CGA NEWS
(4-7-14)
To: CGA
From: A۰P۰L۰U Congressional and Governmental Affairs Staff
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) is circulating the attached "Dear Colleague" letter in support of $7.5 billion in funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF). The deadline for Senators' signatures is COB April 10th. The point of contact in Senator Markey’s office is John Phillips, who can be reached at john_phillips@markey.senate.
APLU and other higher education associations sent the attached letter to Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) in response to provisions in the comprehensive tax reform discussion draft impacting student tax benefits. While the discussion draft has a much broader impact on universities than just the student benefits, the associations chose this area as the first response to the discussion draft as Chairman Camp previously expressed interest in potentially moving that piece separately. The letter notes that the associations will be in further contact regarding areas affecting higher education.
Be sure to register for the CGA Spring Meeting coming up on May 7-8, 2014. After Friday, April 11 the $125 early registration fee will increase to $150. Register today and take advantage of the discount. Click here for more information and to register.
Floor Activities
The Senate reconvened this afternoon to resume consideration of HR 3979, to extend unemployment insurance benefits; a final vote is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
The House reconvened this afternoon to consider HR 1871, a bill to remove the annual inflationary increase in the discretionary spending baseline. The House is also expected to take up other measures. Votes are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. On Thursday, April 10, the House is scheduled to complete consideration of the FY15 House Budget Resolution (HConRes 96), to establish the federal budget for FY2015 and set for budgetary levels for FY2016-24.
Legislative Activities
Senate Appropriations Committee
State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee Hearing – FY2015 Budget request for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Witness: Rajiv Shah, Administrator, USAID
10:15 am, 138 Dirksen
Senate Armed Services Committee
Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee Hearing - The role of the Department of Defense science and technology enterprise for innovation and affordability
2:15 pm, 222 Russell
Senate Judiciary Committee
Full Committee Markup - S1720, the Patent Transparency and Improvements Act
2:30 pm, 226 Dirksen
House Appropriations Committee
Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee Hearing – FY15 NASA Request and NASA Security Oversight
Witnesses: Charles Bolden Jr., NASA Administrator, Richard Thornburgh, Expert Witness on NASA Security, and Joseph Thompson, Expert Witness on NASA Security
9:30 am, 2359 Rayburn
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Hearing - FY15 Appropriations for the Department of Education
Witness: Arne Duncan, Education Secretary
10:30 am, 2358-C Rayburn
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee Hearing - FY15 Appropriations for USAID
Witness: Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator
1 pm, H-140 Capitol
House Education and the Workforce Committee
Full Committee Markup - HR 4366, the Strengthening Education through Research Act
10 am, 2175 Rayburn
House Energy and Commerce Committee
Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee Hearing - Trolling for a Solution: Ending Abusive Patent Demand Letters”
10 am, 2123 Rayburn
Senate Appropriations Committee
Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee Hearing – FY2015 Budget request for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Witnesses: Gina McCarthy, Administrator, EPA and Maryann Froehlich, Acting CFO, EPA
9:15 am, 124 Dirksen
Energy and Water Development Subcommittee Hearing – Review of the President’s FY2015 funding request and budget justification for the Department of Energy
Witnesses: Ernest Moniz, Secretary of Energy and Daniel Poneman, Deputy Secretary of Energy
2:30 pm, 192 Dirksen
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
Science and Space Subcommittee Hearing - Space Exploration
10 am, 253 Russell
House Appropriations Committee
Full Committee Markup - 302(b) Allocations
10 am, 2359 Rayburn
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Hearing - FY15 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations bill
2 pm, H-309 Capitol Building
House Science, Space and Technology Committee
Space Subcommittee Markup - NASA Authorization Act of 2014
9 am, 2318 Rayburn
Senate Appropriations Committee
Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee Hearing – FY2015 Budget Request for the Department of Commerce
Witness: Penny Pritzker, Secretary of Commerce
10 am, 192 Dirksen
Senate Finance Committee
Full Committee Hearing - FY 2015 Appropriations: Health and Human Services (HHS)
Witness: Kathleen Sebelius, HHS Secretary
10 am, 215 Dirksen
Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
Full Committee Hearing - FY15 Budget for International Development Priorities
Witness: Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator
9:30 am, 419 Dirksen
House Science, Space and Technology Committee
Full Committee Hearing - Department of Energy science and technology priorities
Witness: Ernest Moniz, Energy Secretary
9 am, 2318 Rayburn
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