DC Digest - May 6, 2011

 

In Today's Issue:

  • May 17 Webinar: The Federal Government and Higher Education - An Update on Legislation and Regulations Impacting Colleges and Universities
  • AAU Publishes Acronym and Resource Guide
  • NC Senator Burr Introduces Bill to Combine Department of Energy and EPA
  • Small Business Bill Stalls in the Senate, House Panel Marks Up Its Bill
  • The Fight for Title VI


MAY 17 WEBINAR: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND HIGHER EDUCATION - AN UPDATE ON LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS IMPACTING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
As national policymakers continue to address issues with serious implications for the higher education landscape, the American Council on Education (ACE) is pleased to host a webinar on the latest news from Washington, D.C. and how it impacts American colleges and universities.  

Duke University Office of Federal Relations has registered for the event and invites interested faculty and staff to participate on May 17, 2011 at 11 am in the Allen Building – 103A.  SPACE IS LIMITED.

This webinar, featuring ACE Senior Vice President Terry Hartle, will convene leading experts from the national policy and higher education communities to discuss key issues affecting colleges and universities, including pending legislation, the national budget deficit and U.S. Department of Education regulations. In addition, a significant portion of the 90-minute webinar will be dedicated to questions from the audience.

Speakers include:
Jason Deslisle – Director, Federal Education Budget Project, New America Foundation

Jennifer Blum – Partner and Vice Chair, Government and Regulatory Affairs Practice Group, Drinker Biddle

Terry Hartle – Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, American Council on Education

IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE:  Please email Michaela.Davidai@duke.edu by COB Wednesday, May 11 to reserve a spot.


AAU PUBLISHES ACRONYMS AND RESOURCE GUIDE
AAU has created a new publication, “Acronyms and Resource Guide,” which includes a list of acronyms and terms used frequently by the research and higher education communities.

The guide includes:
•    higher education and related associations;
•    advocacy organizations and coalitions of interest to research universities;
•    explanations of acronyms and terms commonly used in the university community;
•    web links to government resources and agencies;
•    executive and legislative branch offices; and
•    key federal research-related rules, regulations, and guidelines.

Read More:
Acronyms and Resource Guide (pdf)


NC SENATOR BURR INTRODUCES BILL TO COMBINE DEPT. OF ENERGY AND EPA
On Thursday, North Carolina Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) introduced a bill that would consolidate the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency into a single, new agency called the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE).  The bill would provide cost savings by combining duplicative functions while improving the administration of energy and environmental policies by ensuring a coordinated approach.

The DOEE would combine support and administrative offices of the two agencies and would take the recommendations from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to eliminate ineffective or duplicative programs.  Core functions of each agency would be maintained.

Read More:
Burr Bill Cuts Spending, Increases Efficiency by Combining Dept. of Energy and EPA (Burr.Senate.gov)



SMALL BUSINESS BILL STALLS IN SENATE, HOUSE PANEL MARKS UP ITS BILL
The Senate on Wednesday rejected an effort to invoke cloture on the small business research bill (S. 493) that has been mired down in the Senate since March 15 over a number of unrelated amendments.  The vote to invoke cloture and move to final consideration of the bill was 52 to 44, eight short of the 60 votes needed to cut off debate.  CQ Today reports that the Senate is likely to turn away from the measure and move on to other business

The small business bill would reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.  The higher education community supports reauthorization of the programs but opposes the increase in the small business research set-aside included in the Senate bill. 

The House Science, Space and Technology Committee on Wednesday marked up its version of the bill, H.R. 1425, which does not include an increase in the set-aside.  AAU sent a letter to committee members expressing support for the measure.  During the markup, the panel approved an amendment offered by Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) to create a new proof of concept pilot program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  AAU and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities supported the amendment. 

Read More:
AAU Expresses Support for House SBIR Bill, H.R. 1425 (pdf)


THE FIGHT FOR TITLE VI
Less than a year after seven Duke centers received federal support to help Duke students and local teachers learn about other parts of the world, those same centers are facing potentially devastating budget cuts. Depending on how the U.S. Department of Education interprets a federal funding bill in the coming weeks, international studies initiatives funded by Title VI of the Higher Education Act at universities nationwide could lose nearly half of their funding. 

The Office of Federal Relations has been in contact with legislators and federal administrators, including officials at the White House, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and members of the North Carolina congressional delegation, asking them to preserve as much funding as possible for the center.

Read More:
The Fight for Title VI (DukeNews)