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| Ellen Smith, assistant vice president, represents and informs the Univesity on issues such as financial aid, Medicare and Medicaid, research funds and tax policies as they pertain to higher education. |
The Federal Relations Web is accessible on the Administration and Index pages of ColumbiaWeb. |
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Congress Finishing AppropriationsBy Ellen S. Smith he recent passage of the tax and entitlement bills (Medicare) has left Congress to deal with annual appropriations bills as well as other higher education issues.
As the Sept. 30 end of federal fiscal year 1997 approaches, Congress is finishing work on the annual appropriations bills that fund research and student aid. It is expected that these bills will be finished by the start of the fiscal year, after House and Senate negotiators meet to work out the differences in their bills. In general, student aid and research funding fare well, although some concerns have been raised about the basic research budget in the Department of Defense. The National Commission on the Cost of Higher Education has held two meetings to discuss its work and plan future activities. The Commission aims to issue a report by the beginning of the calendar year. The National Science Foundation is also currently examining costs at major research universities. The bill that sets broad parameters for higher education—the Higher Education Reauthorization Act—is being discussed and will likely be passed during the next session of Congress in 1998. After the August recess, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D.-N.Y.) introduced S. 1142 to repeal the provision that removes TIAA/CREF's tax-exempt status. Senators Alfonse D'Amato (R-N.Y.) and Bob Graham (D-Fla.) are co-sponsors of the bill. It is not clear whether there will be an opportunity to vote on the legislation before Congress adjourns. For additional information, contact: Ellen S. Smith, assistant vice president and director of federal relations, ess9@columbia.edu.
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