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University of Michigan

	Washington Update
A Quarterly Report from the University of Michigan Washington, DC Office
Volume I		Fall 2006

Washington Update

A Quarterly Report from the University of Michigan
Washington, DC Office

Volume I , Fall 2006
CONGRESS LEAVES FOR ELECTIONS WITH SPENDING BILLS UNDECIDED
U-M JOINS OTHER UNIVERSITIES IN RESPONDING TO COBURN REQUEST
HOUSE MOVES TO RE-AUTHORIZE NIH
UMTRI RECEIVES UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTER FUNDING
U-M REPRESENTATIVES ATTEND ACADEMY CONVOCATION
MICHIGAN IN WASHINGTON PROGRAM BEGINS SECOND YEAR
SARAH WALKING BECOMES NEW RESEARCH DIRECTOR

CONGRESS LEAVES FOR ELECTIONS WITH SPENDING BILLS UNDECIDED

At the end of September, the House and Senate headed home to campaign for the November election, leaving behind the all-too-familiar list of appropriations bills yet to be finalized to fund the federal government for FY 2007. Among the issues still pending are:

• Funding for the American Competitiveness Initiative, which should bring increases in research for both the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy's Office of Science. Under legislation passed so far, NSF could see an 8% increase next year, and the Office of Science could jump 14% in its research activities.
• Funding for the National Institutes of Health and student financial aid and other higher ed programs is likely to be flat again, pending action to provide additional dollars for health and education programs.

U-M JOINS OTHER UNIVERSITIES IN RESPONDING TO COBURN REQUEST

Along with dozens of other major universities, U-M responded to a request from Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) to list so-called "earmarked" appropriations received over the past several years and to outline its policy on such requests. In responding to the request, U-M Vice President for Research Steve Forrest re-iterated U-M's longstanding policy of discouraging such requests, preferring to rely on the peer-reviewed competitive process. This policy has been used by several other universities as a model for their own earmark policies. Forrest did provide details about a few earmarks that U-M has received over the past few years as exceptions to that carefully-developed policy. Senator Coburn has indicated he may hold hearings on earmarks and may call upon those universities who ignored his request to testify. No legislative action is expected this year, however, as a result of the Coburn letters being sent.   top

HOUSE MOVES TO RE-AUTHORIZE NIH

As the House moved toward its election recess, it did approve legislation to re-authorize the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Authored by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX), the legislation would call for 5 percent increases in NIH appropriations for each of the next three years. The bill also creates a "common fund" which would allow the Director of NIH to focus additional dollars on emerging health issues. Rep. John Dingell (D-Dearborn) - while not a sponsor of the measure but the ranking Democrat on the committee - worked closely with Barton to make the bill more favorable for universities. Several higher education associations endorsed the legislation, including the Association of American Universities and the Association of Academic Medical Centers. It remains to be seen what the Senate will do, given the lateness of the congressional session. NIH has not been re-authorized for 13 years.   top

UMTRI RECEIVES UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTER FUNDING

The UM Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) recently was awarded a University Transportation Center by the U.S. Department of Transportation. UMTRI Director Peter Sweatman says the funds will help create new research and education collaborations with U-M schools and colleges as UMTRI looks at safety issues facing both the youngest and oldest drivers. U-M was one of ten universities to receive the award out of 36 that applied for the competitive grant program. The UTC program provides up to $1 million per year for three years, with all federal funds being matched dollar-for-dollar with non-federal funding in most cases. The Washington Office was helpful in enlisting the interest of several members of the Michigan congressional delegation who were willing to write letters in support of the application..   top

U-M REPRESENTATIVES ATTEND ACADEMY CONVOCATION

Several U-M representatives attended the National Academies of Science Convocation September 28th in DC, designed to follow up last year's report on American competitiveness. That report, "Rising Above the Gathering Storm," was an important factor in moving the White House and Congress forward on additional funding for physical research in the 2007 federal budget, as well as other steps to improve American competitiveness and education. U-M Vice President of Research Steve Forrest and U-M President Emeritus Jim Duderstadt attended the event, along with several others, with Dudertadt leading one of the workshop sessions. The focus of the convocation was to encourage states and regions to tackle the innovation and competitiveness issues raised by the Gathering Storm report in their own communities.   top

MICHIGAN IN WASHINGTON PROGRAM BEGINS SECOND YEAR

With 18 students on hand, the second year of the Michigan in Washington program is underway. The program brings U-M students to Washington for an entire semester, where they work at internships and take classes. The students are housed in a building near the National Zoo that they share with students from Boston University. They work at a variety of offices around the capital, including congressional offices, advocacy groups, and others. Each student is also linked to a local alum as his or her mentor. Former U-M interim provost Ned Gramlich recently hosted a dinner in Washington for the students and their mentors to help kick off the new semester.   top

SARAH WALKLING BECOMES NEW RESEARCH DIRECTOR

There's a new face in the Washington Office. Sarah Walkling was named Director of Federal Relations for Research in August and has replaced Mark Burnham in that capacity in the Washington Office. A graduate of Cornell University and the University of Chicago, Sarah worked on Capitol Hill for Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and also spent several years doing government relations for Vanderbilt University in its Washington office.
Sarah will be responsible for monitoring most research issues in Washington and advising administrators and faculty on opportunities for federal funding. She can be reached at skwa@umich.edu.   top

Produced quarterly by the University of Michigan Washington Office

Mike Waring, Executive Director of Federal Relations
and Director of the Washington Office
mwaring@umich.edu
Sarah Walkling, Director of Federal Relations for Research
skwa@umich.edu
Cindy Bank, Assistant Director
bankc@umich.edu
Marlene Andersen, Office Manager
marlenej@umich.edu

University of Michigan Washington Office
499 S. Capitol Street, SW, Suite 501
Washington, DC 20003
202-554-0578 (phone)
202-554-0582 (fax)
http://www.umich.edu/~govrel/umdc.html