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News and updates

Congress Looks to Correct COVID-19-related GI Bill Problems

Both chambers of Congress are expected to take up legislation that would correct a problem in the GI Bill program caused by Covid-19.

As a result of how the current statutes and regulations are written and interpreted, the sudden transition of academic programs from traditional on-campus models to on-line programs without prior approval would lead to the loss of education and associated housing benefits for the recipient of the GI Bill.  The veterans community as well as the higher education community, including individual institutions like the University of Washington, have become aware of the problem and have weighed in, asking for a solution.

The letter to the Senate from the higher education associations is available here while the letter to the House is available here.  We will share a letter led by Student Veterans of America as it becomes available.

Office of Federal Relations Notice on DC Hill Visits

As of Thursday, March 12th, the Office of Federal Relations strongly advises members of the UW community not to travel to Washington, DC for meetings. The US Capitol complex is closed to the general public through April 1st, and most offices in the area, including the Office of Federal Relations, are instituting telework policies. Our office is unable to schedule in-person meetings, or attend in-person meetings on behalf of the University. This is a fluid situation, and we will post updated information as it becomes available.

We are happy to try and arrange conference calls to discuss issues of relevance to UW.

For university-wide updates, please go to https://www.washington.edu/coronavirus/

Senate Cancels March Recess

The US Senate has canceled the state work period (recess) scheduled to run from March 16th-20th, 2020. Lawmakers will be in Washington, DC as Congress aims to pass a coronavirus response plan.

Federal Debt: A Primer

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which provides nonpartisan budgetary and economic analysis for Congress, released their report Federal Debt: A PrimerThe report outlines how federal debt has nearly tripled between 2008-2019. Featured in the report is an explanation of public debt, facts and figures, and the CBO’s projections for future debt.