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GOP tax bill advances; would impose large tax burden on graduate students

The Republicans' Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has advanced from the House Ways and Means Committee, and it is scheduled to be considered by the full House of Representatives this Thursday, November 16. The bill includes massive tax cuts for the wealthy, while substantially increasing the deficit and, and increasing the tax burden for many middle-income earners. In an attempt to reduce the deficits created by the tax cuts proposed by House Republicans, the tax bill also makes tuition payments by colleges and universities taxable as federal income. As tuition at research institutions is generally higher than typical graduate student stipends, this would dramatically increase students' tax bills, by up to $10,000, potentially quadrupling tax bills for students at private universities. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has opposed this measure on the grounds that the tax would discourage enrollment in graduate programs, shrinking and weakening the STEM workforce in the United States.

USDA withdraws revised biotechnology regulation plan

On November 6, the United States Department of Agriculture canceled plans to revise its regulatory procedures for genetically engineered crops. Current regulations require a review before approving an agricultural product for sale if its genetic modification process used bacteria (Agrobacterium) as a vector to introduce novel genes. This process has increasingly been replaced by gene-editing technologies like CRISPR, which are more accurate and do not require bacteria. However, the USDA proposal also included more extensive general risk assessment before determining how to regulate bioengineered plants, a change which was opposed by industry, academic researchers, and both Democratic and Republican members of the House Committee on Agriculture. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue stated that the USDA will now consult with stakeholders to develop a new plan.

Highlights of congressional committee activity this week

  • The full House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology has scheduled markups of seven bills for this Wednesday, November 15.
  • Also on November 15, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will consider legislation authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to establish and administer oil and gas exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This legislation was proposed via the reconciliation process, allowing Republicans to bypass the filibuster by linking it to the budget resolution for FY18.

Quick takes

  • President Trump has nominated former pharmaceutical company executive Alex Azar to replace Tom Price as HHS Secretary.
  • Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) has introduced a bill that would require NSF to report on the lost potential of unfunded grants.
  • Breaking with tradition, the White House will not hold an event for the eight American Nobel laureates this year.
  • Even Senate Republicans are upset with Trump's choice of an industry scientist to head the EPA's chemical safety office.
  • A group of higher education societies sent a letter to EPA administrator Scott Pruitt opposing his ban on EPA-funded scientists serving on EPA science advisory boards. AAAS has also issued a statement opposing Pruitt's actions.

Have comments or something to add? Contact the RISE Stronger Science & Technology Policy Working Group at [email protected].

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