APLU Hails House Appropriations Committee Approval of FY20 Bill that Boosts Student Aid & Biomedical Research Funding

Washington, DC – Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) President Peter McPherson today released the following statement praising the House Appropriations Committee’s approval of the Fiscal Year 2020 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies’ bill that increases funding for student aid and biomedical research.

“APLU applauds the House Appropriations Committee’s passage of the Fiscal Year 2020 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies funding bill that prioritizes student aid and biomedical research. In providing increased support for Pell Grants and other student aid programs, and boosting support for NIH, the House Appropriations Committee is reflecting the priorities of the American people.

“Access to a quality, affordable education opens a path to extraordinary opportunities both for individuals and society, but far too often cost is an obstacle that prevents students from starting college or finishing with a degree in hand. Expanding investments in Pell Grants and campus-based aid programs will help make a college education more affordable and accessible for more students. Additionally, the expanded investment in Title VI international education will ensure more graduates have a greater global competency, which will help strengthen U.S. competitiveness.

“The strong support for NIH will enable even more cutting-edge research into developing new treatments and cures for some of the most devastating diseases and conditions. A recently released poll showed that 86 percent of voters support annually increasing research funding over the next decade. Much of this research is conducted at our nation’s public research universities.

“These needed funding increases will likely not be possible, however, unless Congress moves to raise the budget caps that are in place because of the self-defeating Budget Control Act. Congress has come together in a bipartisan manner in recent years to lift the budget caps to provide increased support for discretionary programs and we strongly urge congressional leaders to do so again.”