There's good news for higher education in the proposed budget being hammered out by Congress, according to a Duke University official.
"While the budget deal announced by congressional leaders doesn't lay out the specific amounts of money set aside for individual federal agencies, it does increase the overall pool of money, and some of that might be available for higher education and research," said Chris Simmons, associate vice president in Duke's Office of Federal Relations.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., announced the spending deal Tuesday night, which the House is slated to vote on Thursday. President Barack Obama has endorsed the plan.
Among the highlights, the deal would replace the $63 billion in automatic spending cuts set to occur this budget year and the next one with spending reductions and fee increases.
"Although it doesn't fully replace the cuts put in place by sequestration," Simmons said, "the proposal does provide some relief over the next two years, which is good news for higher ed. But this deal is just a framework -- the final spending package for the fiscal year will determine how the overall increase will impact funding for campus-based student aid programs and research agencies."
More info: https://federalrelations.duke.edu/dc-digest-federal-budget-deal-update/