DC Digest - June 19, 2009

In Today's Issue:

  • Office of Federal Relations Launches New Website 
  • Senators Hatch: Keeping U.S. Edge Sharp
  • Memo to Democrats: Keep Your Eye on the Ball
  • Department of Education Names 4 Lenders to Service Student Loans, Expands Loan Servicing Capacity
  • Kline Named Top GOP Post on House Education and Labor Committee

OFR LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
The Office of Federal Relations is pleased to announce the launch of its brand new website: http://www.duke.edu/federalrelations/. Some features of the new site will allow you to: 

  • Stay up-to-date on breaking news from DC that affects Duke
  • Subscribe to our listservs, the DC Digest (featuring DC-related news targeted to the Duke Community) and the Duke Digest (Duke-related news targeted to policymakers and friends of Duke)
  • Learn about federally-funded research at the university
  • Browse resources from higher education associations, government agencies, and research support organizations
  • Link to Duke's representatives in Congress  

Should you have any questions about the site or how we can help in your efforts, please contact Landy Elliott.


SENATOR HATCH: KEEPING U.S. EDGE SHARP
In this Washington Times OpEd, Senators Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Michael Crapo, and Jim Risch argue for increased funding for basic science research and changes to the U.S. tax structure as crucial to continued U.S. technological innovation leadership.

Read More:
Hatch: Keeping U.S. Edge Sharp (Washington Times)


MEMO TO DEMOCRATS: KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL
This New America Foundation blog posting urges Democratic Congressional leaders to follow President Obama's plan to use savings from the elimination of the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program to make Pell Grants a true entitlement for low-income students. Although Democrats may be tempted to push for an extension of an interest rate reduction set to expire in 2012, the author argues that Democratic leaders stay true to Obama's plan.

Read More:
Memo to Democrats: Keep Your Eye on the Ball (Higher Ed Watch Blog)


DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NAMES 4 LENDERS TO SERVICE STUDENT LOANS, EXPANDS LOAN CAPACITY
Ending months of speculation, the Education Department announced Wednesday that it had chosen four lenders to service its educational loans: American Education Services/Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, Great Lakes Educational Loan Services Inc., Nelnet Inc., and the Sallie Mae Corporation.

If lawmakers adopt President Obama’s proposal to abolish the bank-based guaranteed-loan program, servicing contracts like those announced Wednesday could become the primary way banks and other lenders participate in student lending. Congress could formally begin its work on President Obama's proposal to restructure the student loan programs to free up money for Pell Grants and other financial aid as soon as next week,

Read More:
US Department of Education Expands its Student Loan Servicing Capacity (Department of Education)
Education Department Names 4 Lenders to Service Student Loans (Chronicle of Higher Ed)


KLINE WINS TOP GOP POST ON HOUSE EDUCATION AND LABOR COMMITTEE
Minnesota Congressman John Kline was chosen today by the House Republican Steering Committee to serve as the ranking Republican on the 50-member Education and Labor Committee. Congressman Kline replaces Buck McKeon, who last week was named the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee.

Read More:
Kline Wins Top GOP Post on House Ed and Labor Committee (Minnesota Public Radio)