Category: Uncategorized

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

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.

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/.

The US Department of Education will publish new rules in the Federal Register tomorrow (Thursday, October 23) that are intended to strengthen the Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program.  The new regulations aim to expand access to higher education and better reflect programmatic changes that have occurred since the PLUS loan program began more than 20 years ago.

In a statement, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said, “The updated borrowing standards for the PLUS loan program demonstrate our commitment to ensuring families have access to the financing they need to reach their goal.”

Here are some notable changes:

• Establishes a threshold debt amount of $2,085, indexed to inflation, below which a potential borrower is considered to not have an adverse credit history.
• Defining terms such as debt “charged off” and “in collection” to more accurately determine whether an applicant has an adverse credit history.
• Reducing the time period of a borrower’s credit history that is considered to determine adverse credit history from the last five years to the last two years for charge offs and collections.
• Requiring that PLUS Loan applicants who, despite having adverse credit are able to receive a PLUS Loan based on either demonstrating extenuating circumstances or by obtaining an eligible endorser, participate in loan counseling.

More information can be found here.

The Office of Science and Technology Policy is currently accepting applications for its Spring 2015 Policy Internship Program.  The application deadline is 11:59pm October 17, 2014. 

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/.