KU Federal Update

Two legislative steps away from increased funding for science research
Last week, Congress and the White House reached a compromise on a fiscal year 2008 supplemental spending bill which covers the ongoing operational costs related to the Iraq War, as well as other programs. Over the past six months, Chancellor Hemenway and KU government relations staff spent time on Capitol Hill lobbying in support of adding additional science funding in the supplemental.

Growing congressional interest in university conflict of interest policies
On Sunday, June 8th, The New York Times published a lengthy article based on Senator Charles Grassely's recent Senate floor speech regarding his investigation into financial disclosure practices at research universities. Grassely is spearheading several possible legislative proposals impacting higher education business practices, including endowment operations, financial disclosure, and the federal False Claims Act.

Chancellor Hemenway's Hill visits advance science funding increase
In late May, Chancellor Hemenway visited with members of the Kansas congressional delegation. During his meetings, he called on Congress to add increased science funding a supplemental appropriations bill under consideration.

KU professor testifies before House subcommittee
On Thursday, May 8, Professor Donna Ginther of the Economics Department, testified before the House Science and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Science Education.

KU working to get science funding in House appropriations bill
The University of Kansas, in collaboration with universities across the United States, is part of a strong effort to include additional science funding in the FY08 supplemental appropriations bill currently being considered in Congress. This funding is needed to repair the damage caused by the failure last year to approve promised increases for the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy's Office of Science.

Report from AAU Council on Federal Relations April meeting
Last week, KU was represented at the monthly AAU federal relations meeting. Topics discussed included endowments and ongoing examination of the issue in relation to tuition and college costs. Also discussed was a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing entitled "Examining Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions at U.S. Colleges and Universities."

Kansas members of Congress support NIH FY2009 Budget
Representatives Nancy Boyda and Dennis Moore joined with 177 other members of Congress in advocating for a 6.5 percent increase in Fiscal Year 2009 funding for the National Institutes of Health in a letter to the chairman and ranking Republican of the House Appropriations Committee. Moore and Boyda are frequent guests to the KU campuses and have seen firsthand the benefits of NIH research conducted at KU for the benefit of Kansans.

Federal budget process underway for FY2009
The U.S. House and Senate have completed the first part of the annual budget process by passing resolutions identifying the budget priorities for the federal government for fiscal year 2009, which starts October 1, 2008. The next step will be for a House-Senate conference committee to reach agreement on a final version of the resolution.

KU responds to Senate request for endowment information
The University of Kansas is one of 136 schools identified by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee as having an endowment larger than $500 million supporting its mission of education, research and service. The committee recently requested information about how KU's endowment benefits the university.

U.S. House, Senate start conference committee on Higher Education Act renewal
The U.S. House and Senate have approved similar, but somewhat different versions of legislation to renew federal higher education law, which includes federal student loans, teacher education and area studies programs. A small group of representatives and senators will now start working to develop a compromise version of the two bills. KU is closely following this legislation since it will set federal higher education law for the next five years.

President issues FY 2009 federal budget
On Monday, February 4th, President Bush released his proposed Fiscal Year 2009 federal budget, starting the annual congressional budget process. The budget is austere and presents challenges to higher education and the research community.

Endowments support students, faculty
Public and private higher education institutions have established endowments as a way for alumni and friends of particular institutions to financially support current students and faculty through voluntary gifts. The Kansas University Endowment Association was established in 1891 and has provided more than $1 billion in support to KU graduates, as well as current students during that time. The support for KU Endowment is broad-based. For example, in 2006, 43,000 individuals provided support to KU through KU Endowment.

Department of Education Competitions for 2008
During her presentation at the 2008 AAU Council of Federal Relations conference, Assistant Secretary of Education for Postsecondary Education Diane Jones handed out a summary of the available competitive research and program grants for 2008 at the Department of Education.

Science advocates analyze federal research funding
Congress gave final approval on December 19 to an omnibus appropriations bill combining the 11 unfinished 2008 appropriations bills, which the President is expected to sign shortly to bring the 2008 budget process to a close