The DC Digest

Duke Government Relations

Duke in DC's Top News Today:

Tax Package Expected for House Vote This Week
NSF Announces Regional Innovation Engines Awards
Biden Admin Cancels $5B in Student Loan Repayments
College Cost Reduction Act Heads for Markup
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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.

TAX PACKAGE TO GO TO HOUSE FLOOR THIS WEEK

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he plans to bring the bipartisan tax package to the House floor to vote this week. The package includes the restoration of critical research and development deductions for businesses willing to invest in R&D, as well as the expansion of the Child Tax Credit. According to POLITICO, House leadership had put the text of the deal on this week’s legislative calendar as a bill that may be considered, but the timing itself is yet to be determined.

Package Out for Delivery

Research

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

NSF ANNOUNCES REGIONAL INNOVATION ENGINES AWARDS

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced this week its first-ever NSF Regional Innovation Engines awards to universities and other organizations, including two in North Carolina. The NSF Engines program, "envisions supporting multiple flourishing regional innovation ecosystems across the U.S., spurring economic growth in regions that have not fully participated in the technology boom of the past few decades."

Start Your Engines

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

ED DEPARTMENT DELAYS FAFSA LAUNCH YET AGAIN

The Education Department announced today that the release of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) would be delayed by another two months. This update will delay institutions’ receipt of Institutional Student Information Records (ISIR) until early- to mid-March.

FAFSA Update

BIDEN ADMIN CANCELS $5B IN STUDENT LOAN DEBT

About 74,000 student loan borrowers have had their student loan debts canceled by the Biden Administration, totaling around $5 billion in relief. A majority of the $5 billion comes from student loan cancelation, with the rest coming from updates to the income-driven repayment plan. The administration is continuing to work on implementing the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan in hopes of offering additional student debt relief.

SAVEd from Student Loans

COLLEGE COST REDUCTION ACT HEADS FOR MARKUP THIS WEEK

The College Cost Reduction Act is heading to markup in the House Workforce and Education Committee this week. We outlined what's in the act in a previous digest. As it heads for its initial markup, we have some concerns with the implications associated with the bill and are continuing to engage with relevant congressional staffers, higher ed associations, and other colleagues.

On Our Radar

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 hosting weekly virtual office hours for members of the Duke community, "Federal Forums." 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.

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