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Author: McKinzie Strait

This Week in Congress, February 23-27

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The Department of Homeland Security will take stage front and center this week as Congress has only five days left to pass a continuing resolution to fund the agency through the remainder of the fiscal year.

Elsewhere on the Hill, we’re paying attention to these committee hearings.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24

Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
HIGHER EDUCATION REGULATION
10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.
Full Committee Hearing

 

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25

Senate Appropriations
FISCAL 2016 APPROPRIATIONS: DEFENSE
10:30 a.m., 192 Dirksen Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing

Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation
INTERNET GOVERNANCE AND STAKEHOLDERS
10 a.m., 253 Russell Bldg.
Full Committee Hearing

House Appropriations
FISCAL 2016 APPROPRIATIONS: LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION
10 a.m., 2358-C Rayburn Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing

House Armed Services
NAVY SEAPOWER FISCAL 2016 BUDGET
2 p.m., 2212 Rayburn Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing

House Energy & Commerce
NET NEUTRALITY PROPOSAL
10:30 a.m., 2322 Rayburn Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing

House Science, Space & Technology
ENERGY FISCAL 2016 BUDGET
10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn Bldg.
Full Committee Hearing

 

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26

Senate Appropriations
FISCAL 2016 APPROPRIATIONS: COMMERCE-JUSTICE-SCIENCE
10:30 a.m., 192 Dirksen Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing

House Appropriations
FISCAL 2016 APPROPRIATIONS: DEFENSE
10 a.m., H-140 Capitol Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing

House Appropriations
FISCAL 2016 APPROPRIATIONS: ENERGY-WATER
9:30 a.m., 2359 Rayburn Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing

House Energy & Commerce
PATENT DEMAND LETTER PRACTICES
10:15 a.m., 2322 Rayburn Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing

House Science, Space & Technology
NSF, NIST FISCAL 2016 BUDGET
10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing

This Week in Congress, February 2-6

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Here are some interesting committee hearings to watch this week.

TUESDAY, February 3

Senate Budget
FISCAL 2016 BUDGET
10 a.m., 608 Dirksen Bldg.
Full Committee Hearing

House Science, Space & Technology
NSF RESEARCH FACILITY OVERSIGHT
Feb. 3, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn Bldg.
Subcommittee Joint Hearing

House Ways & Means
FISCAL 2016 BUDGET ISSUES
10 a.m., 1300 Longworth Bldg.
Full Committee Hearing

 

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4

Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation
CYBERSECURITY AND PRIVATE SECTOR ISSUES
10 a.m., 253 Russell Bldg.
Full Committee Hearing

Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation
VESSEL DISCHARGE REGULATIONS
2:30 p.m., 253 Russell Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing

Senate Finance
HHS FISCAL 2016 BUDGET REQUEST
10 a.m., 215 Dirksen Bldg.
Full Committee Hearing

Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs
IMPLICATIONS OF IMMIGRATION ACTION
10 a.m., 342 Dirksen Bldg.
Full Committee Hearing

House Budget
FISCAL 2016 BUDGET ISSUES
10:30 a.m., 210 Cannon Bldg.
Full Committee Hearing

ED Seeks Summer Interns

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The Department of Education is seeking interns for summer 2015. The Department is a great place to 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.

Applications are being accepted through March 15, 2015. Click here for more information on how to apply.

President Obama Drops Controversial 529 Plan

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President Obama has officially dropped the proposal outlined in his recent State of the Union Address that would eliminate the tax advantage of 529 investment programs after facing severe push-back from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and parents across the country.

Per the proposal, any money earned from future contributions to 529 college savings plans would have been subject to a tax. That revenue would have offset the cost of expanding the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which gives a tax break for higher-education expenses of up to $2,500 per student. Administration officials say the majority of families that would have lost a tax break on a 529 plan would have gained a break from the expansion of the AOTC tax credit. Critics warned the proposal would inequitably tax middle-class families at a time when college affordability is a significant issue.

The director of Washington State’s 529 program, called the Guaranteed Education Tuition plan (GET), shared concerns with Obama’s proposal in a Seattle Times article, which can be viewed here. The New York Times coverage of the Administration’s backpedaling can be read here.

OSTP Accepting Applications for Summer Interns

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The Office of Science and Technology Policy is currently accepting applications for its Summer 2015 Policy Internship Program. The application deadline is 11:59pm Sunday, March 15. Students who are U.S. citizens and who will be actively enrolled in an academic program are welcome to apply.

The Office of Science and Technology Policy advises the President on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs. The office serves as a source of scientific and technological analysis and judgment for the President with respect to major policies, plans and programs of the Federal Government.

More information and application instructions are available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/about/student/.