Tax Proposals Advance in Congress
BU IN DC
Edward Damiano of the College of Engineering spoke at a Capitol Hill briefing on November 15 regarding the role of the National Institutes of Health in supporting medical breakthroughs.
Andrei Lapets and Mayank Varia of the College of Arts & Sciences participated in a workshop at the U.S. Census Bureau on cutting-edge privacy technologies on November 16.
Joseph Finkhouse and Sarah VanKirk of Global Programs attended the annual briefing of the Overseas Security Advisory Council at the U.S. Department of State on November 15 and 16.
TAX PROPOSALS ADVANCE IN CONGRESS
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a tax measure opposed by universities on Thursday, while the Senate Finance Committee continued debate on its version of the bill. Both chambers are racing to send a final Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to the President in early December. The Senate measure does not include the House’s onerous taxation of tuition benefits for university employees and graduate students, or its elimination of tax-exempt bond financing for nonprofit organizations. However, both bills include an identical provision to impose an excise tax on the investment income of certain private university endowments. Boston University’s legislators, Representative Michael Capuano and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, have all spoken publicly against the excise tax. BU has joined the higher education community in expressing serious concerns with both bills.
BUZZ BITS….
- On Monday, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Alex Azar to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Mr. Azar is a pharmaceutical executive who previously worked in the George W. Bush administration.
- Richard Cordray announced that he is stepping down as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at the end of the month. The CFPB has addressed problems with student loan servicing and helped students and graduates understand their college payment options.
- The National Science Foundation is searching for a new Assistant Director of Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences. The current assistant director, Dr. Fay Lomax Cook, has been in the role since September 2014.
EVENTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
BU Research will host “Illuminating How the Brain Works,” a Research on Tap event, on November 29 at 4 p.m. David Boas of the College of Engineering will host the gathering, with BU faculty presenting micro-talks on how their research in photonics technologies is driving a revolution in the neurosciences. Come meet potential research collaborators from across campus and stay for wine and cheese following the forum.
A Note To Our Readers: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, Beltway BUzz will not publish next week. Happy Thanksgiving!