The DC Digest

In Today's Issue:

Senate to Return to Washington on May 4, House Backtracks Decision
Higher Ed Associations Sent Letter to Key Congressional Committees to Recommend Changes to CARES Act
Higher Ed Groups Sent Letter to House and Senate Small Business Committee Leaders Asking Them to Expand Small Business Administration Programs
Department of Energy Shuffles Management of Science Programs
COVID-19 Research Resources for the Duke Community
Tweet of the Week! - NSF Rapid Response Grant

SENATE TO RETURN ON MAY 4; HOUSE BACKTRACKS PLAN
Next week the Senate will be back in session following its extended recess break due to coronavirus. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate will "modify" its routines and "take whatever safeguards the Capitol physician" recommends. Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced this morning that the House will no longer follow suit to return May 4, citing advice from the Capitol physician and a continuing increase in coronavirus cases in Washington, DC.

1/2 Congress Returns

HIGHER ED WRITES CONGRESS WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO CARES ACT
The Association of American Universities (AAU) and the American Council on Education (ACE), of which Duke is a member, joined 34 other higher education organizations in a letter to the House Financial Services Committee and Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Development Committee leaders asking them to recommend changes to the mid-sized loan programs included in the CARES Act - specifically, the Main Street Lending programs. The letter suggests that Congress address nonprofit eligibility for loan programs, which would help lift barriers for colleges and universities interested in accessing these funds.

Eligibility Requirement

HIGHER ED REQUESTS EXPANSION OF SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATIONS PROGRAMS
The Association of American Universities (AAU) and the American Council on Education (ACE), of which Duke is a member, joined 33 higher ed associations on a letter to House and Senate Small Business Committee leaders asking them to expand the Small Business Administration programs created by the CARES Act. The organizations are namely interested in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance and Loan Program.

The letter recommends that Congress remove student employees from calculations for eligibility for loan COVID-19 relief loan programs, allow public institutions with fewer than 500 employees to access future expansions of the SBA and PPP and allow exemptions for colleges with more than 500 employees, as granted in other industries.

Small Business

DOE SHUFFLES MANAGEMENT OF SCIENCE PROGRAMS
The Department of Energy Office of Science has reorganized its top-level leadership structure, effective as of April 12. The former deputy director for science programs, Steve Binkley, now holds the newly created position of principal deputy director. The position's responsibilities include serving as advisor to the office's director, who is a presidential appointee, and monitoring the office's general management functions. Harriet Kung has now taken Binkley's former post and Linda Horton has taken over Kung's role, who led DOE's Basic Energy Sciences (BES) program. The Office of Science has a $7 billion research portfolio and is the largest federal funder of fundamental physical sciences research.

FEDERAL COVID-19 INFO FOR THE DUKE COMMUNITY
Federal agencies continue to release updated guidance and other information related to COVID-19. The Association of American Universities (AAU), of which Duke is a member, also created a page for frequently asked questions about federal guidance on coronavirus. The Duke community can also access resources and additional relevant updates related to research operations on the Duke Research Agency-Specific COVID-19 Updates page.

Duke Research COVID-19 Updates

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