September 22, 2009
On Monday (9/21), President Obama announced his American Innovation Strategy. The strategy includes doubling the research and development budgets of three key science agencies: the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology. The President also proposed an investment of more than 3% of the country’s Gross… Read More
September 14, 2009
This week, lawmakers will attempt to clear the decks of routine legislative business on the floors of each chamber so that they can continue to give their full attention to how to move major aspects of Democrats’ signature priorities: healthcare reform and climate change legislation. The House will take up a bill to overhaul the… Read More
September 7, 2009
Congress returns to work this week after a fractious August recess during which lawmakers were confronted about the public health insurance option and other contentious elements in Democratic health reform bills. Policy experts already are identifying less controversial proposals that could attract support from moderate Democrats and even some Republicans. Lawmakers hope to come up… Read More
August 7, 2009
After the historic vote to confirm US Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor – and add more funds to the popular “cash for clunkers” program – the Senate went into their August recess period. The House recessed last week and both will return after Labor Day. To date, only four of the twelve FY2010 appropriations bills… Read More
August 5, 2009
In a memo released this week, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) directed agencies to make research and development a priority when formulating their FY11 budget requests. Specifically, the memo directs agencies to invest in r&d that drive economic growth, promote energy effeciency and improve quality… Read More
August 5, 2009
The Senate approved their Agriculture spending bill yesterday – the fourth fiscal 2010 spending bill passed by the Senate. Informal work to begin reconciling the four spending bills passed by both chambers is expected to occur over the August break so that conference reports can be considered in September. Before leaving last week for its… Read More
August 3, 2009
With the House gone for its August recess, the Senate will turn its attention this week to passing one more spending bill, replenishing the popular Cash for Clunkers program, and confirming President Obama’s pick for the Supreme Court, Judge Sonia Sotomayor, all with the aim to leave town Friday until after Labor Day. APPROPRIATIONS As… Read More
July 31, 2009
As the House and Senate prepare for their August recess, agency/program funding levels for FY10 are becoming more clear. Below, please find a chart that captures funding for some agency/programs of particular note. It should be noted that final figures will not be determined until this fall. In Millions of Dollars Agency Program FY09 ARRA… Read More
July 28, 2009
On Monday, the Administration announced that federal agencies had met the goal set by President Obama of finding at least $100 million in administrative savings from their agency budgets. The 77 cost-savings measures identified by agencies would yield $102 million in savings this fiscal year (FY09) and about $140 million in savings in fiscal 2010…. Read More
July 24, 2009
Congress started off this week with the goal of advancing health care reform financing options in preparation for an overall vote on reform measures before their August recess. By the end of the week, however, it became clear to House and Senate leaders – as well as the President – that they would not meet… Read More
