Newsletters

FY 2022 Appropriations

12/03/2021
WIH

As reported in previous Washington Insights & Highlights newsletters, President Biden signed into law a continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the federal government through December 3. To avoid a government shutdown, the House of Representatives passed another short-term CR that would fund the federal government through February 18, 2022. According to media reports, a deal was reached in the Senate that allowed for a vote on an amendment to defund President Biden’s vaccine mandate for large employers. The Senate rejected the amendment (48-50). The Senate then voted on the short-term CR to fund the government through February 18, 2022.

CGS and other Higher Education Associations Send Public Comments to DHS Regarding DACA

In July 2021, the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Texas issued a permanent injunction against the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program (DACA). The Federal District Court ruled that the program was unconstitutional and ordered DHS to stop accepting applications for the program. The U.S. Justice Department has appealed the Federal District Court’s decision and the DHS issued a federal register notice to formally begin the rulemaking process. In response to the federal register notice, CGS and the broader higher education community submitted public comments to DHS regarding the DACA program.
According to a report from the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration and New American Economy, there are over 28,000 DACA-eligible students pursuing graduate and professional degrees.

Applications for New Awards: Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program

The Department of Education announced in the Federal Register an extension of the deadline for transmittal of applications for the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program. The application deadline was initially January 11 and is now January 26, 2022. This program provides grants to support overseas projects in training, research, and curriculum development in modern foreign languages and area studies for teachers, students, and faculty.
CGS has long been in advocate in strengthening investments in programs administered under federal agencies that allow U.S. graduate students to participate in international research opportunities. CGS recently joined the Coalition for International Education in a letter to the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee recommending Fiscal Year 2022 funding for HEA-Title VI and Fulbright-Hays programs.

CGS Joins Coalition Letter in Support of USICA

On November 23, the Coalition for National Science Funding sent a letter of thanks to Congressional Leadership for their plans to move to conference the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) with House-passed authorization legislation for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. Increasing investment in NSF is essential to ensuring the U.S. maintains its global leadership role in economic competitiveness, innovation, and national security.
Research and scientific inquiry are cornerstones of graduate education. The application of resulting discoveries drives advancements across multiple industries and improves the daily lives of the American people. Federal investments in agencies that support basic science research like the NSF ought to be strengthened.

VA National Academic Affiliations Council Notice of Meeting on December 7

The U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs recently published in the Federal Register that the VA National Academic Affiliations Council (NAAC) will meet on December 7. The purpose of the Council is to advise the Secretary on matters affecting partnerships between Veterans Affairs and its academic affiliates. The Council will receive public comments during their meeting.