Legislative & Regulatory Priorities
The Federal Relations team regularly advocates for the 萝莉社视 system's non-appropriations related legislative priorities.
Below, please find a list of key issues for the 萝莉社视 system during the 119th Congress (not in any priority order).
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
The NDAA authorizes, does not appropriate, funding for defense research programs and establishes policies at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) among other federal agencies. In recent years, the NDAA has also included numerous research security provisions of importance to the 萝莉社视 system. The Federal Relations team advocates for robust funding authorizations of defense research programs and for minimizing additional administrative burdens on faculty and researchers.
You can find information about the status of the current year's NDAA and prior year's bills on the in the folder.
Higher Education Issues
Higher Education Act (HEA): While Congress is not likely to reauthorize the HEA in the near future, the 萝莉社视 system is working to advance our higher education priorities in the legislative and regulatory spaces. Specifically, the Federal Relations team is working to advocate for legislation to authorize short-term Pell Grants and other federal policies to support student financial aid for workforce development. We also regularly advocate for robust funding for the Pell Grant program.
Student Financial Aid: Federal funding for student financial aid is critical for Alaskans to receive a world-class education. In many cases, despite the 萝莉社视 system being more affordable than going to an institution in the lower 48, many Alaska students would not be able to attend college without federal student aid. In the 2022-2023 aid year, more than 4,100 萝莉社视 system students received funding from the Federal Pell Grant program, and 1,200 received funding from the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program. We continuously advocate for robust appropriations for federal student aid programs such as the Pell Grant and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants program, among other federal student aid programs.
Workforce/short-term Pell Grants: The 萝莉社视 system is by far the largest workforce development provider in the State of Alaska. We offer more than 200 programs in workforce development, from non-credit industry certification to advanced degrees. Currently, higher education programs that provide certificates or other short-term credentials designed to address immediate workforce development needs are not eligible to receive Pell Grants.
萝莉社视 supports expanding Pell Grant eligibility to workforce development programs, which will enable more Alaskans to earn credentials and further help the 萝莉社视 system work to meet the workforce needs of Alaska鈥檚 industries.
You can find information about higher education issues of importance to the 萝莉社视 system on the in the folder.
Research and Development (R&D) Funding
Each year, the 萝莉社视 system attracts millions of dollars in R&D funding to Alaska that supports our economy and generates knowledge for future economic growth in the state. Fueled by federal investment, 萝莉社视 system research supports approximately 1,600 Alaskan jobs and generates more than $242 million in annual economic impact. Institutions of higher education, led by the 萝莉社视 system, conduct more R&D in Alaska than the entire business sector combined. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the largest sponsor of 萝莉社视 system research, accounting for 21% of all R&D . The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is the second largest sponsor of 萝莉社视 system research, accounting for 18% of all R&D. The Federal Relations Team actively advocates for continued funding for research programs at these and other federal agencies.
National Strategy for Domestic Critical Mineral Production Legislation
While certain federal agencies have strategies related to critical minerals, there is no national federal government-wide strategy to increase critical minerals production in the United States. Having coordination across federal agencies for extracting domestic minerals will be critical in reducing our reliance on such supplies from other countries. Summits organized by 萝莉社视 President Pat Pitney at 萝莉社视F and the showed that a national strategy is necessary to promote domestic production. The federal government regularly produces national strategies to advance unified policies and goals so why does the nation not have one for increasing domestic critical mineral production? The 萝莉社视 system has been actively advocating for legislation to establish a national strategy for domestic critical mineral production in Congress.
Farm Bill & Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNH) Program
Every five years, Congress must pass legislation to establish agriculture policy, renew existing programs before they expire, and provide funding for various farm-related programs in omnibus legislation called the Farm Bill. One of the programs that is set to expire at the end of this Farm Bill is the ANNH program, a competitive grant program to promote and strengthen the ability of eligible colleges and universities to carry out education, applied research, and extension community development projects within the food and agricultural sciences. The program is the only federal program designed to benefit Alaska Natives related to increasing food production, among other agricultural activities. With only Members from Alaska and Hawaii advocating, support for this program from the Alaska Members is critical. We are working to have language included in the Farm Bill to reauthorize the ANNH program, increase funding, and expand the eligible use of existing funds.
Arctic Energy Office (AEO) Legislation
During the first term, the Trump Administration established through executive action the Arctic Energy Office (AEO) within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The mission of AEO is to bring together the assets from across DOE to work together in collaborative and innovative ways to meet the energy, science, and national security needs of the United States and its allies in the Arctic. It is critical that AEO continue its work and have the authority to advance energy needs in Alaska. The best way to accomplish this is for Congress to formally authorize the establishment of AEO. 萝莉社视 is advocating for introducing legislation to formally establish AEO in Congress.
Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire Research Act
The 萝莉社视 system has collaborated with Senator Sullivan鈥檚 office on the introduction of . This legislation would establish regional research centers at institutions of higher education to undertake a variety of research and workforce development activities to support effective wildland fire management and prepare firefighters against evolving risks. The legislation would require the establishment of at least one center in the State of Alaska. The Federal Relations team is continuing to advocate for this legislation in the new Congress in both the House and the Senate.
ANCHOR Act
The 萝莉社视 system collaborated with Senator Sullivan鈥檚 office on the introduction of . This legislation would require NSF to develop a plan to improve the cybersecurity and telecommunications capacities of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. 萝莉社视F鈥檚 College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences operates , which is the only ice-capable ship in the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. While 萝莉社视F operates Sikuliaq under contract from NSF, NSF owns the vessel and should be responsible for its maintenance, including cyber and telecommunications needs. The Federal Relations team is continuing to advocate for this legislation in the new Congress in both the House and the Senate.
Climate Adaptation Science Centers Legislation
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) established the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers to help local communities adapt to a changing climate. As one of the regional centers, 萝莉社视F is home to the Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center (AK CASC). The mission of the AK CASC is to provide regionally relevant science to meet state and federal needs around climate impacts, adaptation, and resilience. The CASCs lack formal authorization from Congress. Without legislative authorization, there is uncertainty surrounding the sustainability of the program, instances of Lower 48 universities attempting to divert resources away from Alaska, and confusion about interagency cooperation. 萝莉社视 actively advocates for the introduction of legislation to formally establish the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers.
Mining Schools Act
was introduced during the 118th Congress. This legislation requires the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program to strengthen domestic mining education, including supporting efforts to recruit and educate the next generation of mining engineers and other qualified professionals to meet the future energy and mineral needs of the United States. The 萝莉社视 system supports passing a version of the Mining Schools Act during the 119th Congress.
University of the Arctic (萝莉社视rctic) Legislation
The University of the Arctic (萝莉社视rctic) was established through the Arctic Council and is a collaboration of eight Arctic nations organized through universities, research centers, and other organizations focused on research and education in and about the North. Membership includes nearly 190 institutions and organizations, including all three 萝莉社视 institutions. Currently, all U.S. university participation in 萝莉社视rctic is internally or privately funded. Federal funding would allow for more student exchanges, increased research proposals, collaborations, field activities, and participation in regional meetings. The national governments of nearly all other nations participating in 萝莉社视rctic contribute financially. The 萝莉社视 system supports legislation to authorize U.S financial assistance for participation in 萝莉社视rctic.