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Category: 116th Congress

House Passes Continuing Resolution

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The House passed a continuing resolution (“CR”), H.R. 8337, to fund the Federal Government through December 11th, 2020 and avoid a potential shutdown. The bipartisan resolution passed 359-57 and is part of a deal reached by House Democrats, Senate Republicans, and the Administration. The CR must still pass in the Senate and be signed by the President. The full story is available here.

As of now, all 12 FY 2021 appropriations bills have passed in the House, but none have passed in the Senate, indicating a likely long road ahead.

 

Senate Hearing on FAFSA Simplification

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The US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) will hold a hearing on simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Witnesses are from the National College Attainment Network, University of North Carolina, HCM Strategies, Harvard University, and Columbia University.

  • Title: Time to Finish Fixing the FAFSA
  • Date and Time: Thursday, September 17th, 2020 at 7:00 am PT/10:00 am ET
  • Link to watch live is here.

Senate Republicans Release Targeted COVID-19 Package

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Today, US Senate Republican leaders released a smaller, targeted COVID-19 package. Titled “Delivering Immediate Relief to America’s Families, Schools and Small Businesses Act”, the legislation focuses on specific priorities including childcare, COVID-19 testing, unemployment insurance, and the USPS. It would cost approximately $500 billion and a vote is expected as soon as this week. A larger relief package remains in limbo as Democratic and Republican leaders failed to reach an agreement on a topline number.

House Hearing on COVID Impacts to University Research

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On Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 the US House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, Subcommittee on Research and Technology, will host a hearing on COVID impacts to University Research.

  • Title: The Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on University Research
  • Date: Wednesday, September 9th, 2020
  • Time: 8:00 am PT/11:00 am ET

Witnesses:

Dr. Joseph Walsh, Interim Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation, University of Illinois System

Dr. David Stone, Vice President for Research, Oakland University

Dr. Theresa Mayer, Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships, Purdue University

Mr. Ryan Muzzio, Physics Ph.D. Student, Carnegie Mellon University

The link to watch the hearing is here.

 

 

Still Not Close

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Even as the federal unemployment enhancement support of $600 per week officially expired last week, the White House, Congressional Republicans, and Congressional Democrats are still not close to a deal on the next COVID-19 relief bill.  While Republicans offered a short-term unemployment extension, Democrats rejected it as the sides are not close on a deal on anything else.

Different provisions of importance to UW and other institutions of higher education are included in various bills in both chambers of Congress.

We will continue to provide updates.