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Category: On the Hill

White House to Release Budget March 4th

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The White House announced today that it will release the Administration’s FY 2015 budget proposal on March 4.

The Administration had been waiting on Congress to finalize FY 2014 appropriations before having the Office of Management and Budget move fully ahead with the Administration’s FY2015 Budget proposal. With House and Senate finalizing FY 2014 with the Omnibus Appropriations bill earlier in January, the Administration announced when they expect FY2015 to be public. March 4th is a month after the February 3 legally required deadline, where the budget must be presented to Congress between the first Monday in January an the first Monday in February.

White House Establishes Task Force to Combat Sexual Assault on Campuses

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The Obama administration is beefing up a commitment to combating sexual violence on college campuses with the creation of a new task force and release of a new report Wednesday from the White House Council on Women and Girls.

Nearly one in five women have been raped in their lifetimes, and alcohol and drug use are exacerbating the violence, the report says. Most victims know their attackers, repeat victimization is common, and young women are especially at risk
Read the Memorandum establishing the Task Force here.

Murray Introduces Bill to Provide In-State Tuition for DREAMer Students

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Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) introduced the Investing IN States To Achieve Tuition Equity (IN-STATE) for Dreamers Act of 2014. The IN-STATE for Dreamers Act establishes the American Dream Grant program, which encourages states to increase access to higher education for low-income students, regardless of immigration status. This program would provide $750 million in need-based student financial aid to states that set equitable in-state tuition rates or offer state financial aid to the thousands of undocumented students who graduate from American high schools each year.

American Dream Grants would supplement state financial aid funding, in order to increase higher education affordability for all students. States would qualify for grants by allowing in-state tuition for undocumented students or by expanding access to state financial aid for these students. This legislation is not a state mandate and is fully paid for. Already 19 states, including Washington, currently offer in-state tuition for undocumented students.

At the state level, the Washington State legislature is currently considering a similar measure called the Washington State DREAM Act which would offer need-based aid to undocumented students. Several other states, including California, Texas, Illinois, and New Mexico, already offer need-based grants to undocumented students.

Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) have also signed on as original co-sponsors of this legislation.

The University of Washington, Washington State University, Colorado State University and the University of Hawaii have voiced their support of the bill.

Additional information on the legislation is here.

House Sends FY14 Omnibus Bill to Senate

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Yesterday the House approved the $1.1 trillion FY14 omnibus spending bill that remains true to the intent of December’s budget agreement and sets a new tone for the FY15 appropriations cycle. 

Adopted by 359-67, the strong bipartisan support in the House should help build momentum next in the Senate where lawmakers are racing against a clock that requires final action by Saturday when the short-term continuing resolution expires. Senate leadership is hoping for an expedited process and vote on Friday but the GOP could refuse and push the final vote to Saturday.

The Office of Federal Relations is drafting a comprehensive analysis of the FY14 omnibus and will release that information tomorrow. And with final passage, we will shortly complete our FY15 federal agenda. More to come on that in the coming weeks.

OSTP Now Accepting Intern Applications

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The Office of Science and Technology Policy is currently accepting applications for its Summer 2014 Internship Program.  The application deadline is 11:59pm Friday, March 7.  Students who are U.S. citizens and who will be actively enrolled during the 2014 academic year are welcome to apply.

More information and application instructions are available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/about/student/.

About OSTP.  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.

 About the Internship Program.  Interns are accepted for one of three annual terms (Spring, Summer, or Fall), which each last no more than 90 days. While these positions are without compensation, the assignments provide educational enrichment, practical work experience, and network opportunities with other individuals in the science and technology policy arena.

For questions, please contact Rebecca Grimm rgrimm@ostp.eop.gov.