CONTENTS:
BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
Coalitions Ask Lawmakers to Finish Appropriations, Support Higher Education and Research
House NSF Dear Colleague Letter Submitted With 164 Member Signatures
OTHER CONGRESSIONAL ISSUES
Senators Reintroduce Campus Accountability and Safety Act
BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
COALITIONS ASK LAWMAKERS TO FINISH APPROPRIATIONS, SUPPORT HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
AAU joined three groups of institutions and associations this week in sending letters to Congress urging lawmakers to finish the FY17 appropriations process and reject the Trump Administration’s proposed cuts to research and higher education in FY17 and FY18:
- Letter From 287 Business, Science, Health, and Higher Education Organizations. The AAAS-led letter also asks congressional leaders to “enact funding legislation that preserves and protects key investments in students and researchers."
- Letter From Coalition of 576 Organizations and Higher Education Institutions. This ACE-led letter to congressional leaders also cautions that further delays in current year funding could affect research and student aid.
- Letter From 35 Higher Education Associations. This letter sent to all Members of Congress urges them to protect federal student aid programs, particularly federal student loans and Pell grants.
NSF DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER SUBMITTED WITH 164 MEMBER SIGNATURES
A bipartisan group of 164 House Members on April 4 submitted a letter to House appropriators requesting $8 billion for the National Science Foundation (NSF) in FY18. The letter was led by Reps. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) and David McKinley (R-WV), who also issued a press release.
OTHER CONGRESSIONAL ISSUES
SENATORS REINTRODUCE CAMPUS ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFETY ACT
A bipartisan group of Senators, led by Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), on April 6 reintroduced the Campus Accountability and Safety Act (CASA), legislation to combat sexual assault on college and university campuses.