Federal: The Trump administration’s proposed 2018 budget includes major cuts to most executive departments, while defense-related departments would see an increase in allocations. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) faces a 17.9% decrease in funding, from $84.1 billion in 2017 to $69.0 billion in 2018. Federal allocations to the NIH would be reduced…
Category: Legislation
For news about legislative activity relevant to librarianship. Not for news about or from the HSLI Legislative Committee.
Legislative Update 03/06/2017
Federal: ALA and ARL are among 50 organizations that have signed a statement supporting privacy protection of transnational travelers from undue search of personal electronic devices. The American Civil Liberties Union and Electronic Frontier Foundation both report an increase in complaints filed within the past month regarding U.S. border official searches of laptops and smart phones. In a recent…
Legislative Update, 2/13/2017
Federal: The MLA and AAHSL have filed comments in support of the new NLM Strategic Plan, under development in 2017. The new plan includes four central themes: (1) Role of NLM in advancing data science, open science, and biomedical informatics; (2) Role of NLM in advancing biomedical discovery and translational science; (3) Role of the…
Legislative Update 01/25/2017
Federal: FY17 appropriations will proceed through April 28 with the passage of H.R. 2028, the Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act. This bill includes appropriations for the FDA Innovation Account and NIH Innovation Account, as funded by H.R. 34, the 21st Century Cures Act, which was signed into law by President Obama in Dec 2016. Review…
Reminder: ILA Hosting Legislative Meet-Ups in February and Early March
(via Gwen Gregory, IACRL Past President) ILA is sponsoring several Library Legislative Meet-Ups next month. All librarians are encouraged to register and attend. Don’t miss out on this chance to talk to your legislators. You can meet them in person and talk about issues affecting libraries and higher education, including MAP funding and financial support for libraries. Members…
Legislative Update, 1/12/2017
Federal: With presidential administrations poised for turnover, a number of library advocacy issues are on the precipice of change: – support of net neutrality, which the FCC strongly bolstered in 2015 with the adoption of the Open Internet rules, may be weakened or eliminated under the new administration; – championship of privacy, including as it relates to…
First Library Legislative Meet-Up in Chicago to Take Place February 6
(via Gwen Gregory, IACRL Past President) The first Chicago Library Legislative Meet-up will take place on February 6, 2017. Don’t miss out on this chance to talk to your legislators! You can meet them in person and talk about issues affecting libraries and higher education, including education and MAP funding and library support. Members of…
Legislative Update, 12/20/2016
Federal News Want to participate in library advocacy? Be a voice for library funding, privacy & surveillance reform, access to government information, and other issues. National Library Legislative Day 2017 will occur May 1-2 in Washington, D.C. Registration is now open on the ALA website. State News: Here is an Illinois Public Media interview of Dan…
Legislative Update, 12/7/2016
Federal: Rep. Tom Price will be secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services under president-elect Donald Trump. Like Trump, Price has been critical of the Affordable Care Act. Price also favors changes to Medicaid and Medicare. While he made no direct comments regarding policy following his secretarial appointment, Price supports Medicaid being converted…
Legislative Update, 11/23/2016
Federal: With the 2016 U.S. presidential election cycle behind us, we can now look at near-future implications for healthcare legislation. President Elect Donald Trump has vowed to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and has proposed a replacement model that includes Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Information regarding the Trump Administration’s healthcare reform is available at www.greatagain.gov/policy/healthcare.html….