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News and updates

News and updates

Another CR Pushed Through To Buy More Time

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The House passed on a bipartisan basis yesterday another short-term continuing resolution (CR) to keep the federal government open past the current deadline of midnight, February 19. The Senate is expected to follow suit.

While a number of issues have created problems with respect to the completion of funding bills for FY2022 — which started October 1– one of the biggest hurdles has been the inability of the two parties to come to an agreement on “top line” numbers, the overall funding levels for both defense and non-defense programs.  The passage of another short-term CR allows the various negotiators to continue conversations without risking a government shutdown in less than two weeks.  The CR that was agreed to by the House last evening would keep the government funded through March 11.

Read more about the situation here. 

Dept of Ed Makes Changes to College Scorecard

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The Department of Education announced changes to the college scorecard which aim to make the tool more useful for students and families. The updated scorecard shows institution-level earnings data, loan burden, costs, and graduation rates, among other key data points.

In a press statement, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said, “The updated and enhanced College Scorecard shines a spotlight on affordability, inclusivity, and outcomes, over exclusivity and colleges that leave students without good jobs and with mountains of debt. This update reflects the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to ensuring students remain at the heart of the Department’s work.”

The scorecard for University of Washington (Seattle) boasts a higher graduation rate, lower cost of attendance, and higher post-grad earnings compared to the national average.

Eric Lander Resigns as OSTP Director

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Dr. Eric Lander, the President’s Chief Science Advisor and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, has reportedly submitted his resignation effective February 18th. The resignation comes amidst several reports that he bullied subordinates. Read more here.

House Passes America COMPETES Act

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The House passed the America COMPETES Act of 2022 (H.R. 4521) on a nearly party-line vote. The bill has a broad focus attempting to tackle research, climate, supply chain, education, and immigration issues. As it stands, the legislation reauthorizes the NSF and key components of the Department of Energy, invests in semiconductor chips production, and contains diplomatic, research security, and immigration provisions. Several amendments were adopted, and the bill will need to be conferenced with the bipartisan US Innovation and Competition Act (USICA, S. 1260). You can find a fact sheet here.

Register Now: Federal Relations Spring Town Hall

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The Office of Federal Relations will host a virtual town hall for the campus community on Thursday, March 24th from 12pm-1pm PT. Our staff will provide an update on the federal budget, infrastructure and competitiveness bills, and preview the UW’s 2022 federal agenda. This will be followed by an opportunity for Q&A. Register here (NetID restricted).