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Author: McKinzie Strait

NIH Reinforces Commitment to Basic Science

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This week Dr. Francis Collins and senior leadership at NIH published a letter in Science reinforcing the agency’s commitment to basic science and introducing a revision to our grant application instructions. The updated instructions will ensure that the public health relevance statement in grant applications better reflects the full spectrum of the NIH mission and its commitment to support a robust, diverse research portfolio, including pursuit of basic knowledge. The full text of the letter can be viewed here.

 

Super Tuesday!

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Today voters in twelve states – 11 Democratic and 11 Republican – will gather together to nominate their party’s candidate for President of the United States.

On the Democratic side, Super Tuesday could be Hillary Clinton’s opportunity to pull away from Bernie Sanders. There are 889 delegates up for grabs in eleven states – Alabama (53), Arkansas (32), Colorado (66), Georgia (102), Massachusetts (91), Minnesota (77), Oklahoma (38), Tennessee (67), Texas (252), Vermont (16), Virginia (95). With Clinton poised to win Texas, Arkansas, Virginia, and Tennessee, Sanders is pushing for wins in northern states. Massachusetts is an important state to watch, as polling shows that Clinton’s lead there is within the margin of error.

Breaking down the Democratic Super Tuesday Map (via Politico)

Support for Donald Trump has grown in many Super Tuesday states, leading pundits to conjecture that a Trump sweep today will cripple all other Republican candidates. Around 600 Republican delegates are up for grabs in Alabama (50), Alaska (28), Arkansas (40), Georgia (76), Massachusetts (42), Minnesota (38), Oklahoma (43), Tennessee (58), Texas (155), Vermont (16), Virginia (49), and Wyoming (29). As Trump hedges closer and closer to the nomination, the Republican establishment is showing signs of panic. Some fear Trump cannot win in November, others fear he would not govern conservatively. Texas is one state that Trump may lose today, and it is a must win for Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas native who holds the lead in the polls.

Breaking down the GOP’s Super Tuesday Map (via Politico)

Department of Education Seeks Summer Interns

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The Department of Education announced it is recruiting interns for Summer 2016. The program is sure provide opportunities to learn about education policy in the nation’s capital.

From the ED Homeroom blog:

“Have you ever wondered about pursuing a federal career? Are you interested in public service? Would you like to gain valuable work experience and help move the needle on education issues in this country?

The Department of Education may have opportunities that match your interests – and we’re currently accepting applications for interns!

Our Department is a place where you can explore fields like education policy, education law, business and finance, research and analysis, intergovernmental relations and public affairs, or traditional and digital communications, all while learning about the role federal government plays in education.

Our interns also participate in professional development sessions and events outside of the office, such as lunches with ED and other government officials, movie nights, and tours of the Capitol, Supreme Court and other local sights.

One of the many advantages of interning at ED is our proximity to some of the most historic and celebrated sites in our nation’s capital, all accessible by walking or taking the Metro.

ED is accepting applications for Summer 2016 internships through March 15, 2016.

If you are interested in interning during the upcoming term, there are three things you must send in order to be considered for an interview:

  1. A cover letter summarizing why you wish to work at ED and stating your previous experiences in the field of education, if any. Include which particular offices interest you. (But, keep in mind that – due to the volume of applications we receive – if we accept you as an intern we may not be able to place you in your first-choice office.)
  2. An updated resumé.
  3. A completed copy of the Intern Application.

Prospective interns should send these three documents in one email to StudentInterns@ed.gov with the subject line formatted as follows: Last Name, First Name: Summer Intern Application.

(Note: For candidates also interested in applying specifically to the Office of General Counsel, please see application requirements here.)

An internship at ED is one of the best ways students can learn about education policy and working in the civil service. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to develop crucial workplace skills that will help you in whatever career path you choose. And, it’s an opportunity to meet fellow students who share your passion for education, learning, and engagement.

Click here for more information or to get started on your application today.”

Lobbying Disclosure Forms Due Wednesday, January 13

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If you engaged in federal lobbying activities between October 1 and December 31, 2015, please complete the federal lobbying disclosure form and return it to the Office of Federal Relations (McKinzie Strait – mckinzie@uw.edu) by close of business Wednesday, January 13. 

Background

According to the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, which became effective 1/1/08, the UW Office of Federal Relations is required to report lobbying activities on behalf of the University of Washington to both the Senate and the House of Representatives on a quarterly basis.

UW faculty and staff are not considered lobbyists; however, some do spend time in Washington, DC lobbying Capitol Hill and the Administration for specific projects and funding. The Office of Federal Relations is required to report the total amount of money the University spends each quarter in support of those lobbying efforts, which is why UW staff and faculty are asked to supply that information to this office. Specific names and other information do not appear anywhere on the form that is submitted—all that appears is a dollar figure. The information provided is kept on file to provide supporting documentation should our records be audited by the General Accounting Office.

The paragraphs below detail who lobbying contacts are, and what activities are defined as lobbying. Please use the following criteria to determine what information to report to our office (in order to complete the form correctly):

Lobbying contacts includes communications about legislation, government policy, programs, contracts or nominations with:

  • Members of Congress
  • Elected officers of either House of Congress
  • Employees of a Member of Congress
  • Employees of either House of Congress
  • Leadership staff of either House of Congress
  • Employees of a joint committee of Congress
  • Employees of a working group or caucus organized to provide assistance to Congress
  • Schedule “C” employees (political appointees)
  • Any other legislative branch employees/officers who occupy a position for at least 60 days for which the pay is 120 percent or more of the lower GS-15 level pay
  • The President and Vice President
  • Any officer or employee serving in a position in Level I-V of the Executive Schedule
  • Any member of the uniformed services whose pay grade is at or above 0-7

 

Federal lobbying activities you must report to UW Federal Relations includes:

  • The formulation, modification, or adoption of Federal legislation;
  • The administration or execution of a Federal program or policy;
  • The formulation, modification or adoption of a Federal rule, regulation, Executive order, policy or position of the United States government;
  • The nomination or confirmation of a person subject to confirmation by the Senate.

 

Please do NOT include:

  • Speeches or articles available to the public through the mass media;
  • Request for a meeting or status information on an issue;
  • Testimony given before Congress or submitted to be included in the public record;
  • Information provided by a request from Congress or subpoena.

You must file your report with our office by close of business (PDT) on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13. If there was no lobbying activity done for this period please disregard this notice.

More Questions?

Contact McKinzie Strait in UW Federal Relations mckinzie@uw.edu / 202.624.1420

 

Congress Passes $1.8 Trillion FY 2016 Spending and Tax Extension Bill

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This morning the House & Senate approved a $1.8 trillion fiscal year 2016 omnibus spending bill, averting a government shutdown and funding the federal establishment through September 2016. The measure passed with a 316-113 vote in the House followed by a 65-33 vote in the Senate. President Obama is said to sign the measure into law imminently. We encourage you to review our FY2016 Omnibus Analysis. Please let Christy Gullion, UW Director of Federal Relations (cgullion@uw.edu), or Sarah Castro, UW Associate Director of Federal Relations (smcastro@uw.edu), know if you have questions.

 

As noted in a previous post, highlights of the bill include:

  • The National Institutes of Health received $32 billion, $2 billion above current levels.
  • The National Science Foundation is funded at $7.5 billion, an increase of $119 million, and directorates such as Social and Behavioral Sciences were funded at FY 2015 levels.
  • NASA is funded at $19.3 billion, an increase of $1.3 billion above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level to advance America’s leadership in space and science. Within this total, $4 billion is provided for Exploration, including funding to keep the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and Space Launch System on schedule, and $5.6 billion is provided for science programs.
  • Defense research was funded at $69.8 billion for research, development, testing, and evaluation of new defense technologies, which was minor increases.
  • The maximum Pell Grant award is increased to $5,915.
  • Title VI International Education programs were held at FY 2015 levels.
  • NOAA received $5.8 billion, which is $325 million above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. Funding was included for the National Weather Service to provide critical weather information to the public, and investments in new and existing weather satellites that are essential to maintain and improve weather forecasts, including the Polar Follow On program.
  • Maximum Pell Grant award to $5,915, funded by a combination of discretionary and mandatory funds.

 

In addition to omnibus appropriations, the bill includes a $680 million tax package, which makes permanent several tax provisions that were previously subject to extensions including the research and experimentation tax credit and several charitable donation tax breaks. More information on this can be found here.