Legislative & Regulatory Priorities
The Federal Relations team regularly advocates for the UA system's non-appropriations related legislative priorities.
Below, please find a list of key issues for the UA system during the 119th Congress (not in any priority order).
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
The NDAA authorizes, does not appropriate, funding for defense research programs and establishes policies at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) among other federal agencies. In recent years, the NDAA has also included numerous research security provisions of importance to the UA system. The Federal Relations team advocates for robust funding authorizations of defense research programs and for minimizing additional administrative burdens on faculty and researchers.
You can find information about the status of the current year's NDAA and prior year's bills on the Federal Relations Shared Drive in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Summaries folder.
Higher Education Issues
Higher Education Act (HEA): While Congress is not likely to reauthorize the HEA in the near future, the UA system is working to advance our higher education priorities in the legislative and regulatory spaces. Specifically, the Federal Relations team is working to advocate for legislation to authorize short-term Pell Grants and other federal policies to support student financial aid for workforce development. We also regularly advocate for robust funding for the Pell Grant program.
Student Financial Aid: Federal funding for student financial aid is critical for Alaskans to receive a world-class education. In many cases, despite the UA system being more affordable than going to an institution in the lower 48, many Alaska students would not be able to attend college without federal student aid. In the 2022-2023 aid year, more than 4,100 UA system students received funding from the Federal Pell Grant program, and 1,200 received funding from the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program. We continuously advocate for robust appropriations for federal student aid programs such as the Pell Grant and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants program, among other federal student aid programs.
Workforce/short-term Pell Grants: The UA system is by far the largest workforce development provider in the State of Alaska. We offer more than 200 programs in workforce development, from non-credit industry certification to advanced degrees. Currently, higher education programs that provide certificates or other short-term credentials designed to address immediate workforce development needs are not eligible to receive Pell Grants.
UA supports expanding Pell Grant eligibility to workforce development programs, which will enable more Alaskans to earn credentials and further help the UA system work to meet the workforce needs of Alaska’s industries.
You can find information about higher education issues of importance to the UA system on the Federal Relations Shared Drive in the Higher Education Policy folder.
Research and Development (R&D) Funding
Each year, the UA system attracts millions of dollars in R&D funding to Alaska that supports our economy and generates knowledge for future economic growth in the state. Fueled by federal investment, UA system research supports approximately 1,600 Alaskan jobs and generates more than $242 million in annual economic impact. Institutions of higher education, led by the UA system, conduct more R&D in Alaska than the entire business sector combined. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the largest sponsor of UA system research, accounting for 21% of all R&D . The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is the second largest sponsor of UA system research, accounting for 18% of all R&D. The Federal Relations Team actively advocates for continued funding for research programs at these and other federal agencies.
National Strategy for Domestic Critical Mineral Production Legislation
While certain federal agencies have strategies related to critical minerals, there is no national federal government-wide strategy to increase critical minerals production in the United States. Having coordination across federal agencies for extracting domestic minerals will be critical in reducing our reliance on such supplies from other countries. Summits organized by UA President Pat Pitney at UAF and the Wilson Center showed that a national strategy is necessary to promote domestic production. The federal government regularly produces national strategies to advance unified policies and goals so why does the nation not have one for increasing domestic critical mineral production? The UA system has been actively advocating for legislation to establish a national strategy for domestic critical mineral production in Congress.
Farm Bill & Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNH) Program
Every five years, Congress must pass legislation to establish agriculture policy, renew existing programs before they expire, and provide funding for various farm-related programs in omnibus legislation called the Farm Bill. One of the programs that is set to expire at the end of this Farm Bill is the ANNH program, a competitive grant program to promote and strengthen the ability of eligible colleges and universities to carry out education, applied research, and extension community development projects within the food and agricultural sciences. The program is the only federal program designed to benefit Alaska Natives related to increasing food production, among other agricultural activities. With only Members from Alaska and Hawaii advocating, support for this program from the Alaska Members is critical. We are working to have language included in the Farm Bill to reauthorize the ANNH program, increase funding, and expand the eligible use of existing funds.
Arctic Energy Office (AEO) Legislation
During the first term, the Trump Administration established through executive action the Arctic Energy Office (AEO) within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The mission of AEO is to bring together the assets from across DOE to work together in collaborative and innovative ways to meet the energy, science, and national security needs of the United States and its allies in the Arctic. It is critical that AEO continue its work and have the authority to advance energy needs in Alaska. The best way to accomplish this is for Congress to formally authorize the establishment of AEO. UA is advocating for introducing legislation to formally establish AEO in Congress.
Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire Research Act
The UA system has collaborated with Senator Sullivan’s office on the introduction of S. 647, the Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire Research Act of 2025. This legislation would establish regional research centers at institutions of higher education to undertake a variety of research and workforce development activities to support effective wildland fire management and prepare firefighters against evolving risks. The legislation would require the establishment of at least one center in the State of Alaska. The Federal Relations team is continuing to advocate for this legislation in the new Congress in both the House and the Senate.
ANCHOR Act
The UA system collaborated with Senator Sullivan’s office on the introduction of S. 318, the Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and Hardware for Oceanic Research (ANCHOR) Act. This legislation would require NSF to develop a plan to improve the cybersecurity and telecommunications capacities of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. UAF’s College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences operates R/V Sikuliaq, which is the only ice-capable ship in the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. While UAF operates Sikuliaq under contract from NSF, NSF owns the vessel and should be responsible for its maintenance, including cyber and telecommunications needs. The Federal Relations team is continuing to advocate for this legislation in the new Congress in both the House and the Senate.
Climate Adaptation Science Centers Legislation
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) established the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers to help local communities adapt to a changing climate. As one of the regional centers, UAF is home to the Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center (AK CASC). The mission of the AK CASC is to provide regionally relevant science to meet state and federal needs around climate impacts, adaptation, and resilience. The CASCs lack formal authorization from Congress. Without legislative authorization, there is uncertainty surrounding the sustainability of the program, instances of Lower 48 universities attempting to divert resources away from Alaska, and confusion about interagency cooperation. UA actively advocates for the introduction of legislation to formally establish the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers.
Mining Schools Act
H.R. 2685, the Mining Schools Act of 2023, was introduced during the 118th Congress. This legislation requires the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program to strengthen domestic mining education, including supporting efforts to recruit and educate the next generation of mining engineers and other qualified professionals to meet the future energy and mineral needs of the United States. The UA system supports passing a version of the Mining Schools Act during the 119th Congress.
University of the Arctic (UArctic) Legislation
The University of the Arctic (UArctic) was established through the Arctic Council and is a collaboration of eight Arctic nations organized through universities, research centers, and other organizations focused on research and education in and about the North. Membership includes nearly 190 institutions and organizations, including all three UA institutions. Currently, all U.S. university participation in UArctic is internally or privately funded. Federal funding would allow for more student exchanges, increased research proposals, collaborations, field activities, and participation in regional meetings. The national governments of nearly all other nations participating in UArctic contribute financially. The UA system supports legislation to authorize U.S financial assistance for participation in UArctic.