Bill to Increase NIH, Student Aid Funding Stalls
BU IN DC
College of Communication Dean Tom Fiedler hosted an alumni event featuring New York Times columnist and Andrew R. Lack Professor David Carr on June 9.
Julie Wickstrom of the Financial Assistance Office discussed financial aid policy with Congressional offices and U.S. Department of Education officials as part of the National Direct Loan Coalition’s activities on June 9 and 10.
The School of Public Health hosted an alumni reception in conjunction with the InterAction 2014 Forum on June 11.
Andy Horner, Vice President for Research Finance & Operations, and Gretchen Hartigan of Post Award Financial Operations attended the June meeting of the Council on Governmental Relations on June 12 and 13.
BILL TO INCREASE NIH, STUDENT AID FUNDING STALLS
A Senate appropriations subcommittee approved a bill on Tuesday to increase the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget by approximately $605 million in fiscal year 2015, which would restore the sequester cuts implemented in 2013. The measure would also slightly raise the maximum Pell Grant award for low-income students to $5,830, increase available Federal Work Study campus-based aid by approximately $35 million, and provide modest increases for the U.S. Department of Education’s international education and education research activities. The positive news was tempered by an announcement that the Senate leadership has no immediate plans to advance the bill, reportedly to avoid having politically vulnerable Senators vote on contentious policy riders prior to the November elections.
PRESIDENT, SENATE ADDRESS STUDENT LOAN DEBT
On Monday, President Barack Obama issued three directives on student loan debt that will expand eligibility for the federal “Pay As You Earn” repayment plan, renegotiate federal contracts with the companies that provide customer service to loan recipients, and educate more borrowers on their repayment options. The U.S. Department of Education will implement these actions over the course of the next year. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate blocked efforts to consider the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act (S. 2432) offered by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). The bill would have allowed graduates to refinance their student loans at a lower interest rate. Senate Democrats may bring the bill back for consideration in the fall as part of their “Fair Shot” election year agenda.
Read the President’s directives
HOUSE COMMITTEE CUTS DEFENSE RESEARCH
The House Appropriations Committee approved a spending bill on Wednesday that would cut basic research at the Department of Defense (DOD) to $2 billion, a 6.4% reduction from its current level. Though the measure would increase overall science funding at DOD by 0.6% to $63.3 billion, the Association of American Universities issued a statement expressing their disappointment with the basic research cuts. The full U.S. House of Representatives is expected to take up the measure soon, and the Senate will work on a companion bill later this year.