The Biden Administration is scheduled to release later today an expansive bill aimed at reforming the nation’s immigration bill.
Read more about some of the bill’s major provisions here
A fact sheet about the bill is available here.
News and updates
Biden To Take Executive Actions Today
Shortly after being sworn today, President Biden is expected to take a set of executive actions that seeks to jump start the process of addressing his priority areas.
Among the steps Biden is expected to take are asking the Department of Education to consider extending the moratorium on student loan repayments through September 30, issuing a presidential memo asking the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice to “preserve and fortify protections for Dreamers,” and ending the “Muslim ban”.
Read more about the executive actions here.
Descriptions of the 17 actions that he is expected take are available here.
JCORE Publishes Report on Research Security, White House Issues Accompanying Memo
The National Science and Technology Council Joint Committee on the Research Environment, Subcommittee on Research Security released its final report Recommended Practices for Strengthening the Security and Integrity of America’s Science and Technology Research Enterprise. The report is developed by the Subcommittee, in coordination with the National Security Council, and aims to protect US research integrity and the R&D enterprise.
The document outlines several recommended practices for research organizations based on the following high-level objectives:
Demonstrate organizational leadership and oversight;
Establish an expectation of openness and transparency;
Provide and share training, support, and information;
Ensure effective mechanisms for compliance with organizational policies; and
Manage potential risks associated with collaborations and data.
The full report is available here. In addition, the President issued National Security Presidential Memorandum 33, available here, outlining guidance for agencies to implement best practices. A fact sheet on the memo is available here.
Confirmation Hearings Start Today
With the swearing-in of the new Biden Administration scheduled for tomorrow, the first set of confirmation hearings for several key posts within the Administration are set to start today. These include:
- Lloyd Austin– Secretary of Defense
- Alejandro Mayorkas– Secretary of Homeland Security
- Antony Blinken– Secretary of State
- Avril Haines– Director of National Intelligence
- Janet Yellen– Secretary of Treasury
Read more about the nominees and the confirmation process here, here, and here.
CDC Updates COVID-19 Entry Requirements for the United States
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an order requiring all air passengers arriving into the US to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 3 days of departure, or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 within the last three months. The test results or documentation must be presented to airline staff upon departure from the foreign country.
Those passengers utilizing documentation of recovery must show the positive test result and a letter from a healthcare provider indicating they are cleared to travel.
The order applies to all air passengers regardless of citizenship status or whether they have been vaccinated. The new rules go into effect on January 26th, 2021.
Read the CDC’s FAQ here. Members of the UW community with specific questions should contact International Student Services or the Office of Academic Personnel, depending on their affiliation.
Update 01/19/21: As a result of this CDC order, President Trump has lifted travel restrictions for the Schengen Area, UK and Ireland, and Brazil in a proclamation dated January 18, 2021. Travel restrictions remain in place for China and Iran.