Legislative Update
Dear Colleagues: I would like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Office of the Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs (OGCPA). OGCPA is the University's primary liaison with government at city, state and federal levels as well as its many external constituencies and community organizations. In addition, the OGCPA assists Penn's internal constituencies composed of schools, and varied groups or individuals including faculty, students and staff. The OGCPA also functions to develop and present policy options and initiatives. OGCPA is comprised of the offices of Federal Relations, Commonwealth Relations, City and Community Relations, and the Center for Community Partnerships. The Government Relations and Community Affairs offices of the University of Pennsylvania Health System report to OGCPA as well as the health system. In addition, the Managing Director of Economic Development co-reports to OGCPA and the office of the Executive Vice President. Because of the extensive nature of the office's activities on behalf of the university, starting this month we will begin to update you monthly in Almanac on different issues facing us at the federal, state, and local levels. We hope that this information will help keep you abreast of the many issues facing this University and provide you with a better understanding of the functions of our office. Should you be in need of our assistance or would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact my Executive Director, Carol J. de Fries, at (215) 898-5453. You can also keep abreast of the numerous issues which our office monitors by visiting our website at www.upenn.edu/ogcpa. --Carol R. Scheman, Vice President for Government, Community, and Public Affairs |
Government, Community and Public Affairs
Federal Relations
Congress reconvenes on January 24, 2000. We are pleased to report that in its first session, the 106th Congress increased funding for research at universities, including the University of Pennsylvania. Last year Penn's faculty received $320 million to fund federally-sponsored research projects, and this year it is expected that the University's federal funding for research will increase to over $350 million, an increase of 9 percent. Last year Penn ranked eighth in the nation in federally-funded research. There are a number of federal funding sources and programs critical to Penn's continued academic excellence which were increased in the omnibus appropriations bill 106-113 and were signed into law by the President on November 29, 1999. This includes:
The National Institutes of Health funding was increased by $2.3 billion for a total of $17.9 billion. The National Science Foundation is now funded at $3.9 billion, an increase of about 7 percent. The Department of Energy's R&D budget was increased to $7.2 billion, or 3.7 percent. Defense research is funded at the level of $37.6 billion, an increase of 2.3 percent. The National Endowment for the Humanities is funded at $115.7 million, an increase of $5 million. The National Endowment for the Arts is funded at $98 million. The President has announced his intention to propose further increases in research funding. Total funding of $35.6 billion is provided for education--an overall increase of about $2.1 billion. The Pell Grant program is funded at $7.7 billion, with a maximum individual grant of $3,300. The Federal Work Study Program receives $934 million, an increase of $64 million. Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants will be funded at $621 million.
Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) program is funded at $51 million, with $20 million going toward the Javits program. Javits Fellowships are funded at $10 million for FY2000 and $10 million for FY2001.
Should you have any questions regarding this or any other federal programs, please feel free to contact Lawrence J. Bertuola, Associate Director or Melissa Peerless, Associate Director at (215) 898-1532.
Commonwealth Relations
This is an active time in the University's Office of Commonwealth Relations. In early February, the Governor will submit his budget recommendations for FY 2000-01 which starts the appropriations process with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's legislature.
Last year, the University of Pennsylvania received close to $38 million in state appropriations. In September, the University's Fiscal Year Commonwealth appropriations request was submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. For FY 2000-01, the University requested a total of $41,793,000 in funding, a 10.7 percent increase overall and a 6.7 percent increase on recurring items. The funding request is broken down as follows:
| FY 1999-00 | FY 2000-01 Request | FY 2000-01 % Increase | |
| Veterinary Activities | 32,276,000 | 33,713,000 | 4.5 |
| Center for Infectious Disease Research (Vet) | 0 | 1,500,000 | 100.0 |
| Medical School | 4,034,000 | 4,911,000 | 21.7 |
| Cardiovascular Studies (Med) | 500,000 | 518,000 | 3.6 |
| Dental Clinics | 938,000 | 1,151,000 | 22.7 |
| Total | 37,748,000 | 41,793,000 | 10.7 |
The School of Veterinary Medicine's growth includes an inflationary increase of 3.5% plus $308,000 to provide additional scholarships to Pennsylvania residents. In addition, a new line item of $1.5 million is being requested by the Vet School to expand its continuing efforts in the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Food Safety.
The request of $4.9 million for the Medical School represents an attempt to bring the School's funding back to FY '97 levels (when the appropriations was cut by $246,000), plus an inflationary increase. The $1.2 million request for the Dental Clinics would bring their funding to the level being provided to the other Dental School Clinics in Pennsylvania (Pitt and Temple), plus an inflationary increase.
Following the Governor's presentation, House and Senate Appropriations Committees will hold budget hearings in late February and early March. At that time, the University will be asked to testify before the House Appropriations Committee regarding its appropriation request.
Following budget hearings, budget bills will be introduced in the House and/or Senate. The General Appropriations (GA) Bill contains funding for all departments and agencies under the direct control of the state. All appropriations in this bill are called preferred appropriations, and require a simple majority approval of the House and Senate.
In addition to the introduction of the GA Bill, the House and/or Senate will introduce appropriations bills for various educational and charitable organizations. These bills, called non-preferred appropriations, require a Constitutional two-thirds majority vote by the House and Senate. Each institution, including Penn, has a separate bill and is approved separately.
After introduction of the GA and non-preferred bills, the House and Senate will begin the process of consideration and approval of these bills. Bills may be amended during this process, both in committee and on the floor. Final approval of these bills will occur sometime before July 1, 2000, the beginning of the new fiscal year.
Please feel free to contact Paul Cribbins, Assistant Vice President for Commonwealth Relations at (215) 898-6118 for additional information.
City and Community Relations
On January 3, former City Council President John F. Street was sworn in as Philadelphia's 122nd Mayor. The Mayor has placed a priority on education and neighborhood blight and development. He has also declared 2000, the "year of the child."
In November, then Mayor-elect Street named President Rodin as one of five members of his transition team. This core group of Street Administration transition leaders is helping to guide the Mayor in the development of his Administration and vision for the City. This appointment demonstrates the importance that Mayor Street places on the value of higher education to the future of Philadelphia's growth. Many Penn experts, employees, and students are helping guide the new administration in the development of his agenda. In particular, Glenn Bryan, Director of City and Community Relations is one of the co-chairs of the Quality of Life sub-committee under the Neighborhood Revitalization Task Force. This subcommittee is addressing issues like safety and community control, streetscapes, bike lanes, civil society, and essential and affordable services. Other university faculty and staff involved in the transition include: John Fry, Executive Vice President; Jack Shannon, Economic Development; Lawrence Sherman, Fels Center of Government; Ira Harkavy, Center for Community Partnerships; Nancy Hornberger, GSE; Linda Aiken, Nursing; Marla Davis, UPHS Community Affairs; Lee Nunery, Business Services; Omar Blaik, Facility Services; Anita Summers, Wharton; Ken Shropshire, Wharton; GSFA Dean Gary Hack; Maureen Rush, Public Safety; Dennis Culhane, SSW; GSE Dean Susan Fuhrman, and many others.
With the change in administration, the office will be busy getting to know new Street appointments including George Burrell, Director of External Affairs and a Penn alumnus; Ken Snyder, Director of Communications; Barbara Grant, Press Secretary and a Penn alumna; Debra Kahn, Secretary of Education; and Joyce Wilkerson, Deputy for Strategic Planning. In addition, the office looks forward to working with former Rendell appointees in their new capacities within the Street Administration including Stephanie Franklin-Suber, former City-Solicitor and now Chief of Staff, and Joe Martz, former Deputy Managing Director and now Managing Director.
For further information regarding city and community relations, you may contact Glenn Bryan, Assistant to the Vice President and Director of City and Community Relations, at (215) 898-3565.
Almanac, Vol. 46, No. 18, January 25, 2000