Below, please find individual projects information sheets for the initiatives selected for the UW Fiscal Year 2010 Federal Agenda. The projects identified below combined with a forthcoming set of federal agency/program funding recommendations constitute the University’s primary federal advocacy plan for the coming year.
News and updates
President Obama Rounds Out Cabinet
Today, President Obama nominated Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS) to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Prior to serving as Governor of Kansas, Sebelius served as the state’s insurance commissioner for eight years. The Sebelius pick has, thus far, drawn bipartisan praise from the Senate. If Sebelius and Commerce Secretary-designate Gary Locke (D-WA) are confirmed, President Obama’s cabinet will be complete.
In addition to the HHS selection, today, the President announced that former Clinton administration official Nancy-Ann DeParle will serve as director of the White House Office of Health Reform, which is a new post created to oversee the anticipated health care reform effort. President Obama’s budget outline included $634 billion over 10 years for an overhaul of the health care system. Leaders in Congress have expressed a belief that hearings will begin by this summer.
The Week at a Glance: March 2-6, 2009
The Senate will spend most of the week on the fiscal year 2009 omnibus appropriations package.
The House is expected to take up a package of mortgage-related provisions that was delayed last week, as well as a bill that would expand House membership for the District of Columbia.
On Wednesday, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will address a joint meeting of Congress.
On Thursday, the Senate Finance Committee holds a confirmation hearing on the nomination of Ron Kirk to be U.S. trade representative.
Source: CQ
UW FY10 Federal Agenda Finalized
The University of Washington Fiscal Year 2010 Federal Agenda is now final. The document proposes partnerships with the federal government on a number of high priority projects that will have a significant impact on our institution, state, and region. In the coming months, the Office of Federal Relations will work to garner support for the UW federal agenda projects. Additionally, the office will make agency/program funding recommendations in areas of critical importance to student aid, research and academic achievement.
President Obama Releases FY10 Budget Blueprint
Today, President Obama released a budget outline for fiscal year 2010. The full request will likely be presented to Congress in late April. The President’s Budget Request (PBR) will feature signficant increases in student aid including a boost to the Pell grant (increasing the student maximum to $5,500 for the 2010-11 academic year) and indexing the program to the CPI plus 1% in order to provide for ongoing increases. The proposal phases out the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program, through which the government subsidizes and guarantees loans made by private lending institutions. As an alternative, the government will provide all loans through the direct lending program. Elimination of the FFEL program is likely to face some pushback in Congress, as some lawmakers do not like the idea of the government increasing its role in the student loan business. The budget outline calls for a $500 million/year fund to provide grants to states to improve college graduation rates for low-income students. The budget would also make the $2,500 American Opportunity Tax Credit (provided in the Recovery Act of 2009) permanent. Continue reading “President Obama Releases FY10 Budget Blueprint”