Jul 29, 2014 - Technology Transfer Act (HR 5120) also passed by voice vote. ... Third, the Science Technology Education
July 29, 2014
Recent Visits to the Hill: Glen Laine-Vice President for Research Panelist for the AAU and The Science Coalition roundtable discussion on the connection between science and global competitiveness. Ann KenimerAssociate Provost for Undergraduate Studies Represented Texas A&M at the AAU STEM initiative meeting. Mladen KezunovicDirector, Smart Grid Center, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station and Eugene E. Webb Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Presented a policy brief to Congressional staff on grid security in an increasingly interconnected world. Elsa MuranoProfessor, Department of Nutrition and Food Services, and Interim Director of the Norman Borlaug Institute Briefed Congressional staff on activities of the Borlaug Institute in Central America.
Texas A&M Government Relations Update Texas A&M University, Office of Government Relations
State Appropriations Request Texas A&M University, The Texas A&M University Health Science Center and Texas A&M University at Galveston are in the final stages of formalizing each entities state appropriation request for the 84th Legislative Session that begins in January of 2015. All requests are due to the Legislative Budget Board and the Governor’s Budget and Planning Office August 4. Details regarding the requests will be in the next update.
Legislative Budget Board Visit The Legislative Budget Board (LBB) staff that oversees the Texas A&M appropriation functions visited the TAMUG campus on July 24. The daylong visit provided an opportunity for the LBB staff to see first-hand the special-purpose mission activities of TAMUG and the unique conditions of a coastal campus. This included a tour and briefing on the Texas A&M Maritime Academy training vessel, coastal surge research and recommendations, the Seafood Safety Lab that assists the state oyster industry and the condition of campus facilities. The LBB staff had a similar visit to the Texas A&M main campus and the Texas A&M HSC in June.
Several Pieces of the FIRST Act Passed On July 22, 2014, the House passed by voice vote more pieces of legislation taken from noncontroversial portions of the Frontiers in Innovation, Research, Science, and Technology (FIRST) Act of 2014 (HR 4186) and the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2014 (HR 4159). Also, legislation passed by voice vote under suspension of rules, which reauthorize the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) (HR 5035) for FY15 at funding levels consistent with the Housepassed version of the FY15 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill. The Department of Energy (DOE) Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer Act (HR 5120) also passed by voice vote.
Appropriations Overview As you will see in this update, both the House and Senate are moving spending bills. Nevertheless, both chambers have conceded they will not complete the appropriations cycle for FY15. Discussions regarding a Continuing Resolution (CR) for FY15 are underway, and how long the CR will extend is unknown. Under a CR, it is likely that most programs will continue at current levels of spending, but depending on the timing some grants will see a disruption or delay in spending.
Texas A&M GR Update Page 2 of 3 Energy Spending Bill Update Upcoming Visits to the Hill: Bill McCutcheonExecutive Associate Director Visit with Congressional offices to discuss AgriLife research activities.
Recent Visits to the State Capitol: P. K. Imbrie-Director, Undergraduate Education Programs, Engineering Academic and Student Affairs and Associate Professor Testified before the state Senate Higher Education Committee on July 22 regarding technology utilization in the classroom.
On July 10, 2014, the full House approved the FY15 Energy and Water Appropriations bill (HR4923). The general contours of the bill keep the Office of Science funding flat at F14 levels, boosts selected National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) science and technology accounts, and takes a mixed approach to the science and technology accounts. According to American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) estimates, the bill provides $11.8B for DOE research and development, which is 3.2% ($366M) above the FY14 levels and 4.9% ($611M) below the President’s request. The Senate Appropriations Committee has released a report to accompany its draft FY15 Energy and Water appropriations bill. We are currently analyzing this draft legislation.
House Passes Four Science Related Bills On July 14, 2014, the House passed the four science related bills. First, the Research Development and Efficiency Act (HR 5056) was passed, which would establish a working group through the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to make recommendations on streamlining federal regulations affecting research. Second, the International Science and Technology Cooperation Act (HR 5029) was passed, which would establish a body under the NSTC to coordinate international science and technology cooperative research and training activities and partnerships. Third, the Science Technology Education and Math (STEM) Education Act (HR 5031) was passed, which would support existing STEM education programs at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and define STEM to include computer science. Fourth, the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act (HR 1786) was passed, which reauthorizes the National Windstorm Reduction Program.
Senate Labor, HHS and Education Bill Approved On June 10, 2014, the Senate Appropriations Committee Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education Subcommittee approved the FY15 appropriations bill. The measure would provide $30.5B for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an increase of $606M above FY14 levels. Within that total, the bill includes $100M for the second year of the multi-agency Brain Research through Application of Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, and increase of $60M. For student financial aid, the Subcommittee-approved bill would maintain the discretionary portion of the maximum Pell grant award at $4,860 for the 2015-2016 school year. When combined with mandatory funding, this would raise the maximum award by an estimated $100 to $5,830. The bill also would increase funding for several campus-based student aid programs.
Texas A&M GR Update Page 3 of 3 House Passed Five Higher Education Related Bills In the past couple of weeks the House has passed five bills of particular importance to the higher education community. On July 23, 2014 the House passed the Advancing Competency-Based Education Demonstration Project Act (HR 3136). This bill allows the Department of Education (DoEd) to create a number of demonstration projects that would implement competency based education programs, in order to give students more flexibility in their pursuit of education. Also on July 23, 2014, the House passed the Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act (HR 4983) by voice vote. The bill would create a consumer-tested College Dashboard, to offer better information to students and families before they apply to schools. On July 24, 2014 they passed the Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act (HR 4984). This legislation requires that institutions provide annual counseling to student borrowers of federal loans and inform Pell grant recipients of the terms and condition of the grants. A group of seventeen higher education associations sent a letter on July 22, to House Education and the workforce Committee Chair John Kline (RMN) expressing support for these three bills. Additionally, the House this week passed a year-long extension, through 2015, of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) and the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance (ACSFA) (HR 5134). These committees were slated to expire at the end of this year. Finally, the Student and Family Tax Simplification Act (HR 3393) was passed. The bill consolidates and eliminates the Lifetime learning Tax Credit, Hope Scholarship Credit, and deduction for tuition and fees to create a simpler and strengthened American Opportunity Tax Credit. While the consolidation of the higher education tax benefits is generally regarded positively by the higher education community, the way it is accomplished in this bill disadvantages graduate and nontraditional students. A letter expressing these concerns was sent to all House members. However, this bill is unlikely to be taken up in the Senate in its present form.
Secret Science Legislation Update The Secret Science Reform Act (HR 4012) which passed the House Science Space and Technology Committee last month, and prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from proposing, finalizing, or disseminating regulations or assessments based upon science unless the data used is reproducible and publically available. This legislation has also been introduced in the Senate (S 2613), and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW).
Texas A&M University Office of Government Relations PHONE: (979) 845-2217 E-MAIL:
[email protected] [email protected] Content for updates obtained working with the TAMUS Office of Federal Relations and from various sources including updates from: Association of American Universities (www.aau.edu), Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (www.aplu.org), and American Association for the Advancement of Science (www.aaas.org)
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