Secretary Chu Issues Statement on Need for Clean Energy/Climate Change Legislation

Posted on July 23, 2009October 17, 2012

**Note: Earlier this month, the House passed a comprehensive clean energy/climate change bill. The Senate, led by Barbara Boxer (D-CA) in this area, is expected to take up a bill after the August congressional recess. The higher education community is seeking increased funding for research in the Senate version of the legislation.**

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
(202) 586-4940 Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Chu: U.S. Can “Lead this New Industrial Revolution” in Clean Energy

Richmond Times-Dispatch op-ed highlights economic opportunities in energy and climate bill

WASHINGTON, DC– The Wednesday, July 22, 2009 edition of the Richmond Times-Dispatch includes the following opinion piece from Energy Secretary Steven Chu:

Cleaning Up: Energy and Climate Bill Will Boost the Economy
US ENERGY SECRETARY STEVEN CHU
Published: July 22, 2009
Over the next few months, Congress will decide on historic energy legislation that would create a generation of clean-energy jobs here in America, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and prevent the worst effects of climate change. I believe passing a strong energy and climate bill is the single most important step we could take to secure our economic prosperity and leave a healthier planet for future generations.

The status quo on energy is unsustainable. Today, we import about 60 percent of the oil we use, which is a huge drain on our economy and which weakens our security. When we burn fossil fuels for energy, we emit enormous amounts of greenhouse gases, which have already begun to change our climate. Climate experts predict that, on our current course, the planet could be around 10 degrees Fahrenheit warmer by the end of this century. Such an increase could cause more frequent extreme weather events like droughts, heat waves, and hurricanes; rising sea levels and coastal erosion; serious agricultural losses and water shortages; and many other impacts in the United States. Continue reading “Secretary Chu Issues Statement on Need for Clean Energy/Climate Change Legislation”

Graduate and Professional Loan Subsidy Restored by House

Posted on July 22, 2009October 17, 2012

Yesterday, the House Education and Labor Committee passed HR 3221, Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009, which was introduced last week. The legislation eliminates the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program and utilizes the $87 billion saved to fund increased Pell grant levels for students (indexed to inflation plus 1%, but subject to appropriations), as well as a number of other K-12/community college/ 4 year higher education programs. A provision of the legislation, strongly opposed by the higher education community, to eliminate the graduate and professional student loan subsify was stripped from the legislation.

The Senate is expected to consider its own version of the legislation after the August congressional recess.

Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 Summary

Week at a Glance on Capitol Hill, July 20-24

Posted on July 20, 2009October 17, 2012

The House continues to work its way through fiscal 2010 appropriations bills, with votes on Labor-HHS-Education and Transportation-HUD bills this week.

The Senate is expected to spend the week debating its defense authorization bill.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be a Supreme Court justice.

House
MONDAY

Convenes 2 p.m. for legislative business. Continue reading “Week at a Glance on Capitol Hill, July 20-24”

House Budget Reconciliation Package Taking Shape

Posted on July 15, 2009October 17, 2012

Today, the House of Representatives will introduce a budget reconciliation package designed to achieve components of the President’s agenda. Budget reconciliation is a special procedure, not subject to a fillibuster in the Senate, that was intended to serve as a deficit reduction tool by forcing spending cuts or tax increases to meet the targets set forth at the beginning of an appropriations cycle in a budget resolution.

The legislation, The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009, advances President Obama’s goal of making the Pell Grant program an entitlement -not subject to annual appropriations debates. As has been discussed on this site, the Pell Grant entitlement would be funded by eliminating the Federal Family Education Loan program (FFEL)-which utilizes banks and guarantee agencies- in favor of the Direct Lending (DL) program. Financial institutions, Members of Congress with a heavy presence of financial institutions in their states/districts, and many conservatives have been against the elimination of the FFEL program. Just a few weeks ago, it appeared likely that a compromise would be stuck that fell short of a full Pell entitlement. However, the legislation offered today supports a Pell entitlement and a number of other student aid items.

Provisions of the bill: Continue reading “House Budget Reconciliation Package Taking Shape”

Federal Relations Brown Bag Lunch Sessions

Posted on July 15, 2009October 17, 2012

The UW Office of Federal Relations invites participation in a brown bag lunch to discuss our ongoing FY10 and anticipated FY11 federal strategies. The informal sessions serves as an opportunity to receive an update on developments in DC that impact the higher education community in general and our Institution in particular. Topics for discussion will include:

Overview of the Federal Legislative (Policy and Appropriations) Process –As Necessary
Update on the Ongoing Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Process
o UW Specific Projects
o Federal Agency/Program Funding Levels -of Interest to UW
Update on Obama Legislative Agenda
o   Student Aid
o   Clean Energy
o   Health Reform
Preparation for the Fiscal Year 2011 Appropriations Process
o   New Guidelines for Submitting UW Specific Appropriations Requests
o   Agency/Programmatic Recommendations
o   Timeline
Advocacy Tools
o   Federal Agenda Booklet
o   DC Hill Visits
o   Letters of Support to/from WA Delegation
o   Campus/Site Visits by Members
o   UW Office of Federal Relations
Open Forum

Sessions:

UW Tacoma- Tuesday August 4th, 11:00am-12:30pm, UWT Cherry Parkes 206C

UW Seattle- Wednesday August 5th, 12:00pm-1:30pm, UW Seattle Gerberding 142

UW Bothell- Thursday August 6th, Time TBD, UWB Room TBD

The Office of Federal Relations will conduct these sessions periodically on the three campuses -as warranted by events in DC. Please note that our team will also be available for individual meetings – as necessary – during the August congressional recess and going forward.

If you plan to attend the brown bag discussion, please RSVP by Friday July 24 to jnurse@u.washington.edu.