The funds that are received from the sale of these plates helps to support a variety of outreach activities in the state. These projects benefit students and faculty who participate in providing the outreach.
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Federal Relations / D.C. Office
Michael A. Waring directs the University of Michigan's Washington, D.C. Office. Located three blocks south of the Capitol, it serves as a liaison between the University and the federal government, public policy makers and national organizations to provide national leadership in matters affecting higher education and research.
The Washington, D.C. Staff directly serves University faculty, staff and students, as well as members of Congress and federal government offices and agencies.
Activities include monitoring legislation of interest to universities; facilitating congressional and administration meetings and issue briefings for UM faculty and staff; providing office space for University people on business in Washington; and serving as a clearinghouse on government activities, places, people and employment opportunities.
Congressional inquiries are handled concerning the University's academic and research activities and its views on pending legislation.
The Federal Report
May 2012
Reporting about several issues being tracked by the U-M Federal Relations team:
COLEMAN, LEVIN HIGHLIGHT U-M CONGRESSIONAL BREAKFAST
U-M President Mary Sue Coleman and U. S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) were the featured speakers at this year’s U-M Congressional Breakfast on March 28th.
In her speech, Coleman talked about the efforts at U-M to keep college affordable and accessible. Coleman discussed the impact of state funding cuts over the past ten years, citing a drop from $359 million in 2002 to just $268 million this year. She said she believes higher education nationally and in Michigan is in “crisis,” and said the situation requires bold action by all players in the college funding equation, including the state and federal governments, as well as alumni donors and corporate partners. She also said the university is doing its part to cut costs.
“Since 2003, we have cut general funding annual recurring costs by $235 million and are now working to identify $1209 million more in savings by 2017,” Coleman said. “We are committed to affordable education because all of us – not just students – benefit from an educated citizenry. It is our greatest contribution to society.”
In his keynote address, Levin said state support is “essential to keeping college affordable for all students, especially low-income students,” and said the federal government has an important role to play.
“That’s why we in Congress need to ensure that federal student aid programs are adequately funded,” Levin said. “Without robust funding for Pell grants and loans, students in Michigan and across the country will be shut out from college.”
Levin also said stem cell research conducted at Michigan and other research universities is critical to helping find cures for diseases such as cancer.
Over 300 people attended the event, which was sponsored by the U-M Club of Greater Washington, DC.
CONGRESS BEGINS APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS
In mid-April, both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees began to mark up various bills to fund the government for FY 2013.
Activity began on the Commerce-Justice-Science bills, which fund such agencies as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and NASA. Preliminary numbers showed increases in support for NSF. Action also began on Energy and Water Appropriations, including the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, which saw a proposed cut in its funding.
The work on appropriations followed the House approval of a budget that called for reducing spending $19 billion below the $1.05 trillion level negotiated with the Senate last year. The Senate intends to keep that level as it works on its appropriations, leaving the final numbers to be worked out later this year, and will not vote on its own budget for 2013.
The U-M Washington Office is actively working on the relevant bills as they come forward to urge strong and sustainable funding for research and student aid.
SEQUESTRATION CONCERNS
Under the Budget Control Act passed last year, massive and across-the-board budget cuts will be felt across the federal budget in January unless Congress takes steps before then to avert them. The only way to avoid these cuts is for legislation to pass that would find $1.2 trillion in spending reductions over the next ten years.
After the collapse of the negotiations of the so-called “Super Committee” last fall, attention has increased on what Congress and the President must do before year’s end to avoid the cuts. The House recently voted on legislation that would put the onus for cuts on domestic programs such as Food Stamps, a move that the Senate will not support. By the same token, President Obama’s budget director told Congress that Obama will not sign any legislation avoiding sequestration unless it goes beyond merely cutting discretionary spending. Fears of major cuts to defense programs are also getting much attention as the Pentagon predicts huge layoffs and concerns about its ability to adequately defend the nation.
Higher education presidents and chancellors, including U-M’s Mary Sue Coleman, wrote to Congress and the President last summer urging a broad-based approach that includes some spending cuts but also major overhauls of entitlement programs and revenue raisers. As debate intensifies on this major challenge facing policymakers, U-M will continue to push for the broader approach in order to help balance the budget while maintaining important support for research and education, which are key to economic and national security.
U-M WASHINGTON OFFICE
Mike Waring, Executive Director of Federal Relations
Cindy Bank, Assistant Director, Washington Office
Madeleine St. Denis, Government Relations Associate
499 S. Capitol Street, SW, Suite 501
Washington, DC 20003
202-554-0578 (p)
202-554-0582 (f)
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