Legislative Action Subcommittee
Eli Paster, Chair 2011-12
The GSC Legislative Action Subcommittee (LASC) was established in October 2009. We are charged with the following mission:
- To act as the representative body to local, state, and federal governments;
- To maintain awareness of legislative and regulatory developments affecting graduate students and disseminate information through the GSC;
- To encourage graduate student participation and activism in the political and legislative process.
Advocacy on Capitol Hill
Currently, LASC is focusing on the following issues:
- Open access to federally funded research Summary
- H-1B visa & green card quota increase for foreign advanced-degree holders educated in the US Summary
- Federal tax-exempt status for graduate student stipends Summary
- Increases in federal funding to science education and research Summary
Our complete Federal Legislative Platform is available here.
Current News
The White House has sent out a Request for Information (RFI) to gather information on how public access to federally funded research will help advance and support the efforts of researchers, academics, students, and the public. This is a great opportunity for us to voice our support for a Public Access policy that will allow free access to federally funded research publications. See the above summary on Open Access, and the below link on a recently passed resolution, by the GSC, in support of this legislation.
58gsc.7.3 – Resolution on Open Access RFI
Now’s Your Chance, too!
Submit Comments to the White House in Support of Open Access Here
Meeting Schedule
We meet from 6-7PM every other Thursday. For the most up to date information, please see the GSC Meetings Calendar. Dinner provided!
Meeting Agenda & Minutes
Interested in Joining?
We are continuosly looking for motivated individuals to join our cause. If you are interested, please contact gsc-lasc [at] mit [dot] edu.