ISU President Gregory Geoffroy, along with the Iowa Board of Regents, outlined the university’s legislative priorities last week while meeting with Iowa’s congressional delegation in Washington, D.C.

Although the Regents returned Wednesday after one day in the nation’s capital, Geoffroy stayed the remainder of the week to lobby federal lawmakers.

“I thought it went very well,” Geoffroy said. “We very strongly urged them to support important priorities for the Regents and Iowa State.”

The trip coincided with the enactment of an $11.9 billion cut to federal student aid signed into law by President Bush on Feb. 8. The cuts made up part of bill dubbed the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, which aims to reduce federal spending.

Geoffroy said he and the Regents discussed the cuts with the congressional delegation, along with other priorities such as funding for mathematics and scientific research done at the Regents institutions.

“They all expressed strong support and interest, but, of course, it’s very early in the congressional process,” he said.

Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa, and Rep. Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, who met personally with the Regents and university presidents, voted against the student loan cuts on Feb. 1.

The bill passed in the House 214-212, with the vote falling largely down party lines.

Leach, one of 13 Republicans to vote against the bill, thought the measure treated certain members of his constituency unfairly, said Gregory Wierzynski, Leach’s chief of staff.

“It cut too many social services, including student loans,” he said. “The cuts fell disproportional among people who were among the disadvantaged.”

Susan McAvoy, press secretary for Boswell, said avenues still exist to lessen the severity of the cuts.

“Mr. Boswell will work as hard as he can to ensure that these cuts don’t take place,” McAvoy said. “There’s not much left he can do, but he will write letters to key members in Congress, urging them to increase the funding.”

Iowa City Regent Robert Downer said all nine members of the board, along with the three Regents university presidents, met personally with Leach, Boswell and Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, as well as staff members from the offices of Iowa’s other congressional members.

Regents President Michael Gartner said the trip marked the first time the entire board had lobbied together in Washington, and he said the legislators seemed receptive to their message.

“I’d call the trip successful,” Gartner said. “One reason we went there was to thank them for the federal support that the three universities get. Also, we wanted to show them how deeply embedded into the fabric of Iowa the three universities are.”