DC Digest - April 2, 2010


In Today's Issue:

  • Congressman Lipinski Visits Duke to Host Listening Session on Future of NSF
  • Representatives Request Seven-Percent Budget Increase for NIH
  • ACE Provides Ethics Guidance on Inviting Government Officials to Speak at Commencements and Receive Honorary Degrees
  • A Retrospective View of the Path to Federal Student Aid Reform
  • The Student Loan Reform Bill: A Perspective
  • FIPSE Requests U.S.-Russia Partnership Proposals


CONGRESSMAN LIPINSKI (G '98) VISITS DUKE TO HOST LISTENING SESSION ON FUTURE OF NSF
Congressman Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) returned to his alma mater on Monday to hear more about basic science research and related issues from representatives from universities in the Southeast.

Lipinski, who sits on the House Science and Technology Committee that oversees policy decisions related to the major science research agencies, scheduled his visit to Duke as a part of a nationwide listening tour in which he is soliciting comments on the reauthorization of programs contained in the America COMPETES Act.

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Congressman Holds Listening Session on Future of NSF (DukeNews)


REPRESENTATIVES REQUEST SEVEN-PERCENT BUDGET INCREASE FOR NIH
A group of 99 Representatives sent a letter to House appropriators on March 17 asking them to provide the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with a seven-percent budget increase in FY11. 
 
The letter initiated by Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), says, “NIH research is a critical part of meeting health care challenges, strengthening our economy, inspiring the next generation of scientists and researchers, and maintaining our nation’s leadership in innovation.”


ACE PROVIDES ETHICS GUIDANCE ON INVITING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO SPEAK AT COMMENCEMENTS AND RECEIVE HONORARY DEGREES
The American Council on Education (ACE) has published a set of guidelines for campuses to use in ensuring they follow federal ethics and disclosure requirements when they invite Members of Congress and senior Executive Branch officials to speak at commencements and receive honorary degrees.  

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ACE Ethics Guidance for Inviting Members of Congress and Executive Branch Officials as Commencement Speakers and Presenting Honorary Degrees (ACE)

A RETROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE PATH TO FEDERAL STUDENT AID REFORM
The passage of the student loan reform bill was made possible by two intersecting circumstances:  the 2008 credit crisis and the 2008 election which gave Democrats control of the White House, the House, and a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.  For a retrospective view of the twists and turns, see this NAICU chronology, summarizing the most significant events of the past two years that helped shape the legislation's final form.

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The Path to Federal Student Aid Reform (NAICU)

    THE STUDENT LOAN REFORM BILL: A PERSPECTIVE
    The final student loan reform bill that Congress approved on March 25 is dramatically scaled back from earlier versions of the legislation.  But even the simpler legislation that ultimately emerged still stands as a historic change in federal student aid and health care policy for colleges - one that will have profound effects in the months and years ahead.  Here are some of the bill's highlights.

    Read More:
    The Student Loan Reform Bill: A Perspective (NAICU Washington Update)


    FIPSE REQUESTS U.S.-RUSSIA PARTNERSHIP PROPOSALS
    The Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) has announced a grant program to encourage and develop educational opportunities between U.S. and Russian colleges. The arrangements provided by the grants would encourage language learning, cultural appreciation, sharing knowledge and forming long-term relationships between the two countries.

    Read More:
    FIPSE Requests U.S.-Russia Partnership Proposals (NAICU)