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UI President-designate Tim Killeen returned to Washington this week for more engagement with our delegation and big thinkers.
With Homeland Security funding expiring soon, congressional Republicans appear no closer to finding an endgame with both chambers pointing the finger at the other to act to overturn the President's executive orders on immigration. Illinois' Sen. Mark Kirk was whipsawed by the fierce political winds blowing on the issue, at first making incendiary comments that angered Democrats, but later moderating his position to put immigration differences aside and pass a clean funding bill. DHS funding expires in two weeks.
Meanwhile, the forecast brightened this week around efforts to reduce the regulatory burden for universities.
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Long-Awaited Regulatory Relief Report Released
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The Task Force on Federal Regulation of Higher Education—led by Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and three other committee senators, in coordination with the American Council on Education (ACE)—rolled out a comprehensive report yesterday, which outlines specific recommendations for streamlining Department of Education regulations and reporting requirements.
Over the past year, Task Force members—which included appointed college and university presidents and higher education experts—have worked in earnest to review the federal requirements with which institutions must comply. The Task Force identified top troubling regulations related to student eligibility for financial aid, return of Title IV funds, financial responsibility standards, institutional accreditation, and state authorization of distance education programs.
Given the bipartisan nature of the task force, these proposals are expected to serve as a framework for regulatory discussions during the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). The report will be the centerpiece of a Senate education committee hearing that is scheduled for February 24.
OGR will study the report with campus leaders and approach the Illinois delegation with our top priorities.
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Senate Confirms Ash Carter as Defense Secretary
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The Senate voted overwhelmingly to confirm Ash Carteras Secretary of Defense. He will replace outgoing Secretary Chuck Hagel, a former Republican senator, who never seemed to recover from a rocky confirmation hearing. Carter has worked for 11 different defense secretaries and was a key architect of DOD attempts to reduce procurement costs.
Carter's appointment is significant for research universities. A physicist by training, Carter and Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work, an Urbana alum, will implement the department's Defense Innovation Initiative, which seeks to advance a more agile military through technology and innovation. Fields such as robotics, autonomous systems, miniaturization, big data, and advanced manufacturing are expected to be priority topics for DOD.
Illinois Senator Mark Kirk was one of only five senators to oppose Carter, who won unanimous support from the Armed Services Committee and its Chairman, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). Kirk said in a statement, “Mine is a vote of no confidence in the national security decisions of this Administration.”
Photo: H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY
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Killeen Back for More Engagement
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UI President-designate Tim Killeen returned to Washington DC for the second time in as many months to introduce himself to lawmakers and thought leaders.
Killeen introduced himself to Rep. Danny Davis. Davis treated him to a special conversation in the Capitol, where the congressman—who had just returned from the White House—updated Killeen on his personal efforts to lobby President Obama to make UIC the home of his future presidential library.
Killeen also met Rep. Adam Kinzinger and discussed important federal funding lines for our three campuses.
Off the Hill, he met with Deborah Wince-Smith, the President and CEO of the Council on Competitiveness—a highly-respected university-industry organization that works to develop policy solutions to drive U.S. competitiveness. Together, they thought through ways public research universities can better partner with industry to help engineer economic prosperity throughout Illinois, the nation, and the world.
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Cangellaris Promotes Bioengineering, Public-Private Partnerships
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Urbana's College of Engineering Dean, Andreas Cangellaris, participated in the American Society of Engineering Education's national public policy colloquium, where he introduced Rep. Dan Lipinski. Lipinski updated the national group of deans on STEM and advanced manufacturing priorities.
While on the Hill, Cangellaris met with Rep. Rodney Davis,Rep. Cheri Bustos, Rep. John Shimkus, and the offices ofRep. Adam Kinzinger and Rep. Jan Schakowsky. In those meetings, Cangellaris discussed how the College of Engineering can advance the goals of the Energy and Commerce Committee's 21st Century Cures Initiative. He also highlighted the Jump ARCHES public-private partnership between the College and Jump Trading Simulation and Education Center in Peoria.
Cangellaris also huddled with division directors at the National Science Foundation to learn more about NSF's plans on smart infrastructure.
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Urbana's Rail Transportation and Engineering Center (RailTEC) will receive nearly $2.4 million in funding through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Sen. Dick Durbin issued a press release about the award.
“Illinois serves as a critical part of our national rail network,” Durbin said. “The University of Illinois’ transportation research programs – like RailTEC – have played an important role in the rapid growth in our rail sector, and winning this competitive grant recognizes their position at the forefront of transit innovation. Their work will make rail transit safer and more efficient for Illinois.”
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Congressman Danny Davis was on the UIC campus Monday to visit with students, faculty, and staff in the Urban Health Program, whose mission is to recruit, retain, and graduate underrepresented racial/ethnic minority students in public health professions. He spoke about inclusion and overcoming challenges. He was honored with an award of appreciation for his commitment and support of the Urban Health Program, the community advisory council, and UIC as a whole.
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Thank you,
Jon Pyatt and Melissa Haas | OGR Federal Relations
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