Legislative & Regulatory Priorities
The Federal Relations team regularly advocates for the UA system's non-appropriations related legislative priorities.
Below please find a list of key bills to the UA system during the 118th 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 UA system. The Federal Relations team advocates for robust funding authorizations of defense research programs and to minimize additional administrative burdens and faculty and researchers.
You can find information about the status of the current year's NDAA and prior year's bills on the Federal Relations Shared Drive in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Summaries folder.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization
Congress reauthorizes the authorities, policies and programs of the FAA about every five years. Congress must reauthorize or extend the authorization of the FAA by September 30, 2023. The Federal Relations team is working closely with ACUASI and UAA's CTC among other UA system stakeholders to include legislative priorities in the FAA reauthorization.
You can find information about the status of the FAA Reauthorization on the Federal Relations Shared Drive in the FAA Reauthorization folder.
Farm Bill Reauthorization
Congress reauthorizes the nation's farm and food policies every five years through an omnibus piece of legislation commonly called the Farm Bill. Mostly covering programs and policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Congress must reauthorize or extend the authorization of the Farm Bill by September 30, 2023. The Federal Relations team is working to ensure key agriculture-related programs of importance to the UA system, such as the Alaska Native-Serving and native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program (ANNH), are reauthorized in the Farm Bill.
Higher Education Issues
While Congress is not likely to reauthorize the Higher Education Act (HEA) in the near future, the UA system is working to advance our higher education priorities in the legislative and regulatory spaces. The UA system has led the response to the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) dear colleague letter regarding third-party services and gainful employment proposed regulations. 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.
You can find information about higher education issues of importance to the UA system on the Federal Relations Shared Drive in the Higher Education Policy folder.
Weather Act & NOAA-related Legislation"