CGA NEWS
(10-28-13)
To: CGA
From: A۰P۰L۰U Congressional and Governmental Affairs Staff
As mentioned in CGA News (10-16-13), earlier this month, APLU sent to the provosts of APLU, AAU and The Science Coalition member institutions a brief survey on the impacts of sequestration on federal research. This survey is a follow-up to the survey conducted earlier this year. The data we collect will build upon the data collected earlier this year, and importantly, will now reflect the full fiscal year 2013. The actual survey must be completed online; each institution has a unique login. Additionally, if someone other than your provost completed the earlier survey, that person was copied on the email note.
The survey deadline is now Friday, November 1. We strongly encourage all APLU universities to complete this survey regardless of your previous participation. Please follow up with the appropriate offices on campus to help ensure completion.
We appreciate your help in this important effort. You may contact Jennifer Poulakidas at jpoulakidas@aplu.org or 202.478.6053 with any questions.
On Wednesday last week, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) introduced the bipartisan Innovation Act, designed to curb patent litigation initiated by “patent trolls.” The bill text and a section-by-section summary are attached. As noted in the Legislative Activities below, the Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the bill tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. on the legislation. APLU continues to work with the AAU-led Patent Reform Implementation Task Force, and we will coordinate on developing a strategy for responding to this legislation before the bill goes to markup. We will be engaging the CGA Tech-IP group as the strategy develops. Meanwhile, please address and questions or comments to Jim Woodell at jwoodell@aplu.org.
As CGA may recall after the Administration announcement of their College Affordability Plan in August that the Department of Education announced they would be soliciting public feedback on their proposals and the Department would be hosting open forums around the country. On Friday, the Department announced that the first of these forums will take place on Wednesday, November 6th, at the California State University-Dominguez Hills in Carson, CA. These open forums are designed to offer the opportunity to members of the public to provide feedback and input on the Department’s proposals, and to hear the input of others.
The open forum is free and open to the public. Individuals desiring to present comments or feedback at an open forum must register by sending an e-mail at least three days prior to the event to collegefeedback@ed.gov with the subject “Open Forum Registration.”
The remaining open forums will be announced soon. The Department of Education’s College Affordability and Completion website, www.ed.gov/college-completion, will list updates. The Department has also posted a blog with the announcement and more detailed information here.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) posted last week some additional guidance and updated revised proposal deadlines on the agency’s website here. Questions regarding the specific funding opportunities should be directed to the cognizant NSF program officer identified in the funding opportunity solicitation.
After hearing complaints from many stakeholders, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) also revised their initial rescheduled deadlines to be able to reconsider proposals earlier than they initially expected. The latest October 22 guidance is available here, which supersedes the October 18 guidance. NIH Deputy Director of Extramural Research, Sally Rockey, has published a blog on the latest guidance and rescheduled deadlines.
Floor Activities
The Senate and House reconvened today. The Senate will be voting on a motion to limit debate on the nomination of a general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board. The House expects to take up several Veterans related bills under suspension today.
Legislative Activities
§ Tuesday, October 29
House Judiciary Committee
Full Committee Hearing - H.R. 3309: Improving the Patent System to Promote American Innovation and Competitiveness
10 am, 2141 Rayburn
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
Full Committee Markup – Several bills including H.R. 3316, the Grant Reform and New Transparency Act (GRANT Act)
10 am, 2154 Rayburn
§ Wednesday, October 30
House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
Energy Subcommittee Hearing - Providing the Tools for Scientific Discovery and Basic Energy Research: The Department of Energy Science Mission
9:30 am, 2318 Rayburn
FY2014 Budget Conference Committee
Meeting - House and Senate conferees will meet to consider the FY2014 budget resolution
10 am, HC-5 Capitol
Farm Bill Conference Committee
Meeting - House and Senate conferees will meet to consider the Farm Bill
1 pm, 1100 Longworth
§ Thursday, October 31
Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
Full Committee Hearing - Attaining a Quality Degree: Innovations to Improve Student Success
10 am, 430 Dirksen