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Author: Gabriel Kornas

What We’re Reading this Week (December 2nd-6th)

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Below is a selection of articles the Federal Relations team has read this week:

Bipartisan Deal on FUTURE Act: The Senate has passed bipartisan legislation which will permanently fund HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) as well as simplify the FAFSA and income verification for loan repayment. The deal was reached between Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA). More at Inside Higher Ed.

Department of Education Revamping Tech: The Department of Education announced that it will attempt to simplify processes for students to obtain information, such as consolidating websites and phone numbers, and launching a virtual chatbot to answer FAQs. Read on at Edsurge.

Impeachment Proceedings: This week Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi instructed the House committees investigating President Trump to draw up articles of impeachment. This signals the beginning of votes on impeachment. Meanwhile, the White House continues to refuse to participate in hearings. More at Roll Call.

Trump Administration Accused of Removing Protections for Transgender Persons: From the Army to the Department of Health and Human Services, many transgender public servants are complaining that protections are being rolled back in the Trump Administration. The White House contends that this is not due to intolerance, but correcting Presidential overreach during the Obama Administration. More at New York Times.

Report Finds Education Dept. Accelerating Civil Rights Cases

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A new report from the US Commission on Civil Rights found that under the Trump Administration, the Department of Education is accelerating the rate at which it closes civil rights cases. Although the time to resolve cases decreased, the Department also reduced the scope of investigations, and less investigations result in findings of civil rights violation or corrective action. The full report, which encompasses several federal agencies, can be found here.

UW Joins Amicus Brief Supporting OPT

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On November 21, UW joined over 100 other higher education institutions in filing an amicus brief in the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers Union vs. U.S.
Department of Homeland Security (Washtech) litigation. The amicus brief was filed by the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, and affirms support for Optional Practical Training (OPT). OPT is an invaluable component of American higher education and greatly contributes to the US economy. The full brief can be found here.

What We’re Reading this Week (November 18th-22nd, 2019)

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Below is a selection of articles the Federal Relations team has read this week.

Public Impeachment Hearings: The House Intelligence Committee has been holding public hearings related to the impeachment inquiry. Key figures have had the chance to testify publicly regarding what they knew and heard in the events surrounding the infamous Ukraine call. The testimonies exclude classified information, but shed light on how career government officials interpreted President Trump’s behaviors. Live updates on CNN.

A Uniform Federal Grant Application: A report from the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs recommends a uniform federal grant application as a key tool to deter foreign influence. Supporters argue a single application would reduce administrative burden, and allow agencies to assess foreign threats against unified criteria. Full story at Science Magazine.

New Data on Study Abroad: A report from the Institute of International Education, which receives Department of State funding, shed light on the demographics of US college students who study abroad. In the last year, the total number has increased slightly, and about 16% of all college students study abroad at some point. Two-thirds of participants are women, and half study in Europe. STEM majors make up the majority of participants, at about 25%. Continue reading at Inside Higher Ed.

UW Professor Testifying Before House Committee

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On Wednesday, November 20th, 2019 Dr. Cliff Mass from the Department of Atmospheric Sciences will testify before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. The hearing is titled A Task of Epic Proportions: Reclaiming US Leadership in Weather Modeling and Prediction. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 2:00 EST, and you can watch it here.