Third COVID-19 Stimulus Package Supports Higher Ed
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BU IN DC
Danielle Citron of the School of Law participated in a virtual panel on combating online disinformation about the coronavirus hosted by the New America Foundation on March 25.
THIRD COVID-19 STIMULUS PACKAGE SUPPORTS HIGHER ED
The U.S. House of Representatives is poised to pass the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748), the third COVID-19 relief bill considered by Congress, and send it to the President for his signature shortly.Recognizing the impact of the virus on higher education, the bill includes the following:
- $14.250 billion for emergency relief for institutions of higher education.
- Funding for COVID-19 related research at the National Institutes of Health ($945 million), U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science ($95 million), National Science Foundation ($75 million), Department of Defense Health programs ($415 million), and the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities ($75 million each).
- Deferment of student loan payments, principal, and interest through September 30, 2020, for all federally-owned student loans.
- Tax incentives for charitable giving.
A fourth COVID-19 aid package is already being discussed, but its timeline is unclear since Congress plans to adjourn until at least April 20 to minimize the spread of COVID-19 among lawmakers.
Read a summary of the higher education provisions
NEW FEDERAL ACTIONS TO ADDRESS COVID-19
Congress and federal agencies continue to offer guidance and support for students and researchers impacted by coronavirus. This week:
- Research agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and Department of Defense continue to update the research community on flexibility in grants administration and research funding opportunities related to COVID-19.
- The Massachusetts Congressional delegation, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), urged substantial aid for higher education as it grapples with COVID-19. Many of the delegation’s requests were adopted in the stimulus bill being considered by Congress this week.
- The Student and Exchange Visitor Program at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a collection of frequently asked questions about the impact of coronavirus disruptions for students with F and M visas. The higher education community continues to press for further clarification on a number of issues.
- The U.S. Department of Education will halt collection actions and wage garnishment for student loan borrowers for at least 60 days.
GRANTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
While attention is focused on addressing the coronavirus epidemic, federal research agencies continue to issue solicitations for their regular research programs:
- The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) released its annual call for the Young Investigator Program. This prestigious program provides early career university faculty a path into the Air Force’s research enterprise through multi-year research grants.
- The Department of Defense’s FY 2020 Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program funding opportunities have been released. Investigators should pay close attention to the novel peer review process used by the Department’s medical research programs.
- The National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking proposals that expand diversity within the geosciences research community by furthering the impact of the existing investments, scaling up diversity efforts, or advancing unique and effective ways to improve diversity and inclusion in the geosciences.