Biden Sends Higher Ed Priorities to Congress
BU IN DC
Nazli Kibria and Deborah Carr of the College of Arts & Sciences spoke with Congressional staff about the importance of social science research as part of the Consortium of Social Science Associations Advocacy Day on April 27th.
Gina Ortiz Jones (CAS’03, GRS’03) was nominated by President Joe Biden as undersecretary for the U.S. Air Force on April 27th.
BIDEN SENDS HIGHER ED PRIORITIES TO CONGRESS
On Wednesday evening, President Joe Biden addressed a joint session of Congress for the first time in his presidency. He touted the details of his American Families Plan, a $1.8 trillion proposal to increase access to medical care and education. The proposal includes:
- Making two years of community college free for all Americans, including Dreamer students who were brought to the United States without documentation as children.
- Increasing the maximum Pell Grant award for low-income students by $1,400 and expanding eligibility to Dreamers.
- Directing significant funds to Minority Serving Institutions, including for students pursuing health and teaching careers.
- Doubling the TEACH Grant financial aid award to students pursuing teaching degrees.
Biden also touted his previously-released American Jobs Plan, saying he proposed “the biggest increase in non-defense research and development on record.” The spending proposals face an uphill climb in a closely-divided Congress.
SENATORS QUESTION OSTP NOMINEE LANDER
On Thursday, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing on the nomination of Dr. Eric Lander as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Presidential Science Adviser. Massachusetts Senators Elizabeth Warren (D) and Edward Markey (D) enthusiastically introduced Dr. Lander, the founder of the Broad Institute in Cambridge, and emphasized his commitment to broadening participation in science. Members of the Committee praised Lander’s scientific accomplishments, while expressing concern about his previous interactions with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his perceived downplaying of the role of women scientists in developing gene-editing technology. They also asked about the Biden Administration’s proposal for an Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health, building public trust in science, and pandemic preparedness. Lander is the final Biden Cabinet nominee awaiting confirmation by the Senate.
BUZZ BITS…
- Dr. Geraldine Richmond as undersecretary for science at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Dr. Richmond is a chemist at the University of Oregon, and will be in charge of all science and research programs at DOE.
- Roberto Rodriguez as assistant secretary of planning, evaluation and policy development at the U.S. Department of Education. Mr. Rodriguez held education policy positions in the Obama Administration and for the late Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA).
- Heidi Shyu as undersecretary for research and engineering at the U.S. Department of Defense. Ms. Shyu, who has had an extensive career in the defense public and private sectors, will oversee extramural research funding at the Department if confirmed.
- Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon as assistant secretary for mental health and substance use at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, overseeing the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Dr. Delphin-Rittmon is currently the commissioner of the Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
- Dr. Robert Hampshire as the chief science officer at the Department of Transportation. Dr. Hampshire is currently acting as the agency’s assistant Secretary for research and technology, and was previously an associate professor of public policy at the University of Michigan.