News
This week in Washington
May 28, 2009
Congress is currently in recess for the Memorial Day district work period. The House and Senate will resume legislative business the week of June 1 for what we expect to be a busy summer. In addition to essential work on the Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations bills, lawmakers will focus much of their attention on health care reform and energy and climate change legislation. The Senate will also hold confirmation hearings on President Obama's Supreme Court nominee and other federal appointments. We expect Congress to consider legislation to overhaul federal student aid and to increase regulation of the financial services industry, though these efforts may be postponed until fall. The following is a recap of recent activities in Washington , D.C. of interest to the UCLA community.
Congress | White House and Federal Agencies | UCLA Advocacy CONGRESS
Energy and Climate Change Legislation
On May 21, the House Energy and Commerce Committee completed its four-day markup of the American Clean Energy and Security Act. After roughly 37 hours and 94 amendments, the committee, chaired by Henry Waxman (D-West LA), approved the bill by a vote of 33-25.
This legislation marks the first comprehensive approach that Congress has undertaken to mitigate climate change and enhance our nation's energy independence. The bill has four titles:
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A clean energy title that promotes renewable sources of energy, carbon capture and sequestration technologies, clean electric vehicles, and smart grid electricity transmission.
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An energy efficiency title that increases energy efficiency across all sectors of the economy, including buildings, appliances, transportation, and industry.
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A global warming title that places limits on emissions of heat-trapping pollutants. The bill would cut global warming pollution by 17% of 2005 levels in 2020, by 42% in 2030, and by 83% in 2050. These are science-based targets and within the range agreed to by the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP).
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A title that protects U.S. consumers and industry while promoting green jobs during the transition to a clean energy economy.
While House and Senate leaders agree that addressing climate change should be a priority this Congress, there remains disagreement over the approach and timing of legislative action. The biggest hurdle will be structuring a politically viable “cap and trade” system to reduce global warming emissions. The number one priority for the university research community is ensuring that a significant percentage of the revenue generated is invested in basic energy research.
For more on the outcome of the markup and a copy of the full text of the legislation and supporting documents, visit the Energy and Commerce Committee website.
REMINDER : UCLA faculty who concentrate in energy and climate change research and policies are strongly encouraged to provide comments on the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Comments may be sent to Sarah Ervin , Assistant Director of Federal Relations. Sarah will share comments with Energy and Commerce committee staff. Sarah can be reached at servin@support.ucla.edu.
Study Abroad Legislation
On May 20, the House Foreign Relations Committee passed the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for 2010 and 2011. This legislation would improve and support a wide range of U.S. foreign policy efforts, including the provisions of the Paul Simon Study Abroad Act. Introduced earlier this year by Foreign Relations Chairman Howard Berman (D-Van Nuys), this study abroad legislation has three broad goals that UCLA strongly supports:
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To help at least 1 million undergraduates study abroad annually within 10 years
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To expand study abroad opportunities for underrepresented students
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To increase the number of students that study abroad in non-traditional destinations
The full House is expected to vote on the foreign relations authorization bill as early as next week. For more, visit: http://www.internationalrelations.house.gov/press_display.asp?id=621 .
New Student Loan Repayment Program
Starting July 1, 2009, student loan borrowers will be able to participate in a new income-based repayment program that caps their monthly loan payments. Any current or future borrower whose loan payments exceed 15 percent of their discretionary income will be eligible. After 25 years in the program, borrowers' debts will be completely forgiven.
The new benefits were established under the College Cost Reduction Act (CCRA) of 2007, which provided an additional $20 billion in federal student aid by cutting subsidies paid by the federal government to lenders. For more information on this new repayment program and other benefits of the CCRA, visit: http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2009/05/managing-your-student-loans-up.shtml.
Back to top. WHITE HOUSE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES
President Obama's FY2010 Budget
On May 7, President Obama sent Congress his FY2010 budget for federal agencies and programs. Congress approved its own budget blueprint in April, but the President's recently released budget provides greater detail on his Administration's priorities for the coming fiscal year. Together with Congress' budget, the President's requests will provide guidance for Congressional appropriators as they consider their FY10 spending bills this summer.
For a summary of the President's FY10 budget, please click here.
Recovery Act Update
The UCLA Office of Contracts and Grants Administration (OCGA) continues to provide updates and reminders to the campus community about funding opportunities through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). UCLA faculty and staff interested in ARRA grants should work directly with OCGA. For recent announcements and links to recovery sites managed by various federal agencies, visit: http://www.research.ucla.edu/ocga/ARRA.htm.
For information on the impact of ARRA funding across the University of California system, visit the UC Office of the President's site: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/economicstimulus/.
For the latest ARRA updates and guidelines across the federal government, visit the official White House website: http://www.recovery.gov.
New Administration Nominations
President Obama recently nominated the following individuals to serve in federal agency posts:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment
Jay Jensen
Occupation: Executive Director, Council of Western State Foresters
Education: UCLA (B.S.), Colorado State University (M.S.)
No confirmation required
U.S. Department of Defense
Director of Defense Research and Engineering
Zachary Lemnios
Occupation: Chief Technology Officer, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Education: University of Michigan (B.S.E.E.), Washington University - St. Louis (M.S.E.E.)
*Pending Senate Confirmation
U.S. Department of Defense
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Detainee Affairs
Phillip E. Carter
Occupation: Attorney, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
Education: UCLA (B.A., J.D.)
No confirmation required
U.S. Department of Education
Under Secretary of Education
Martha J. Kanter
Occupation: Chancellor, Foothill-DeAnza Community College District
Education: Brandeis University (B.A. ), Harvard (M.A.), USF (Ph.D.)
*Pending Senate confirmation
U.S. Department of Education
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education
Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana
Occupation: Superintendent, Pomona Unified School District
Education: UCLA (B.A.), USC (Ph.D.)
*Pending Senate confirmation
U.S. Department of Energy
Deputy Secretary
Daniel B. Poneman
Occupation: Principal, The Scowcroft Group; Adjunct Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
Education: Harvard (B.A., J.D.)
Confirmed May 19, 2009
U.S. Department of Energy
Under Secretary for Energy
Kristina M. Johnson
Occupation: Provost, Johns Hopkins University ; Director, Boston Scientific Corporation
Education: Stanford (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.)
Confirmed May 19, 2009
U.S. Department of Energy
Under Secretary for Science
Steven E. Koonin
Occupation: Chief Scientist, BP; former Provost, CalTech
Education: CalTech (B.S.), MIT (Ph.D.)
Confirmed May 19, 2009
U.S. Department of Energy
Director, Office of Science
William F. Brinkman
Occupation: S enior Research Physicist, Princeton University
Education: University of Missouri , ( B.S. and Ph.D.)
*Pending Senate confirmation
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Assistant Administrator for Research and Development
Paul T. Anastas
Occupation: Director, Center for Green Chemistry, Yale University
Education: University of Massachusetts (B.S.), Brandeis University (Ph.D.)
*Pending Senate confirmation
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Secretary
Kathleen Sebelius
Occupation: Governor (D-KS)
Education: Trinity College , (B.A.), University of Kansas , (M.P.A.)
Confirmed April 28, 2009
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Director
Thomas R. Frieden
Occupation: Health Commissioner, New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
Education: Oberlin College , (B.A. ), Columbia University , (M.P.H . and M.D.)
No confirmation required
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development
Mercedes Márquez
Occupation: General Manager, City of Los Angeles Housing Department
Education: USC, (B.A.), Georgetown University , (J.D., LL.M.)
*Pending Senate confirmation
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Administrator
Major Gen. Charles F. Bolden, Jr.
Occupation: Former astronaut; Retired U.S. Marine Corps major general
Education: U.S. Naval Academy
*Pending Senate confirmation
Back to top.
UCLA ADVOCACY
UCLA Day in D.C.
Our federal advocacy trip to Washington , D.C. took place May 12-13, 2009. A group of 36 alumni, students, and staff met with Members of Congress and their legislative aides to advocate for increased funding for federal financial aid programs in FY2010.
We also hosted a “UCLA in D.C.” reception on Capitol Hill on May 12 for the California Congressional Delegation and UCLA alumni in the DC-metro area. More than 150 guests attended. Alumni Members of Congress Howard Berman and Diane Watson gave remarks, and David Drucker (UCLA '01), a reporter for Roll Call, served as our keynote speaker.
For more information about “UCLA Day in D.C,” visit: www.advocacy.ucla.edu/events.html.
If you have questions about this update or other federal issues, please contact:
Kim S. Kovacs Executive Director, UCLA Federal Relations (310) 794-6808 or kkovacs@support.ucla.edu
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