Washington Update

APLU Analysis of Inflation Reduction Act
After a year of negotiations, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) reached a deal on a reconciliation package that includes climate, energy, and science provisions. Of interest to APLU institutions, the bill would create grant programs for weather forecasting and research programs; alternative aviation fuel and low emission aviation technology; environmental and climate justice; and neighborhood access and equity. Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Manchin are working to sell the bill to Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and work with the Senate Parliamentarian to determine if there are provisions that are not consistent with budget reconciliation rules.

The bill also provides funding for several infrastructure programs through the Department of Energy Offices of Science, Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Nuclear Energy, and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. APLU staff has compiled a summary of provisions that may of interest to APLU institutions. The Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376) will require only 50 votes to pass the Senate. The bill is expected to be voted on by the Senate before the scheduled August recess.

ED Releases Title IX and Targeted Debt Relief Proposed Rules
The Department of Education officially published its proposed regulations for Title IX in the Federal Register. The 62-day public comment period ends on Monday, September 12. APLU staff have begun an internal process to review the NPRM and are beginning work with a group of associations and campuses to put together comments.

The Department of Education also released its proposed regulations on a variety of targeted debt relief programs in the Federal Register. These proposed rules have a shorter public comment period of 30 days. This means that public comments on the changes to borrower defense, public service loan forgiveness (PSLF), total and permanent disability discharges, closed school discharges, and other student loan issues are due on Friday, August 12, 2022.

APLU Joins Letter to HHS in Support of Bayh-Dole
Last month, a bicameral group of members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary Xavier Beccera urging the Department of Health and Human Services to use its march-in authority in order to lower the price of prescription drugs. APLU and other associations wrote to the Secretary sharing concerns about the high costs of prescription drugs and therapeutics but opposing using march-in rights in this manner while noting the negative impact it could have on university technology transfer. You can find the response here.