September 14, 2009
Work continues on University’s priorities
Rochester’s lobbyists highlight year’s successes, challenges
This year has been somewhat unusual for the Office of Government and Community Relations as they lobby on behalf on the University.
“What is unique this year is that we’ve spent a lot of time looking for opportunities from the (federal) stimulus package,” says associate director Amy Happ. That includes informing the University community about grants for which they may apply.
Josh Farrelman, director of Government and Community Relations, says Rochester worked with national and state organizations as well as the governor’s office throughout the development of the stimulus plan to advocate for priorities and projects that would benefit the institution.
He says one of the biggest priorities of the last year has been working to get the $50 million in funding for the Clinical and Translational Science Building being built at the Medical Center. The state awarded the grant to the University in 2006, but there has been a lot of follow-up work to ensure that the dollars are delivered.
Another major focus has been securing federal funding for the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. Farrelman says the University pushes for at least $50 million to $70 million in funding each year from the federal budget.
“We work closely with our congressional delegation to ensure adequate funding so we can support the cutting-edge science happening at the laser lab,” he says.
Other recent initiatives include securing:
• $6 million from the state for Goergen Hall for Biomedical Engineering and Optics
• $3 million from the state for the Highland Hospital Emergency Department
• $6.75 million in federal funding for the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center
• $4.4 million for the University’s Nanosystems Initiative focused on fuel cells and biosensors
• $2.18 million in the form of a Higher Education Capital Matching Grant (HECap) to renovate Wilson Commons’ dining facilities and for upgrades at Susan B. Anthony Residence Hall
Working with other organizations and institutions, reducing cuts to Medicaid from $31 million to $14 million.
In addition to fighting health care cuts at the state and federal levels, the office has also been paying close attention to federal health care reform proposals.
Farrelman says the University is “very much in support of comprehensive health care reform that provides coverage to all,” adding that “the devil is in the details.”
He says his office is monitoring potential cuts that could come in an attempt to pay for some of the proposed bills. He says the University also is having “very constructive” conversations with representatives in Congress about concerns on how health care providers would be compensated if the so called “public option” for health care is enacted.
In the meantime, work continues on developing the University’s funding and legislative priorities for 2010.
“Our efforts are driven in large part by the legislative process and the budget cycles,” Farrelman says. “Our success is due to the outstanding support and commitment the University receives from our public officials and other community leaders.”
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