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Legislative Update

May 20, 2005

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Legislative Activity

Joint Finance Committee Co-Chairs Dean Kaufert and Scott Fitzgerald have announced an executive budget session the UW System budget and the Higher Education Aid Board (HEAB) on Tuesday, May 24. http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/jfc/24posting.doc

The Joint Audit Committee held a public hearing on Tuesday, May 17 to discuss audit findings relating to state fleet management. Regent David Walsh and Executive Senior Vice President Don Mash answered questions regarding Chancellor vehicle allowances. Here is a link to Regent Walsh’s testimony: http://www.wisconsin.edu/news/2005/r050517b.htm

The Assembly Budget Review Committee discussed AB 186, a bill which requires all contractual services purchased by state executive branch agencies to be performed within the United States. Associate Vice President for Administrative Services Ruth Anderson testified in opposition to the bill at the hearing. The bill may be found at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AB-186.pdf

The Assembly Veterans Affairs met on Tuesday, May 17, and voted on two bills:

AB-317, which exempts spouses, un-remarried surviving spouses and children of killed or 30% disabled veterans from tuition and fees at the UW System and at technical colleges, and

AB-318 , which exempts certain veterans from 50% tuition and fees at UW System and technical colleges. Here is a link to Associate Vice President for University Relations Margaret Lewis’ testimony on these bills: http://www.uwsa.edu/execvp/govrel/pending/testimon/t_ab317-318.htm

Federal Government Update

The House Appropriations Committee approved the FY06 Energy and Waters appropriations bill, which includes $3.67 billion for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. This is $203 million above the Administration's FY06 request and $66 million above FY05. According to AAU, the bill includes: $408 million for Nuclear Physics; $736 million for High Energy Physics; $1 billion for Basic Energy Sciences; $296 million for Fusion Energy Sciences; $526 million for Biological and Environmental Research; $246 million for Advanced Scientific Computational Research; $7 million for Science Workforce Development; and $42 million for Science Laboratories Infrastructure.

The House Armed Services Committee approved the FY05 Defense authorization bill (H.R. 1815) at a level of $11.4 billion for science and technology (S&T) programs at the Department of Defense (DOD). The committee commended DOD for its SMART program (Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation), which provides education assistance to those seeking a baccalaureate or advanced degree in science and engineering disciplines critical to national security.

An amendment to the FY 06 Interior Appropriations bill (H.R. 2361) to provide $5 million to fund the We the People program passed in the House this week. The program is funded through the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The amendment also provides an extra $10 million for the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA).

A number of Senators led by Senator Russ Feingold and others urged the Chair and Ranking Democrat member of the Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, and Education Senate Committee on Appropriations to increase the Pell Grant maximum award by $450 in FY 06 to $4500. A copy of the letter may be found on the Association of American Universities website at: http://www.aau.edu/budget/PellAppropsLetter51305.pdf.

The House may vote on H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act next week. The measure was introduced by Representatives Mike Castle (R-DE) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) and would expand the policy for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. President George Bush indicated he would veto the bill.