Washington Update: HEA; Drones; Budget Resolution; Energy & Water Appropriations; and Tax Reform

APLU formally responded to three white papers released by the Senate Education Committee on reauthorizing the Higher Education Act (HEA). APLU and the Association of American Universities (AAU) joined in sending a letter to House and Senate Budget Resolution Conference Committees. In addition, the House Appropriations Committee passed its FY2016 energy and water appropriations. APLU also joined a coalition of higher education associations in sending comments to two Senate Finance Committee Tax Reform Working Groups.

APLU Responds to Senate Education Committee on HEA White Papers

APLU formally submitted comments on three white papers released by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) last month in anticipation of the upcoming reauthorization of the HEA. The Committee’s white papers, which can be found here, highlight thoughts and proposals on accreditation reform, institutional accountability through risk-sharing, and postsecondary data transparency and consumer information.

APLU joined the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) in a joint response on both the Committee’s accreditation reform (APLU/AASCU accreditation letter) and the Committee’s consumer information (APLU/AASCU consumer information letter) proposals. APLU also submitted feedback (APLU risk sharing letter) on the Majority’s institutional risk-sharing/skin-in-the-game paper.

APLU and AAU Send Letter to Budget Conferees Regarding FY2016 Budget Resolution Conference Report

APLU and AAU sent a letter to House and Senate leadership and members of the House and Senate Budget Resolution Conference Committees urging that the FY2016 budget resolution “include a path to repeal the current sequestration-level discretionary spending caps, reverse the proposed massive cuts to student financial aid programs, and reassert strong support for scientific research.” The letter details some of the positive amendments introduced during the Senate consideration of the budget (S.Con.Res.11) and concerns with the drastic cuts to student financial aid programs in both the House and Senate budget resolutions.

House Appropriations Committee Approves FY2016 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill

Earlier this month, the House Appropriations Committee approved the FY16 Energy & Water Appropriations bill by voice vote. The bill provides $5.1 billion for the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, an increase of about $29 million over the FY15 level of $5.071 billion. The bill included $280 million for ARPA-E, consistent with FY15 funding and below the APLU and President’s request of $325 million. For funding levels for previous years, please see the updated APLU appropriations chart here.

APLU Comments on Two of the Senate Finance Committee Tax Reform Working Groups

Earlier this year, the Senate Finance Committee announced the creation of five bipartisan working groups to make recommendations for comprehensive tax reform. APLU worked with several higher education associations on comments to the Working Group on Individual Income Tax and Working Group on Business Income Tax.

APLU joined other higher education associations in sending comments to the Senate Finance Committee Tax Reform Working Group on Individual Income Tax. The document outlines several tax provisions important to students and their families, as well as charitable giving tax incentives, particularly the itemized deduction for charitable giving.

APLU also joined other higher education associations in sending a statement to the Senate Finance Committee Tax Reform Working Group on Business Income Tax outlining the importance of tax-exempt status to universities.