(11-19-14)
To: CGA
From: A۰P۰L۰U Congressional and Governmental Affairs Staff
APLU joined other higher education associations and signed onto testimony in advance of today’s House Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Hearing: “Copyright Issues in Education and for the Visually Impaired”. The testimony outlines the provisions we believe strike the appropriate balance between rights granted to copyright holders and rights reserved for the public. A copy of the statement is attached.
In advance of the House Foreign Affairs Committee markup of H.R. 5656, the Feed the Future Global Food Security Act of 2014, offered by Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN), APLU has sent the attached letter of support for authorizing Feed the Future. The amendment in the nature of a substitute that will be offered in the House Foreign Affairs Committee markup on Thursday, will make important changes to the legislation that APLU has been advocating for including a direct reference to the Feed the Future Innovation Labs and partnerships between U.S. and developing nation universities. The substitute amendment, which is attached, would only authorize Feed the Future for FY2015.
APLU joined other organizations in sending a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) urging robust funding for NASA and NOAA in the President’s FY2016 budget request. The letter asks for $18.79 billion for NASA and $5.69 billion for NOAA. A copy of letter can be found here.
Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has released the House of Representatives 2015 Legislative Calendar, which is now available online here.
While the Senate is expected to ratify their Committee Chairs in December, the House Republican Steering Committee released their recommendations for committee chairs in the 114th Congress last night. The following chair recommendations were ratified earlier today.
Agriculture – Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX)
Appropriations – Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY)
Armed Services – Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX)
Budget – Rep. Tom Price (R-GA)
Education & the Workforce – Rep. John Kline (R-MN)
Energy & Commerce – Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI)
Financial Services – Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX)
Foreign Affairs – Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA)
Homeland Security – Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX)
Judiciary – Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)
Natural Resources – Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT)
Oversight & Government Reform – Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT)
Science, Space, and Technology – Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX)
Small Business – Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH)
Transportation & Infrastructure – Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA)
Veterans’ Affairs – Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL)
Ways & Means – Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
The Democratic Caucus approved the following Ranking Members listed below. They are solidifying the remaining Ranking Member positions later today.
Congresswoman Nita Lowey – Ranking Member, House Appropriations Committee
Congressman Chris Van Hollen – Ranking Member, House Committee on the Budget
Congressman Frank Pallone – Ranking Member, House Energy and Commerce Committee
Congresswoman Maxine Waters – Ranking Member, House Committee on Financial Services
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter – Ranking Member, House Committee on Rules
Congressman Sander Levin – Ranking Member, House Committee on Ways and Means