Several background papers on tax issues of interest to research universities have been completed and are available on the Association of American Universities (AAU) website. Three new documents address charitable giving, Section 127 employer-provided educational benefits, and the American Opportunity Tax Credit.
The documents were developed through the AAU tax issues task force, with assistance from AAU counsel and AAU’s general counsel group.
On April 8th, President Obama issued an Executive Order establishing a White House Office of Health Reform. The new office will provide leadership to the executive branch on federal health reform efforts. Nancy-Ann DeParle, who ran the Health Care Financing Administration under President Clinton, will direct the new office. The order also directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an Office of Health Reform, which will work in collaboration with the White House office.
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has published an updated guidance on the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for federal agency and department heads. This guidance is an update of the initial OMB guidance issued on the ARRA on February 18.
Before the commencement of the April District Work Period, Congress gave final approval to Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. The bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the Corporation for National and Community Service for the first time since its inception in 2003 and significantly expands national service opportunities. See below for an overview of the legislation. President Obama has applauded the development, and is expected to sign the bill any day now.
H.R. 1388
Reauthorizes and Expands the Mission of the Corporation for National and Community Service, by: Continue reading “National Service Bill Awaits President Obama”
The University of Washington, along with over 200 institutions from around the United States, has endorsed an Association for Public and Land-grant Universities’ (APLU) letter to President Barack Obama that commends the Administration’s pledge to provide increased federal resources for research and education in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The APLU letter describes STEM investments as “critical to maintaining the nation’s global edge in technology and innovation.”