May
29
On May 26, 2009, the Department of Education announced that it will hold three public hearings and related forums around the country to gather public suggestions on several higher education issues. The Department will also be conducting forums after each of the three hearings to discuss: (1) how changes to the Department’s financial aid communications and processes (including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid) could improve college planning, preparation and access; and (2) how best to leverage federal postsecondary programs to foster student educational persistence and degree attainment. The dates and locations for these meetings are listed below. Read more
May
28
The Association of American Universities (AAU) has provided comment on proposed NIH Stem Cell Guidelines (see below).
May 27, 2009
AAU President Robert M. Berdahl yesterday submitted AAU’s comments on proposed guidelines for human embryonic stem cell research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The AAU letter praises President Obama’s March 9, 2009 Executive Order removing Bush Administration constraints on stem cell research, commends NIH for issuing draft guidelines for such research promptly, and expresses support of the proposed guidelines.
The letter also raises several concerns, including the following:
- It recommends that stem cell lines derived before August 9, 2001, that are currently eligible for NIH funding not be subjected to retroactive consent and approval processes and that they remain eligible for federal funding.
- It recommends that stem cell lines derived under appropriate guidelines after August 9, 2001, and before the effective date of the new regulations also not be subjected to retroactive consent and approval processes and that they be made eligible for federal funding going forward.
- It expresses disappointment that the proposed guidelines unnecessarily limit federal support to research on cell lines derived from surplus in vitro fertilization embryos, making lines derived by other methods—such as somatic cell nuclear transfer—ineligible for federal funding.
- It recommends that NIH rely on institutional assurances and material transfer agreements in regulating the research use and sharing of cell lines, and that review and approval by institutional review boards of such lines or transfers not be required.
AAU Comment of NIH Stem Cell Guidelines
May
27
The House and Senate are adjourned for Memorial Day Recess and will reconvene next week. It is expected that the various House Appropriations subcommittee will begin markups of FY10 spending bills when the chambers recovene. House leaders want to pass all 12 fiscal 2010 appropriations bills before the start of the August recess, leaving eight weeks of session to complete their work. Senate leaders also seek to move appropriations bills to conclusion by the August recess. However, if recent history is a guide, Senate consideration of FY10 appropriations bills will spill into the fall. In addition to FY10 appropriations, Congressional leaders also want to pass an overhaul of the health care insurance system overhaul, student aid reform, and climate change legislation by year’s end.
May
22
NSF Dear Colleague Letter
Dear Colleagues:
Due to an expected increase in Grants.gov submissions relating to the processing of Recovery Act proposals, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has authorized agencies to use alternative methods for proposal submission and acceptance. As you know, NSF is able to accept directly its full complement of proposals, both regular submissions and those additional proposals anticipated under the Recovery Act, using our long-established FastLane capabilities for proposal submission and acceptance. Therefore, in order to assist Grants.gov in the effort to alleviate system strain and increase system capacity, proposers will now be required to prepare and submit proposals to NSF through use of the NSF FastLane system.
Effective immediately, new funding opportunities issued by NSF will exclusively require the use of FastLane to prepare and submit proposals. In addition, NSF plans to revise existing funding opportunity documents to reflect this change and to remove all active application packages from Grants.gov APPLY. NSF will continue to post information about available funding opportunities to Grants.gov FIND.
Detailed instructions regarding the technical aspects of proposal preparation and submission via FastLane are available at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/.
If you have any questions regarding this change, please contact the Policy Office on 703.292.8243 or by e-mail to policy@nsf.gov.
Best,
Jean Feldman
Head, Policy Office
Division of Institution & Award Support
Office of Budget, Finance & Award Management
May
22
Congress is on Memorial Day recess until Monday, June 1st.
May
21
The Acting Director of the Office of Science in the Department of Energy has released a PowerPoint presentation on the FY10 Budget Request. The overview provides a good explanation of new iniatives such as the Energy Innovation Hubs, and ARPA-E.
PowerPoint Presentation on FY10 Budget Request for the Department of Energy Office of Science
May
21
Memorandum
To: Association constituents
From: Robert M. Berdahl, President, Association of American Universities
Molly Corbett Broad, President, American Council on Education
Darrell G. Kirch, President and CEO, Association of American Medical Colleges
Peter McPherson, President, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
Arundeep S. Pradhan, President, Association of University Technology Managers
Anthony P. DeCrappeo, President, Council on Governmental Relations
Subject: S. 515, the Patent Reform Act of 2009
We write to inform you about S. 515, the Patent Reform Act of 2009, and our associations’ engagement in the Congressional patent reform process begun four years ago. S. 515 modifies U.S. patent law in ways that strengthen the system’s ability to promote innovation. Earlier versions of patent reform legislation, while containing many beneficial changes, also included several provisions of concern for universities. S. 515 effectively addresses the concerns our associations have raised. Read more
May
21
The office of Representative Jay Inslee would like to invite you to a Federal Funding Workshop on June 9th, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Shoreline Center. Details of the event are listed below, and a flyer is attached for distribution.
Join Congressman Inslee’s staff for a presentation on federal grants and the appropriation process. Topics covered in the presentation will include:
- An overview of the difference between grants and appropriations
- An overview of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
- Resources to help find the right funding source for your project
- Tips on submitting a successful grant application
- Ways that your Congressional Delegation can help
In addition, representatives from CTED and the Nonprofit Philanthropy and Resource Center will provide a brief overview and resources for identifying state and private funding.
What: Federal Funding Workshop
When: Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: The Shoreline Center
Mt. Rainier Room
18560 1st Avenue NE
Shoreline, WA 98155
This event is free, but space is limited. Please RSVP to:
206-361-0233 or inslee.rsvp@mail.house.gov
May
19
Senator Maria Cantwell has advanced several of the UW’s FY10 priority projects. While this is just a first step in a long journey, we are encouraged by the support the Senator is showing for the UW. The next step is to get these and other projects included in the FY10 funding bills, which are currently being drafted and should be made public in June and July.
Puget Sound Ecosystem Research Initiative - University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
The Puget Sound Ecosystem Research Initiative (PSERI) is a council formed to, in close coordination with the Puget Sound Partnership (PSP), focus regional, national, and international scientific talent on issues critical to maintaining the health of the Puget Sound. With the requested funding the PSERI will conduct research and coordinate existing research to support efforts to restore the health of the Puget Sound. In addition to research, the funding will allow the University of Washington to create research panels to review existing research to determine the best available science to inform the work of the Puget Sound Partnership.
Amount Requested: $2,130,000
Institute for Simulation and Interprofessional Studies (ISIS) - University of Washington (Seattle, WA).
Project Description- The Institute for Simulation and Interprofessional Studies (ISIS) provides targeted, intensive re-training programs for military personnel who return from deployment and need to recertify in their specialty in order to practice in WA State, and also for military personnel needing first-time WA State medical certification. ISIS is uniquely positioned to provide training, evaluation, and curricula to meet DoD needs and is currently working in partnership with Madigan Army Medical Center to develop these programs. Through ISIS, University of Washington School of Medicine has established this regional model of distributed medical education for skills training that will eventually form a national model for civilian practice as well as the large scale model for military needs.
Amount Requested – $6,380,000
House of Knowledge – University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
The House of Knowledge will aid the University of Washington in becoming a model for utilizing research partnerships with tribal nations to strengthen programs in health, environment and economic vitality. As such, the University is in an enviable position to demonstrate effective ways to diversify its campus. These efforts to do so include a thoughtful and deliberate process to add a longhouse-style building which would serve as a multi-service learning and gathering space for Native American students, faculty and staff, and others of various cultures and communities.. The facility would assist in the advancement of knowledge of the indigenous cultures of the region. The facility and its programming would provide an imaginative environment of the original inhabitants of the area and promote inter-cultural exchange and diversity.
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center - University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
The Northwest Marine Renewable Energy Center is a partnership between Oregon State University (OSU) and the University of Washington (UW). OSU will direct the Center and focus its efforts on applied research for wave energy. The UW will focus on research specific to tidal energy. The two universities will leverage their expertise and experience to accelerate the development of ocean energy. The NW Center will build on existing strengths and will develop knowledge and expertise in the following program areas: advanced forecasting technologies (wave); device and array optimization (wave and tidal); collaboration and optimization among marine and other renewable sources (wave and tidal); facilities serving as an integrated Center for US and international developers (wave and tidal); compatibility of marine power technologies and systems with the environment, fisheries and other marine resources (wave and tidal); and increased reliability and survivability of marine power technologies (wave and tidal).
Amount Requested: $1,200,000
May
18
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) has released a set of FY10 funding recommendations, which incorporate figures put forward last in the President’s Budget Request (PBR). The APLU recommendations focus on agencies/program accounts of interest to the higher education community. The UW Office of Federal Relations encourages feedback our community on the recommendations outlined below. In the coming days, we will provide members of the WA delegation with FY10 funding recommendations. Read more
-
Site links
-
2010 Federal Agenda
(View/download PDF)
-
Issues
- 2010 UW Federal Agenda
- Biomedical Research & Health Professions
- Energy and the Environment
- Energy R&D
- Environmental Sustainability
- Federal Agency Developments
- Federal Budget
- General
- Health/Medical
- Higher Education
- Humanities
- Intellectual Property
- International Education
- Legislation
- National Service
- On the Hill
- Seen in DC
- Student Aid
- Tax
- Uncategorized
- Week at a Glance
- 2011 UW Federal Agenda
- 2010 UW Federal Agenda
-
Archives