November 30, 2009
The pace of visitors coming to Washington DC slowed quite a bit in November, which is typical for this time of year. In fact there were only three from campus. The first was Randy Hodgins, Vice President of External Affairs, who was here the first week of November. Randy and the Federal Relations team of… Read More
November 30, 2009
The Senate reconvened Monday, November 30, to begin formal debate on the health care legislation; the debate will most likely last through the month of December. The House will reconvene Tuesday at 2:00 pm, with votes postponed until 6:30 pm. It will consider measures under suspension of the rules, including HR 3598, the Energy and Water… Read More
November 23, 2009
The Department of Commerce (DOC) is seeking nominees for a new Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship whose primary purpose is to “identify and recommend solutions to issues critical to enabling entrepreneurs and firms to successfully commercialize new ideas and technologies into high-growth, innovation-based businesses and to create new jobs.” The deadline for nominations is… Read More
November 19, 2009
Last night, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) released the long awaited health insurance reform package that merges bills advanced by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590), would cost roughly $848… Read More
November 18, 2009
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) announced this week that a climate bill will not likely emerge before the spring of 2010. The announcement confirms that at least 1 of 3 (and likely all 3) of President Obama’s top legislative initiatives for 2009 will slip into 2010 -the other two being health care and… Read More
November 16, 2009
On the House & Senate Floors The House votes Monday on a bill to increase oversight of the financial industry bailout program. Later in the week, the House will vote on a number of small business bills and a bill to overhaul the Medicare physician pay formula (HR 3961). The House may also take up… Read More
November 13, 2009
Several national higher education advocacy associations — Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), and The Science Coalition (TSC) — are preparing to launch ScienceWorksForUS.org; an effort to highlight important research made possible at institutions across the country through funding provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of… Read More
November 9, 2009
The House is not in session this week. Over the weekend, however, the House passed their version of the health care bill, 220-215. The Senate will be in session on Monday and Tuesday only. The Senate will take up HR 3082, Military Construction – VA Spending. Senate Committee Meetings — Tuesday Budget — full committee hearing… Read More
November 5, 2009
Today, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee approved its climate change mitigation legislation -despite a boycott of the markup by the minority party. Republicans wanted more analysis from the EPA on the impacts of the legislation. The Senate bill, which requires 60 votes on the floor to move to a final vote, will… Read More
November 5, 2009
On October 7th, Dr. Joel Berg, Chairman of Pediatric Dentistry, testified before the Oversight and Government Reform’s subcommittee on Domestic Policy. The hearing was held to examine the steps that state Medicaid programs have taken to improve access to and utilization of dental services by Medicaid eligible children. Dr. Berg addressed his testimony to the… Read More
