Lawmakers Move Forward on Tax Reform

BU IN DC

President Robert A. Brown attended the fall membership meeting of the Association of American Universities between October 22 and 24.

College of Engineering Dean Ken Lutchen participated in the National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Engineering Advisory Committee meeting, of which he is a member, on October 25 and 26.

Carmela Abraham of the School of Medicine spoke at two Congressional briefings about companies with their origins in federally-funded research on October 25.

David Center of the School of Medicine attended a meeting of the Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program on October 26.

 

LAWMAKERS MOVE FORWARD ON TAX REFORM

Following the approval of a budget resolution (H. Con. Res. 71) by both chambers of Congress, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) announced that he plans to unveil a major tax bill next week. Universities will be closely watching the measure to see whether it includes proposed changes to the current tax incentives for charitable giving or college affordability. Although the budget resolution includes “reconciliation instructions” that will allow Congress to more easily pass a tax bill without needing a super-majority vote in the Senate, it is unclear whether ambitious plans by Republican leadership to have a final tax measure on the President’s desk this year will be feasible.

Find out more

 

SUBCOMMITTEE FOCUSES ON ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS

On Tuesday, a subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee held a hearing to examine the role of facilities and administrative (F&A) costs in supporting research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The panel’s four witnesses emphasized that the partnership between NIH and research institutions is vital to American leadership in medical innovation, and a reduction in federal support would make it impossible for most universities to continue their research. Subcommittee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) reiterated his concern about the Trump Administration proposal to cap F&A reimbursement, which was soundly rejected by Congress earlier this year. Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) was the lone voice of disagreement, suggesting F&A dollars could instead be used to fund the work of early-career investigators.

Watch the hearing

 

BUZZ BITS…