Issues lobbied + lobbyists (8)
BUD — Budget/Appropriations
Issues related to FY 2027 appropriations for science and engineering research and education at agencies including NIH, DOD, DOE, ED (research, such as IES, and federal student aid including Pell Grants and campus-based aid programs), NSF, NASA, NEH and Title VIII nursing workforce development programs H.R. 7148, the FY2026 Consolidated Defense, LHHSED, Nat. Sec.-State, THUD, FSGG Approps. Act - provisions related to funding for basic and applied research (6.1-6.3) including Defense-Wide basic research initiatives and funding at DARPA; provisions related to research programs within Army Futures Command; provisions related to dependable AI for national security; NIH, federal student aid programs (including Pell Grants, work-study and SEOG), international education programs, the Institute of Education Sciences (and National Center for Special Education Research), and Title VIII nursing workforce programs and support for academic nursing; and facilities and administrative research costs H.R. 6938, the FY2026 Consolidated CJS, Energy & Water, Interior Appropriations Act - provisions related to funding for NSF and NASA (including Science, Space Technology, and STEM Education); Dept. of Energys Office of Science and ARPA-E; language related to independent review and applied research for cleanup decision-making; the National Endowment for the Humanities; and facilities and administrative research costs H.R. xxxx/S. xxxx, the FY 2027 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations bill - provisions related to funding for NSF and NASA (including Science, Space Technology, and STEM Education) H.R. xxxx /S. xxxx, the FY 2027 Defense Appropriations bill - provisions related to funding for basic and applied research (6.1-6.3) including Defense-Wide basic research initiatives and funding at DARPA; provisions related to URIs and MURIs; provisions related to research programs within Army ; provisions related to dependable AI for national security; provisions related to quantum technology H.R. xxxx /S. xxxx, the FY 2027 Energy-Water Appropriations bill - provisions related to funding for the Dept. of Energys Office of Science and ARPA-E; language related to independent review and applied research for cleanup decision-making H.R. xxxx /S. xxxx, the FY 2027 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Act - provisions related to funding for NIH, federal student aid programs (including Pell Grants, work-study and SEOG), the Institute of Education Sciences (and National Center for Special Education Research), and Title VIII nursing workforce programs and support for academic nursing H.R. xxxx /S. xxxx, the FY 2027 Interior Appropriations Act - provisions related to funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities H.R. xxxx/S. xxxx, the FY 2027 Transportation-HUD Appropriations Act - provisions related to community funding project requests H.R. xxxx/S. xxxx, the FY 2027 Financial Services-General Government Appropriations Act - provisions related to facilities and administrative research costs and the FAIR model
Lobbyists:- CHRISTINA WEST — covered position: Associate V/C, Vanderbilt University Federal Relations
- HEATHER BLOEMHARD — covered position: Director, Vanderbilt University Federal Relations
Government entities lobbied: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE
DEF — Defense
General issues related to funding for DOD basic 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 research and DARPA in FY 2026 and FY 2027 H.R. 7148, the FY2026 Consolidated Defense, LHHSED, Nat. Sec.-State, THUD, FSGG Approps. Act - provisions related to funding for basic and applied research (6.1-6.3) including Defense-Wide basic research initiatives and funding at DARPA; provisions related to research programs within Army Futures Command; and provisions related to dependable AI for national security H.R. xxxx /S. xxxx, the FY 2027 Defense Appropriations bill - provisions related to funding for basic and applied research (6.1-6.3) including Defense-Wide basic research initiatives and funding at DARPA; provisions related to URIs and MURIs; provisions related to research programs within Army Futures Command; provisions related to dependable AI for national security; provisions related to quantum technology H.R. xxxx /S. xxxx, the FY 2027 National Defense Authorization Act - provisions related to defense S&T basic and applied research (6.1-6.3); research security; research programs within Army basic research; provisions related to quantum technology General issues related to research security at DOD General issues related to research partnerships with the Pathfinder program General issues related to national security, AI, and the cybersecurity workforce General issues related to funding for quantum research Issues related to DOW academic partnerships
Lobbyists:- CHRISTINA WEST — covered position: Associate V/C, Vanderbilt University Federal Relations
- HEATHER BLOEMHARD — covered position: Director, Vanderbilt University Federal Relations
Government entities lobbied: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE
EDU — Education
H.R. 7148, the FY2026 Consolidated Defense, LHHSED, Nat. Sec.-State, THUD, FSGG Approps. Act - provisions related to funding for federal student aid programs (including Pell Grants, work-study and SEOG), international education programs, the Institute of Education Sciences (and National Center for Special Education Research), and Title VIII nursing workforce programs and support for academic nursing; and facilities and administrative research costs H.R. 6938, the FY2026 Consolidated CJS, Energy & Water, Interior Appropriations Act - provisions related to funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities H.R. xxxx /S. xxxx, the FY 2027 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Act - provisions related to funding for federal student aid programs (including Pell Grants, work-study and SEOG), the Institute of Education Sciences (and National Center for Special Education Research), and Title VIII nursing workforce programs and support for academic nursing H.R. xxxx /S. xxxx, the FY 2027 Interior Appropriations Act - provisions related to funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities H.R. 4312, the SCORE Act - provisions related to college athletics, academic and mental health support, federal preemption of state law, employment status of student athletes, and NIL H.R. 6718, the Professional Student Degree Act - provisions which would expand the list of professional programs H.R. 6574, the Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals Act - provisions which would adjust the annual and aggregate loan limits for graduate and professional students General issues related to the value of higher education General issues related to accreditation General issues related to federal student loan programs including changes to graduate student borrowing including graduate versus professional program borrowing limits and definition of professional programs for the purposes of federal loan limits; origination fees for loans General issues around college athletics, including potential federal legislation related to name/image/likeness for student-athletes, employment status of student-athletes, regulation of agents, funding of college athletics, and the future of college athletics General issues related to IES and education research; IES structure and infrastructure, contracts and grants process General issues related to IPEDS data collection General issues related to pricing transparency, value of higher education, and financial aid award offers Issues related to DOW academic partnerships General issues related to Sec. 117 foreign gift and contract reporting General issues related to federal student aid programs, including the Pell Grant and projected shortfall General issues related to accountability metrics
Lobbyists:- CHRISTINA WEST — covered position: Associate V/C, Vanderbilt University Federal Relations
- HEATHER BLOEMHARD — covered position: Director, Vanderbilt University Federal Relations
Government entities lobbied: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of Policy Development; SENATE
IMM — Immigration
Issues related to duration of status for international students Issues related to changes in the H-1B visa program, including changes to the lottery and fees General issues related to potential changes to OPT and STEM OPT General issues related to international students including enhanced screening and enforcement, visa policy changes, prevailing wages
Lobbyists:- CHRISTINA WEST — covered position: Associate V/C, Vanderbilt University Federal Relations
- HEATHER BLOEMHARD — covered position: Director, Vanderbilt University Federal Relations
Government entities lobbied: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE
MED — Medical/Disease Research/Clinical Labs
H.R. 7148, the FY2026 Consolidated Defense, LHHSED, Nat. Sec.-State, THUD, FSGG Approps. Act - provisions related to funding for NIH and facilities and administrative research costs H.R. xxxx /S. xxxx, the FY 2027 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Act - provisions related to funding for the National Institutes of Health General issues related to the outlook for NIH grants and grants policies in FY 2026, including forward funding of grants and support for early career researchers General issues related to the outlook for NIH funding and support in FY 2027 Issues related to proposals to cap F&A research cost reimbursements and implement the FAIR model for research cost reimbursements
Lobbyists:- CHRISTINA WEST — covered position: Associate V/C, Vanderbilt University Federal Relations
- HEATHER BLOEMHARD — covered position: Director, Vanderbilt University Federal Relations
Government entities lobbied: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE
SCI — Science/Technology
General provisions related to science and engineering research at NSF, DOE, DOD, NASA, NIH, and IES in FY 2027 H.R. 7148, the FY2026 Consolidated Defense, LHHSED, Nat. Sec.-State, THUD, FSGG Approps. Act - provisions related to funding for basic and applied research (6.1-6.3) including Defense-Wide basic research initiatives and funding at DARPA; provisions related to research programs within Army Futures Command; provisions related to dependable AI for national security; NIH, the Institute of Education Sciences (and National Center for Special Education Research), and facilities and administrative research costs H.R. 6938, the FY2026 Consolidated CJS, Energy & Water, Interior Appropriations Act - provisions related to funding for NSF and NASA (including Science, Space Technology, and STEM Education); Dept. of Energys Office of Science and ARPA-E; language related to independent review and applied research for cleanup decision-making; the National Endowment for the Humanities; and facilities and administrative research costs H.R. xxxx /S. xxxx, the FY 2027 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations bill - provisions related to funding for NSF and NASA (including Science, Space Technology, and STEM Education) H.R. xxxx /S. xxxx, the FY 2027 Defense Appropriations bill - provisions related to funding for basic and applied research (6.1-6.3) including Defense-Wide basic research initiatives and funding at DARPA; provisions related to URIs and MURIs; provisions related to research programs within Army; provisions related to dependable AI for national security; provisions related to quantum technology H.R. xxxx /S. xxxx, the FY 2027 Energy-Water Appropriations bill - provisions related to funding for the Dept. of Energys Office of Science, ARPA-E, and language related to independent review and applied research for cleanup decision-making H.R. xxxx /S. xxxx, the FY 2027 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Act - provisions related to funding for the National Institutes of Health, and the Institute of Education Sciences (and National Center for Special Education Research) H.R. xxxx /S. xxxx, the FY 2027 National Defense Authorization Act - provisions related to defense S&T basic and applied research (6.1-6.3); research security; research programs within Army; provisions related to quantum technology H.R. xxxx/S. xxxx, the FY 2027 Financial Services-General Government Appropriations Act - provisions related to facilities and administrative research costs and the FAIR model H.R. 5100/S. 853, INNOVATE Act - provisions related to SBIR/STTR reauthorization S. 3597, the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act - provisions related to NSF, NASA, DOE; provisions that might impact institutional research priorities S. 3971, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act - provisions that would reauthorize the SBIR/STTR programs H.R. 7273, the NASA Reauthorization Act - provisions related to science and STEM education General issues related to the importance of robust and continued funding for NIH, NSF, DOD, NASA, IES, and DOE Office of Science General issues related to research partnerships with the Army and the Pathfinder program General issues related to research partnerships related to dependable use of AI in national security Issues related to proposals to cap and reform F&A research cost reimbursements at research agencies including NIH, NSF, DOE, and DOD and implement the FAIR model for research cost reimbursements General issues related to IES and education research; IES structure and infrastructure, contracts and grants process General issues related to funding pauses by research agencies General issues related to SBIR/STTR reauthorization General issues related to university patents and tech transfer General issues related to emerging technologies including AI General issues related to processing research grants at agencies including NIH, NSF, IES General issues related to cybersecurity workforce General issues related to AI legislation related to science and innovation General issues related to funding for national security research and workforce development General issues related to NSF, including I-Corps General issues related to DOE Office of Science, including priorities related to Genesis AI, and quantum General issues related to funding for quantum research and reauthorization of the National Quantum Initiative General issues related to federal funding for engineering education and research General issues related to NASA funding for science and STEM education and NASA reauthorization General issues related to grant certifications General issues related to ARPA-E funding priorities General issues related to research security
Lobbyists:- CHRISTINA WEST — covered position: Associate V/C, Vanderbilt University Federal Relations
- HEATHER BLOEMHARD — covered position: Director, Vanderbilt University Federal Relations
Government entities lobbied: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE
TAX — Taxation/Internal Revenue Code
General issues related to tax provisions that impact non-profit organizations and universities General issues related to potential legislative or regulatory modifications to IRC Sec. 4968, the net investment income excise tax, other tax policy proposals related to university endowments
Lobbyists:- CHRISTINA WEST — covered position: Associate V/C, Vanderbilt University Federal Relations
Government entities lobbied: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE
VET — Veterans
Issues related to expanding healthcare partnerships and research with the VA
Lobbyists:- CHRISTINA WEST — covered position: Associate V/C, Vanderbilt University Federal Relations
Government entities lobbied: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)