CGS Joins Higher Ed Community with Tax Policy Requests for Phase 4 (4/9/2020)

On April 9, CGS joined over 30 other higher education associations on a letter to House and Senate leadership with tax policy requests for the next COVID-19 stimulus bill.

On March 6, CGS submitted written testimony for the record to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies requesting “at least $170 million” for the National Endowment for the Humanities in FY 2021.

This webpage serves as a hub to view CGS’s communications and resources related to Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 advocacy. CGS will continue to keep its members apprised of the appropriations process as the President's proposed budget is released and respective congressional committees begin their work. 

(Updated June 4) CGS FY 2022 Appropriations Chart

Latest Action: President Biden's Full FY22 Budget Request

On May 28, the White House released President Biden’s full budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2022. The request seeks to increase funding for most federal agencies and includes provisions first shared in the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan. Notably, the Department of Education would receive $102.8 billion, a 40 percent increase in funding compared to the enacted FY21 levels. Themes of promoting diversity, bolstering U.S. research and development, and streamlining immigration services are interwoven throughout the request. 

• Member resource: CGS summary of programs of interest included in the May FY22 budget request.

On April 9, President Biden released his preliminary budget request for FY22, including top-line, discretionary funding levels for the federal agencies in the new fiscal year, which begins on October 1, 2021. The proposal builds upon appropriations funding allocated in the American Rescue Plan, which President Biden signed into law on March 11.

• Member resource: CGS summary of graduate education and research provisions included in the April discretionary funding request.

CGS Appropriations Advocacy in the 117th Congress

Coalition Letter on Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations (1/24/22)

The Task Force on American Innovation, of which CGS is a member, sent a letter to appropriations leadership regarding the importance of federally funded research in the physical sciences and engineering. Given the urgent need to recommit our nation to prioritizing science and technology research and the increasing global competition we face in emerging technologies, we strongly encourage Congress to complete the FY22 appropriations process in a timely manner.

CGS Joins Coalition Letter to Biden Administration Regarding National Science Foundation Funding (11/9/21)

On November 5, the Coalition for National Science Funding sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Science and Technology Policy regarding increased funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) in Fiscal Year 2023. NSF plays a critical role in advancing our nation’s competitiveness and addressing research and education challenges related to many Biden Administration priorities.

CGS Joins Coalition Letter in Strong Support of Robust Funding Levels for National Science Foundation (11/9/21)

On November 2, members of the Coalition for National Science Funding sent a letter to appropriators regarding support for National Science Foundation (NSF) funding in Fiscal Year 2022. NSF investments are key to bolstering U.S. innovation and competitiveness by funding highly meritorious curiosity-driven research; building and fostering U.S. STEM education and workforce programs; supporting cutting-edge facilities that enable the work of scientists and engineers; and addressing the most pressing issues of our time.

CGS Joins Letter of Support for the House Appropriations FY22 Labor-HHS-Education Bill (07/14/21)

On July 14, CGS joined a community letter supporting the House Appropriations Committee's legislation that provides FY 2022 funding for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.

CGS Joins Letter of Support for International and Foreign Language Studies (06/28/21)

On June 28, CGS joined the Coalition for International Education on a letter to the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee recommending Fiscal Year 2022 funding for HEA-Title VI and Fulbright-Hays programs.

CGS Joins Community Requests for FY22 Appropriations to Fund Higher Education Programs (06/11/21)

On June 11, CGS joined the higher education community on a letter to House Appropriators requesting fiscal year (FY) 2022 funding for programs of interest to graduate education and research, including $35 million for Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need.

CGS Joins Letter of Support for International Education and Foreign Language Studies (05/12/21)

On May 12, CGS joined the Coalition for International Education on a letter to the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee supporting Fiscal Year 2022 funding for HEA-Title VI and Fulbright-Hays programs.

CGS Joins Request for $1.51B for HRSA in FY22

On March 31, CGS joined a community letter urging Congress to provide $1.51 billion for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing workforce development programs for FY 2022.

CGS Joins Request $35 Million for GAANN in FY 2022 Appropriations (3/17/21)

On March 17, CGS joined the Student Aid Alliance on a FY 2022 appropriations request letter to Congress, including $35 million for the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) program.

Advocacy Opportunity: Send a FY22 Appropriations Request to Your Member of Congress

This resource is available to assist CGS members in submitting appropriations requests to their Members of Congress for programs of importance to graduate education and research. Supplemental resources, including a guide to submitting a request form and a sample form letter, are available here. 

House of Representatives Appropriations Committee Website

Senate Appropriations Committee Website

On February 10, the Trump Administration released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Budget proposal outlining federal funding priorities. “We are troubled by the direction the Administration’s budget takes with respect to certain programs that support graduate education, research, and scholarship,” said Suzanne T. Ortega, president of the Council of Graduate Schools. “The national agenda requires strengthened investments that will propel the country’s academic and innovative success. Unfortunately, the proposal calls for scaling back or complete elimination of federal support that promotes access to graduate education, bolsters the research enterprise, and augments scholarship for a variety of disciplines within STEM and the arts and humanities.”

The budget would eliminate the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need, the Fulbright-Hays program, and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. It would also eliminate the National Endowment for the Humanities.  Additionally, new annual and lifetime limits would be placed on graduate student borrowing, which has the potential to disenfranchise some students from being able to finance their education.  Cuts to several agencies that provide research grants to CGS institutions, including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy, and others, would stymie innovations that impact technology, public health, and national security.

CGS is committed to working in a bipartisan fashion with House and Senate appropriators in the coming months to ensure that graduate education and research receive strong investments in FY 2021.

On January 31, the Trump Administration announced that it would be placing travel restrictions on six additional countries. This presidential proclamation expands upon the administration’s 2017 “travel ban” to now include Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Sudan, and Tanzania. Executive Order 13780 will impose restrictions on immigrants from these countries traveling to the United States effective February 21, 2020. It should be noted that the scope of the restrictions is country specific. Non-immigrant visas, including student visas and H-1B worker visas are not expected to be restricted, however CGS is concerned about the consequences a policy of this nature creates. 

“While the U.S. must remain diligent in safeguarding national security, instituting a policy such as the expanded travel ban undoubtedly challenges our ability as a nation to provide a welcoming environment that embraces our international graduate student community,” said Suzanne T. Ortega, president of the Council of Graduate Schools. “Talented individuals from across the globe are significant contributors to our country’s intellectual and economic success, and it is imperative that their contributions are recognized and valued. We should provide a stable and supportive environment, not one in which the goal posts may move in an untoward direction with little notice.”

According to CGS data, there were over 84,000 international first-time enrollees in graduate programs at CGS member institutions in Fall of 2018. CGS issued a statement in January 2017 in response to the White House’s issuance of the travel ban and in March 2017 following a revision to the Executive Order.

On January 28, CGS submitted comments to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy in response to a Request for Information (RFI) regarding actions federal agencies can take to maximize the quality and effectiveness of the American research environment. CGS addressed several major themes related to graduate education that were outlined in the RFI, including research rigor and integrity, coordinating administrative requirements for research, research security, and safe and inclusive research environments.

On December 19, the Senate passed a pair of spending bills that cleared the House of Representatives two days prior. Totaling approximately $1.4 trillion, the bills are the result of negotiations between House and Senate leadership at the cusp of an impending continuing resolution (CR) deadline. The current CR expires on December 20, giving President Trump a narrow window to sign the spending deal into law. H.R. 1865, which encompasses eight of the twelve appropriations bills, provides funding for major domestic programs, including higher education, research, and scholarship. Its counterpart, H.R. 1158, includes support for other programs and agencies of interest, particularly with regard to federal research funding streams.

“CGS commends both the House and Senate for reaching this agreement, which would not have been possible without bipartisan efforts in both chambers of Congress. The proposed increases for student financial aid for both graduate and undergraduate students is paramount. Equally critical are the increases to several agencies that provide funding for research conducted at our member institutions.” said Suzanne T. Ortega, president of the Council of Graduate Schools.

Visit CGS’s FY 2020 Appropriations Funding Chart to view proposed levels for individual programs. Please note this is updated as information becomes available. Subscribe to CGS’s Washington Insights & Highlights to receive more information about this and other pressing issues.  

On November 5, the Joint Committee on the Research Environment (JCORE) convened a full-day summit bringing together representatives from federal research agencies, academia, industry, and higher education organizations to discuss ways in which the community can promote and improve upon issues related to the research enterprise, including transparency, integrity, coordination, and workload. Kelvin Droegemeier, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, shared his vision for sustaining American leadership through collaboration across our Nation’s multi-sector research environment. CGS's government affairs staff attended on behalf of the association. A summary of the conversations can be accessed here.

On November 5, public comments were submitted by the higher education community in response to the Department of Education’s proposed expansion of foreign gift and contract reporting requirements (Sec. 117, Higher Education Act).