Congress Begins Debate on COVID Stimulus
BU IN DC
College of Engineering Dean Kenneth Lutchen met with Massachusetts Congressional offices to discuss federal support for research and engineering education as part of the American Society for Engineering Education’s Public Policy Colloquium on February 3rd.
Ibram X. Kendi of the Center for Antiracist Research participated in a virtual townhall with Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) on antiracist policy-making on February 4th. He also discussed his latest book at a virtual National Museum of African American History & Culture event on February 2nd.
Pamela Templer of the College of Arts & Sciences, Evan Kuras of the URBAN Program, School of Public Health student Catherine Connolly, and College of Arts & Sciences student Jennifer Rindy addressed the National Science Foundation’s Research Traineeship annual meeting on January 28th and 29th.
CONGRESS BEGINS DEBATE ON COVID STIMULUS
Both chambers of Congress approved budget resolutions along party lines this week, paving the way for legislators to consider a new COVID-19 stimulus package. Congress adopted budget reconciliation instructions which will allow Senate Democrats to pass a $1.9 trillion bill proposed by the Biden Administration with a simple majority, as opposed to the usual 60-vote majority required for most legislation. Ten Senate Republicans have proposed their own $600 billion package, but Democrats have not signaled an interest in a smaller bill. Biden’s American Rescue Plan proposes COVID-19 relief funds for public colleges, but does not contain the full set of relief for private institutions or research agencies requested by research universities.
BUZZ BITS…
- On Wednesday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a confirmation hearing for U.S. Secretary of Education nominee Dr. Miguel Cardona. Responding to questions from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cardona expressed concern about the adverse impact of student loan debt, but did not take a position on her recommendation for student debt cancellation.
- The Biden-Harris Administration announced two new higher education appointees at the U.S. Department of Education on Wednesday. Dr. Michelle Asha Cooper, an advocate for education equity and president of the Institute for Higher Education Policy since 2008, will be deputy assistant secretary of the Office of Postsecondary Education. Julie Margetta Morgan will be senior adviser to the under secretary for education, the Department official who typically oversees higher education. Morgan has served as vice president of the left-leaning Roosevelt Institute and as an aide to Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in both her Senate office and presidential campaign.
- BU alumna JoAnn Chase (COM ’85) was named director of the Environmental Protection Agency’s American Indian Environmental Office on Tuesday.
EVENTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
Back by popular demand, the Office of Research and BU Public Relations will host Brad Phillips of Throughline for a virtual, interactive media training and messaging workshop to help researchers deliver a message that audiences will remember, act upon, and share. Come learn how to develop memorable messages that resonate with reporters and stick with audiences, boil complex topics down into meaningful takeaways, navigate challenging questions and more. The training takes place on February 17th at 3:00 p.m., and participants will have the option to follow up with one-on-one consultation.