UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH for UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
What was lobbied
7 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Defense DEF
In support of collaboration between Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration on research related to the diagnosis and treatment of TBI, PTSD, transplantation, tissue/organ regeneration, prosthetics and other medical issues facing active and retired members of the armed forces.In support of increased funding for health related R&D in all branches of the military. In support of university based military medicine related research.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| KENNETH MICHAEL LYNCH | Associate Director for Federal Relations |
| EUGENIA C STONER | Asst. Vice Chancellor for Federal Relations |
Health Issues HCR
National Institutes of Health - Oppose additional caps and restrictions on Facilities & Administrative (F&A) costs associated with NIH sponsored extramural research. In support of restoring NIH investigator salary cap to Executive Level I. In support of the NIH peer review system and continued support of NIH extramural research funding. In support of Title VII and Title VIII funding in HHS appropriations.National Institutes of Health In support of the replacement of automatic spending reductions known as sequestration because of the harm it would do the biomedical research at the university funded by NIH. Demonstrated how declining federal support for medical research will prevent future breakthroughs and discourage potential researchers from entering the field. Argued that decline in NIH support would disproportionately impact Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In support of increased number of individual grants and higher success rates for investigators.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| KENNETH MICHAEL LYNCH | Associate Director for Federal Relations |
| EUGENIA C STONER | Asst. Vice Chancellor for Federal Relations |
Budget/Appropriations BUD
Advocated for a balanced agreement to replace automatic budget cuts called for by the Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. # 112-25) which would disproportionately harm domestic discretionary programs including academic research and federal student aid. In support of a balanced agreement to prevent budget sequestration, reduce deficit, and create jobs and economic growth.vDefense Appropriations Act Title IV In support of increased funding for Basic and Applied research in all services; funding for Department of Defense Injury Prevention and Performance Optimization Research Initiative in all services. Title VI Adequate funding for Defense Health Related research in all services including TBI and PTSD research. Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Act Dept. of Education increased funding for student financial aid; higher education aid for disadvantaged students including Pell Grants, subsidized student loans and federal work study programs. Department of Education Appropriation -- increased funding for student financial aid; education research; graduate education; and higher education programs for disadvantaged students including Pell Grants. In support of funding for the Department of Education's international education and foreign language studies programs, HEA-Title VI and Fulbright-Hays. Dept of Health and Human Services Title II increased funding for National Institutes of Health (NIH) extramural research programs. In support of Title VII and Title VIII funding. Commerce Justice and Science Appropriations Act advocated for increased funding for National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and NASA related research. Energy and Water Appropriations Act Advocated for increased funding for the Office of Science, Fossil Energy Research and the ARPA-E program. Continued support for the National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL). Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act increased funding for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) under Title II including funding for VHA Medical and Prosthetic Research including transplantation, TBI and PTSD related research.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| KENNETH MICHAEL LYNCH | Associate Director for Federal Relations |
| EUGENIA C STONER | Asst. Vice Chancellor for Federal Relations |
Immigration IMM
Supported proposals that would increase availability of Green cards and visas for advanced degree and STEM field graduates of American Universities. Opposed proposals that would impose burdensome fees and regulations on universities, foreign students and faculty seeking to attend American universities.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| KENNETH MICHAEL LYNCH | Associate Director for Federal Relations |
| EUGENIA C STONER | Asst. Vice Chancellor for Federal Relations |
Energy/Nuclear ENG
Fossil Energy Appropriations. In support of increased funding for the Department of Energy Fossil Energy (FE) budget and support for Oil and Natural Gas Technologies R&D. Support for nuclear energy, energy delivery and reliability and critical materials research.Funding for Fossil Energy Program supports the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) program. Specific activities include Carbon Capture, Carbon Storage, Advanced Energy Systems, and Crosscutting Research
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| KENNETH MICHAEL LYNCH | Associate Director for Federal Relations |
| EUGENIA C STONER | Asst. Vice Chancellor for Federal Relations |
Education EDU
Department of Education Appropriation -- increased funding for student financial aid; education research; graduate education; and higher education programs for disadvantaged students including Pell Grants and Federal Work Study.Federally Student Loan Program -- advocated for a solution to prevent Federally Subsidized Stafford loan interest rates from doubling on July 1, 2013. In favor of a solution that would maintain low interest rates and keep college affordable for low-income students. Higher Education Act Reauthorization made policy recommendations to Congressional offices and Committees on possible reforms as congress begins to consider HEA reauthorization.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| KENNETH MICHAEL LYNCH | Associate Director for Federal Relations |
| EUGENIA C STONER | Asst. Vice Chancellor for Federal Relations |
Science/Technology SCI
In favor of continued support for Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) construction through the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Emphasized the importance of completing the large ground based telescope and its importance on scientific discovery and K-12 STEM education.NSF Increased funding for NSF research. Opposed congressionally imposed restrictions on fields of research eligible to be funded by NSF grants. Opposed legislation that would fundamentally alter the peer-review system in place at NSF and other federal research agencies. Advocated for continued support for the Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute Program. In support of Presidential initiative to fund manufacturing innovation and research initiatives in the Departments/Agencies of Defense, Energy, Commerce, NASA, and the National Science Foundation. Advocated for research universities to play a leading role in any potential institute.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| KENNETH MICHAEL LYNCH | Associate Director for Federal Relations |
| EUGENIA C STONER | Asst. Vice Chancellor for Federal Relations |
Shown as published by the Senate Office of Public Records and the House Clerk under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The official filing is the record; open it for the full form.