Examiner #5 - Education Update

Dear Friends,

Back in April, you may recall, the Trump Administration sent Harvard a letter, demanding that

it.

• modify hiring practices,

• implement “viewpoint diversity” (include conservative ideology) alter its student

disciple regulations,

or risk federal funding: 2.2 billion in multi-year federal grants at risk. Another $2.7 million in

Department of Homeland Security grants and $1 billion in federal funding for health research.

Harvard is concerned that without federal funding, critical innovative research into conditions

including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes will come to a halt, and dependable researchers will lack the necessary funds to complete their research and also to begin new necessary research. One research project, working on human organs-on-chips, which replicate the function of organs, using technology to study how certain organs react to radiation therapy, has suspended their research due to the federal funding slashing on the research project.

Harvard University has sued the Trump administration to reverse the federal cuts. However, even if current grants are restored, researchers say prospects for future federal funding under the Trump administration are discouraging. The president’s proposed spending plan would cut the budget for the National Institutes of Health by 40%.

“With a proposed budget like this one, what we’re signaling is that the United States is no

longer interested in being a leader in science in the world,” said Dr. Jorge Chavarro, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard's school of public health. “This is not just a Harvard problem.”

The impact on refusing to allocate Congressionally approved funds, by the Trump

administration freezing $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard University, will have serious negative

consequences, and the Trump Administration has also targeted Columbia, Cornell and

Northwestern universities with threats to their federal funding. Our country has been a leader in scientific research and medical advances, and we have benefited massively from excellent research.

Our constitution stipulates Article I of the Constitution enumerates the powers of the legislative branch. The Constitution vests Congress, comprised of the House of Representatives and the Senate, with the legislative power of the United States.

One of its most important powers is deciding how the federal government will spend its money. Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution is known as the "taxing and spending clause." Clause 2 is known as the "borrowing clause." Together, they grant Congress the broad power to borrow and spend money for the general welfare of the United States.

The spending clause is among Congress's most important powers. Through the Supreme Court's interpretation of it, Congress has created programs such as Social Security, Medicaid, and other federal programs.

We need to have Congress adhere to our constitution and address the powers only they have.

Respectfully,

Engage Women

Resources:

Harvard

The U.S. Constitution