President Signs CR Through December 11, COVID Stimulus Stalls, Again

October 8, 2020

The federal government is operating under a continuing resolution (CR) that extends fiscal year (FY) 2020 government funding levels through December 11. The President signed the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 (H.R. 8337) into law early on October 1, following the Senate having passed the CR by a vote of 84-10 on Sept. 30, and the bill’s passage in the House of Representatives on Sept. 22 by a vote of 359-57 . The CR does not include additional funds for the

DHS Seeks Comments on Rule to Restrict Student Visas

October 8, 2020

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on September 25, adding to the list of the administration’s efforts to limit international students’ ability to pursue an education in the United States. The rule aims to restrict visas for international students – F (student), J (exchange), and I (foreign media) – by establishing a fixed time period of admission that was previously the duration of a student’s degree program.

White House Issues Memo Limiting Federal Agency Training on Diversity

September 24, 2020

The White House Office of Management and Budget issued a memorandum on Sept. 4 directing federal agencies to halt any spending on employee training involving “critical race theory,” concepts such as “white privilege,” or the idea the U.S. is an “inherently racist or evil country.” The memo claims that “millions” have been spent on sessions the Trump administration deems tantamount to “divisive, anti-American propaganda.”

The document

Continuing Resolution Passed in the House, Research Relief Prospects are Hopeful

September 24, 2020

On Tuesday night, after a long day of partisan disagreement around farm aid, nutrition assistance, and timeline, the House voted 359 to 57 to approve a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open until December 11, 2020.

According to the bill summary, the CR would appropriate funding at levels provided in FY 2020, extend the availability of funding for certain multiyear research grants that were interrupted by COVID-19, and expire on