Federal Update for March 30, 2011

UW System President Kevin Reilly and all the Chancellors of the UW System sent a letter to the Wisconsin Congressional delegation on March 28 regarding FY11 funding for research and education.  The letter notes the continuing negotiations on a final FY11 spending package and expresses support for "two areas of the federal budget that have an inordinate impact on our institutions – our faculty, staff and, most importantly, our students – as well as Wisconsin's economy.  Those areas are:  financial aid and scientific research."  The letter urges them to sustain strong federal investment in student financial aid, research, and innovation in FY11, and that they convey the impact that these programs have on our students and institutions to House and Senate leadership as final decisions on FY11 funding are being determined.  The federal government is currently running on a continuing resolution that expires on April 8.

The letter acknowledges that these are extraordinary times stating, "You will be asked to make many difficult decisions regarding federal spending – where to cut federal spending and where to use limited funding dollars more wisely."
 
The letter adds, "We write in strong support of the Pell Grant Program, the Federal TRIO Programs, and the scientific research agencies.  These are sound financial investments for our universities, our state, and our nation, but most of all, our future."