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Good afternoon,

The goal of this email is to provide a regular source of useful information to staff and faculty of the ÎçÒ¹Ó°Ôº System regarding the federal government and higher education. We have put together a list of news articles that will keep you informed of the actions taken by the executive, legislative, and judicial branch of government. These articles are meant to be informative and are not a reflection of the views or stance of the system regarding these issues. 

If you would like more information regarding any of the stories we share, or if you have any suggestions, please feel free to contact Dusty Schnieders and/or Emily Lucas .

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Capitol Hill News

Inside Higher Ed – September 12, 2024
After years of stalled attempts to pass federal anti-hazing legislation, a bill that would require colleges and universities to report such incidents cleared a key committee Wednesday, paving the way for a vote on the House floor. Nearly all present lawmakers on the House Education and Workforce Committee voted to advance the bipartisan . This is the first time a bill aimed at preventing hazing in higher education has passed out of committee, and advocates are hopeful that the legislation will become law.

National Review – September 11, 2024
A coalition of conservative groups are asking senators to swiftly pass two bipartisan bills meant to protect intellectual property rights and promote American innovation. The 35 conservative groups are sending a letter to Senate Intellectual Property Subcommittee chairman Chris Coons (D., Del.) and ranking member Thom Tillis (R., N.C.), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urging the committee to pass bipartisan legislation meant to end abuses to the patent challenge system and clarify legal standards for patent claims, National Review has learned. The two bills in question are Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership (PREVAIL) Act and the Patent Eligibility Restoration (PERA) Act, two bills Coons and Tillis have introduced along with bipartisan House colleagues. The Senate Judiciary Committee is planning to mark-up three intellectual property related bills on Thursday, Sept. 19th.

• The would reform the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), a legal body used for patent litigation, to prevent excessive patent-related lawsuits and ensure the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is sufficiently funded. The bill contains provisions to require legal standing for patent challenges, prevent duplicative, excessive patent lawsuits, and clarify the legal standard the board uses to adjudicate patent disputes.
• The resolves the confusing and overly vague patent eligibility standards created by court rulings and various statutes. The legislation would reduce uncertainty for American innovators and business owners when developing new technologies in fields such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology.

Federal News

Federal Register – September 12, 2024
The Department of Energy's Office of Critical and Emerging Technologies (CET) seeks public comment to inform how DOE and its 17 national laboratories can leverage existing assets to provide a national AI capability for the public interest.

2024 Congressional Calendar

Tentative 2024 congressional calendar below, subject to change.