared in Tuesday's Digest, the House Education & Workforce Committee passed legislation this week that, if passed into law, would require higher education institutions to provide more transparent information about support for pregnant students and their babies. As we additionally noted earlier, the bill is backed by several antiabortion groups and states that should a student get pregnant in college, they may face "pressure that their only option is to receive an abortion or risk academic failure."

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT FEDERAL ISSUES? SIGN UP FOR FEDERAL FORUMS

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.

TWEET OF THE WEEK!

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