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Month: November 2009

This Week on Capitol Hill November 16-20

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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 the fiscal 2010 Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill.

The Senate will continue its consideration of the fiscal 2010 Military Construction–VA spending bill, with votes on amendments Monday and Tuesday.

Markups and Hearings

Tuesday and remainder of the week:  House Financial Services will mark up a draft bill regarding a federal office of insurance, and bills on overdraft protection (HR 3996 and HR 3904).

Wednesday: 

  • House Science and Technology will mark up HR 4061, a bill on cybersecurity.
  • Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions will mark up S 510, a bill on food safety.
  • House Natural Resources will mark up several natural resources bills.  
  • House Education and Labor will mark up HR 3017, an employment non-discrimination bill
  • House Oversight and Government Reform will mark up HR 2517, a bill to provide domestic partner benefits to federal employees.
  • House Armed Services hearing on long-term defense budget needs

Thursday:

  • Senate Judiciary will mark up legislation on a media shield law; a criminal justice review; medical bankruptcy (S 1624); emergency medical service providers (S1353); cigarette trafficking; crimes against the homeless; and juvenile justice and delinquency.
  • Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs marks up draft legislation that would overhaul the financial regulatory system.
  • Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing on the Fort Hood shootings.
  • House Foreign Affairs hearing on lifting the Cuba travel ban.

Higher Education Associations Set to Launch Recovery Act Successes Website

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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 2009 (ARRA). University-based projects, including from the UW, will be highlighted on the website. The official lauch will take place on Tuesday November 17th at a session on Capitol Hill in DC. A draft press release is provided below.

For Planning Purposes Only:                  
November 17, 2009      

Contact:

Barry Toiv barry_toiv@aau.edu 202/898-7847
Paul Hassen phassen@aplu.org 202/478-6073
Ashley Prime aprime@qga.com  202/429-4002

 
Members of Congress, Scientists to Highlight Stimulus-funded Research and its Role in Recovery and Reinvestment Nationwide Continue reading “Higher Education Associations Set to Launch Recovery Act Successes Website”

This Week on Capitol Hill November 9-13

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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 on Proposals for Long-Term Fiscal Stability;
  • will hold a full committee hearing on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions;
  • Finance full committee hearing on Climate Change Legislation and Jobs.

Source:  CQ Weekly Printed Edition

Senate Environment & Public Works Committee Approves Climate Legislation

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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 likely require significant modification to pass.

Senators Kerry (D-MA), Graham (R-SC), and Lieberman stated today that they intend to work on a compromise with business groups and the White House that can garner 60 votes. The three offered few details on what the essential elements of a compromise bill would include.

Of note to our community in the legislation:

Investments in Advanced Energy Research and Development- 4% (compared to 1.5 % in House legislation) of distributed allowances in 2012 and 2013, 2% in 2014 and 2015, and 1.7% of allowances in subsequent years will be allocated for research on advanced energy technologies, including funding for applied research at “Clean Energy Innovation Centers” at research universities and institutions.

Seen in DC

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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 academic and peer-reviewed research that has been conducted on the State of Washington Access to Baby and Child Dentistry program, and the administration of the program.  While he was here he was also able to meet with Senator Murray, Representative McDermott, and a member of Representative Reichert’s office.

Brad Portin, Director and Professor of Education at UW Bothell, was in DC mid-October to attend an educational conference.  While he was here, he met with a staff member in the Office of Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (member of the House Education & Labor Committee) to urge support for the Department of Education’s School Leadership Program, make recommendations for the anticipated reauthorization of “No Child Left Behind” legislation, and discuss the ongoing learning needs of teachers to more effectively meet the needs of diverse students.

Kenyon Chan, Chancellor of the UW Bothell campus, and Kelly Snyder, Director of Government and Community Relations at the Bothell campus, were both in DC October 20-22 to meet with Members of Congress and organizations of higher education.  They were able to meet with Senators Murray and Cantwell, Congressmen Inslee, Dicks, and McDermott, and professional staff from the offices of Congressmen Larsen, Reichert, and Smith.  They also had meetings at the Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Education, and Diverse:  Issues in Higher Education.  They were able to discuss projects underway at the Bothell campus and learn of possible intersections with federal priorities and opportunities.

Also on October 20th, Dr. Paul Ramsey, Dean of the School of Medicine, was in DC with J. Shan Mullin, Vice Chair of the UW Board of Medicine.  They met with both Senators and several members of the House to provide an update on how health reform may affect academic health centers and graduate medical education, as well as on UW’s plans to “grow” medical education opportunities in Spokane.

President Mark Emmert completed the visitors to DC.  He was in town to attend the National Security higher Education Advisory Board meeting.  He also had a meeting at The Chronicle of Higher Education, and attended a University Leaders Roundtable Discussion with India Prime Minister Sibal.

Note:  If you are planning a trip to Washington, DC, please contact the Office of Federal Relations (202.624.1420) for assistance in setting up appointments to meet with Members or staffers of the Washington delegation.  We’re happy to help.