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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 Pres. Clinton Prepares for State of the Union AddressBY ELLEN SMITH
With the budget now slated for minimal or no deficit, members of Congress and the Administration are looking more favorably on ways to maximize the available funds for higher education, science and technology and the highways. The President does not plan to propose tax cuts but the Congress is eyeing some reductions in taxes. What has been announced so far? The President proposes allowing those without health insurance who are ages 55–64 opportunities to buy Medicare insurance. In addition, he plans to add $70 million to work study funds. He will target K–12 problems in urban schools, propose significant increases in medical research funding and environmental (mostly climate change) funding, expand tax credits for child care and increase funding for AIDS drug assistance. It has also been reported that he will double research funding for the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (from $15 million to $30 million). The President will also propose increasing NSF funding significantly. Some of the proposed increased funding opportunities depend upon some tax breaks and recouping some of the "windfall" from the tobacco settlement. Because the Congress and the President have agreed to cap spending over a five year period (in the Balanced Budget Agreement), we will need to carefully monitor the implementation of these proposals during the appropriations process. During this election year it is expected that Congress will recess in early October and some bipartisan work will be accomplished. The Cost Commission, created to study rising college costs, was scheduled to release its report on Jan. 21. Recommendations of this report will be included in the Higher Education Reauthorization Act. Gov. George Pataki has proposed significant increases for the SUNY and CUNY systems. He also proposes doubling scholarships of excellence. There are 2,000 scholarships awarded for $1,000 and 3,000 for $500. For further information, contact Ellen S. Smith, assistant vice president and director of federal relations, 854-3394 or ess9@columbia.edu.
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ongress is scheduled to return on Jan. 27 to hear President Clinton deliver his State of the Union address. The President has been releasing information on his budget through his radio addresses and events scheduled around the country.