FY17 Budget
Bottom line: FY17 discretionary spending is largely frozen at the FY16 level.
The Senate recently approved the FY17 Energy and Water funding bill--its first of the year--setting the stage for consideration on the floor of a combined FY17 appropriations package of Transportation-Housing and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs.
In the House, we expect to see a handful of appropriations bills moving through the process, beginning with Military Construction-Veterans Affairs. Subcommittees are wrestling with Defense and Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bills, both of which fund important research programs.
The fact that Congress is moving appropriations bills is a positive development: negotiated funding bills are generally better for University of Minnesota priorities than extensions of previous funding through a continuing resolution (CR). But the slow start and small number of remaining days in session point to a CR at least through the election, possibly followed by an omnibus appropriations package before the end of December.
Department of Labor Overtime Rules
The Obama administration released its final rule on overtime. The rule raises the salary overtime threshold from $23,660 to $47,476, with an automatic inflation increase every three years. The rule takes effect December 1, 2016.
The University's Human Resources team is analyzing the new rule and will communicate its impact to the University and our employees.
On Campus/In Washington
Congressman Tom Emmer visited the Carlson School to meet with faculty and students in Management 3010: An Introduction to Global Entrepreneurship. The class traveled to Cuba over spring break to study entrepreneurism. Rep. Emmer traveled to Cuba with President Obama and is the author of a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to lift the embargo.
Erin Carlson, professor of chemistry in the College of Science and Engineering, received the President's Early Career Award in Science and Engineering. She attended the award ceremony at the White House and participated in a Science Coalition media event on the importance of federal investment in research.
Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken held a media roundtable with Mike Osterholm (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy), Katie Anderson (Department of Medicine-Internal Medicine), and William Stauffer (Department of Medicine-Infectious Disease) to discuss the Zika virus.
The DC and Minnesota staff of Representative Keith Ellison visited Saint Anthony Falls Lab.
Senator Klobuchar visited the driving simulator at the Center for Transportation Studies and held a news conference with stakeholders to highlight the dangers of distracted driving.
Senator Klobuchar organized a panel of college leaders, students, and business people for a Millennials Forums at the Humphrey School with the chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisors.
Senators Klobuchar and Franken authored a Senate Resolution in honor of the national champion Golden Gopher Women's Hockey Team.
Senator Klobuchar opened a panel discussion at the Humphrey School on foreign policy challenges facing the next U.S. President with China, Russia, the Middle East, and around the world.