Obama State of the Union Touts Science, College
BU IN DC
Provost Jean Morrison co-chaired the Association of American Universities copyright task force meeting on January 23.
Cornelius Hurley of the Center for Finance, Law & Policy attended the Brookings Institution’s Asset Management, Financial Stability and Economic Growth event on January 9.
Alan Cohen of the School of Management participated in a meeting of the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s Advisory Panel on Improving Healthcare Systems, of which he is a member, between January 13 and 15.
Kevin Gallagher of the Pardee School of Global Studies discussed global trade agreements with staff in the U.S. Senate on January 22.
Katharine Lusk of the Initiative on Cities presented the Initiative’s National Survey of Mayors at the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting between January 21 and 23.
OBAMA STATE OF THE UNION TOUTS SCIENCE, COLLEGE
President Barack Obama delivered his sixth State of the Union address on January 20, outlining his priorities for his remaining two years in office. Once again, the President emphasized his willingness to utilize executive authority to implement his goals and priorities in absence of Congressional action, including a number of proposals that are of relevance to the university community:
Research: Stating that our economy depends upon American leadership in science and technology innovation, the President urged Congress to significantly reinvest in the federal research and development enterprise. He announced a new precision medicine initiative to encourage innovation in new treatments specifically tailored for an individual’s genetic make-up and particular disease.
Higher Education: The President touted his plan to make two years of community college free, which he announced a week previously. He also called for an expansion of the federal student loan repayment program that caps monthly payments to ten percent of a borrower’s income to all existing borrowers.
Tax Reform: President Obama included several higher education tax provisions in his proposal to overhaul the tax code, most notably simplifying existing tuition tax deductions and expanding student eligibility for the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC).
Climate Science: The President dedicated a large portion of his speech to defending the science behind climate change, touting his Climate Action Plan as laying the foundation for combatting and ameliorating the effects of global warming.
EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
BU Research is offering an informational workshop on the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) on January 29. PCORI funds scholarly inquiry that improves the quality of health care decision-making. Jean Slutsky, Chief Engagement and Dissemination Officer at PCORI, will explain the Institute’s research goals and discuss its proposal review and award processes. RSVP for the event