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Advocacy

Past Advocacy Efforts

2009

Education Department Plans to Simplify Financial Aid Application Process
On June 25, 2009, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced plans to streamline and simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the form used by the federal government, states, and most colleges and universities to make financial aid awards to students. Brian Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the Business-Higher Education Forum, responded to the announcement saying, “We are pleased to learn of Secretary Duncan and President Obama’s efforts to simplify the process by which students apply for financial assistance for college. Too many low-income students do not complete the FAFSA because of the form’s complexity, thereby dramatically reducing their chances of financial resources that provide access to and help foster success in college.”

BHEF Supports Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Coordination Act of 2009
BHEF signed on to a letter supporting the passage of the STEM Education Coordination Act, legislation intended to reorganize the current White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to create a standing committee on STEM education with the responsibility to coordinate all federal STEM education programs. This act will help ensure that taxpayer funds are being spent more judiciously on this critical national challenge.  

BHEF Supports the SERVE Act
BHEF signed on to a letter supporting the passage of the SERVE Act , a bill that provides numerous
opportunities through the National Senior Service Corps for experienced STEM professionals to
assist teachers in classroom demonstrations or laboratory experiences, run after-school programs, and provide field trips to businesses and universities.

BHEF outlines key education policy priorities for the Obama Administration.
At BHEF’s February 2009 member meeting, members committed to advancing four education policy priorities that align with the Obama Administration’s education agenda.  These priorities were shared recently with President Obama and Secretary Duncan in letters signed by BHEF Chairman David Skorton (president of Cornell), Vice Chair William Swanson (chairman and CEO of Raytheon) and Executive Director Brian Fitzgerald.  Read the letter to President Obama here (pdf) and the letter to Secretary Duncan here (pdf).

2008

TAP Coalition Sends Letters Advocating STEM Funding
The Tapping America's Potential (TAP) Coalition, of which BHEF is one of 16 member organizations, has recently signed four letters urging for the funding of science and engineering research programs at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Commerce, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education programs. Letters were sent to:

  • The Honorable Alan B. Mollohan and the Honorable Rodney Frelinghuysen of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
  • The Honorable Barbara C. Mikulski and the Honorable Richard C. Shelby of the on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
  • The Honorable Tom Harkin and the Honorable Arlen Specter of the
    Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies
  • The Honorable David Obey and the Honorable James T. Walsh
    of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies

Click on the bullets above to read letters or, for more information about the TAP Coalition, visit www.tap2015.org.

2007

BHEF Advocates for Changes in the Higher Education Act
BHEF, along with more than 30 other organizations, has signed onto a letter encouraging Congress to make specific changes in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, including:        

  • Support for STEM teacher professional development;            
  • Incentives to encourage students to obtain STEM degrees and pursue STEM-related careers;           
  • Expansion of efforts to encourage diversity in the STEM workforce.

Congress Implements Recommendations of An American Imperative
Congress overwhelmingly passed and the President has signed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (H.R. 2669), which implements key recommendations of the Business-Higher Education Forum’s recent report, An American Imperative.

The bill establishes the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program, which will provide up to $4,000 a year to students who agree to serve as full-time teachers for at least four academic years at a high-need school within eight years after completing their degree. This approach is consistent with recommendations in An American Imperative as a way to strengthen teacher recruitment policies in mathematics and science. In order to be awarded the TEACH Grant, recipients must agree teach in math, science, foreign language, bilingual education, or special education. Alternatively, students can agree to serve as a Reading Specialist or teach in another field documented as high-need.

Additionally, the Act increases the maximum Pell Grant scholarship to $5,400 over the next five years, from $4,050, and encourages public service and philanthropic participation through loan forgiveness and grants. The Act would also guarantee new investments in historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally-controlled colleges and universities, and Alaska and Hawaiian native institutions.

BHEF Lauds New America COMPETES Act
On August 9, 2007, President Bush signed into law the America COMPETES Act. This bipartisan, landmark legislation seeks to improve American competitiveness by:

  • A uthorizing a substantial increase in federal investment in research;
  • Increasing federal investment in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education;
  • Establishing large-scale programs for teacher recruitment and retention in math and science. 

BHEF actively supported passage of this legislation, both directly and through its participation in the Tapping America’s Potential (TAP) Coalition and STEM Education Coalition. Its enactment caps years of effort to improve America’s capacity for innovation and advances several key BHEF policy priorities, particularly in the areas of STEM education and strengthening America’s math and science teacher workforce.  

BHEF’s Vice Chair Testifies on Globalization Before House Science and Technology Committee

On July 26, David Skorton, President of Cornell University and BHEF vice chairman, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology. The hearing sought to learn how America’s universities are addressing the challenges of globalization by establishing campuses overseas and preparing their domestic students to compete in the global marketplace. Dr. Skorton shared with committee members Cornell’s efforts and perspectives on the globalization of research, development, and innovation.

BHEF Urges Congress to Strengthen Federal Strategies to Recruit, Retain, and Renew Mathematics and Science Teachers
Warren Baker, President of California Polytechnic State University, and Bill Swanson, Chairman and CEO of Raytheon Company, sent a letter to congressional members on key education and science committees.  The letter called on Congress to invest in strategies that recruit, retain, and renew mathematics and science teachers. The letter also shared the specific federal recommendations from BHEF’s soon to be released report, An American Imperative.  Warren Baker and Bill Swanson co-chair the BHEF initiative “Securing America’s Leadership in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)” working group, which provided key leadership and vision for An American Imperative.