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Register Now: Federal Relations Spring Town Hall

The Office of Federal Relations will host a virtual town hall for the campus community on Thursday, March 24th from 12pm-1pm PT. Our staff will provide an update on the federal budget, infrastructure and competitiveness bills, and preview the UW’s 2022 federal agenda. This will be followed by an opportunity for Q&A. Register here (NetID restricted).

Guidebook to Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

The White House has released a guidebook for state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to navigate the bipartisan infrastructure law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) which was signed into law in November 2021. The guidebook is intended to serve as a “one stop shop” on the law and contains all the most up-to-date information. The law contains numerous provisions and $1.2 trillion in spending, over half of which is dedicated to improving hard infrastructure such as roads, ports, and bridges.

A press statement is available here.

House Releases America COMPETES Act of 2022

Today, House leadership revealed the America COMPETES Act of 2022 (H.R. 4521). Much like the bipartisan United States Innovation and Competition Act (S. 1260), which passed in the Senate last summer, the bill authorizes strategic investments in advanced scientific research at NSF and the Department of Energy, semiconductor chip manufacturing, supply chain and natural resource issues, and key diplomatic efforts.

Of particular relevance:

  • $52B for the CHIPS for America Act.
  • Comprehensive reauthorization of the Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
  • Reauthorizes the entire National Science Foundation and establishes a new Directorate for Science and Engineering Solutions (SES).
  • Establishes a National Engineering Biology Research and Development Initiative.
  • Enhances outreach and access to STEM education at all levels.
  • Reauthorizes Title VI International Education programs.

A factsheet is available here and a section-by-section summary is available here.

USICA Goes to Conference

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced in a joint statement that the bipartisan United States Innovation and Competition Act (S. 1260) will be conferenced to resolve differences between House and Senate versions. Although leadership in both chambers originally hoped to include the legislation in the upcoming FY 22 National Defense Authorization Act, Senate Republicans have indicated they would not support such a move. Conferencing brings the legislation one step closer to being signed into law.

If enacted, USICA would create a new NSF Directorate, authorize additional funding for semiconductor research, Department of Energy research, and tackle manufacturing and supply chain issues.

House Sends $1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill to President

Late Friday night, the House cleared H.R. 3684- Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and sent the legislation to President Biden to be signed into law. The bill, worth about $1 trillion, cleared the Senate back in August. The bipartisan bill includes provisions for roads, bridges, ports, public transit, electric vehicles, coastal infrastructure, and rural broadband access.

The final details of the Democrats’ Build Back Better Act are still being ironed out, however the House is ready to begin considering the bill with paid leave provisions re-inserted by Speaker Pelosi. A consensus is still needed from all 50 Democratic Senators if the bill has any hope of making it through the Senate’s narrow reconciliation rules.