October 7, 2021
Announcement: Federal Relations Autumn 2021 Town Hall
Please join us for the inaugural quarterly Federal Relations Town Hall. Thursday, October 21st at 12:00pm PT After a presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions or offer comments/concerns regarding the UW’s federal advocacy priorities. If you would like to join in-person, please RSVP here. Space is limited. If you would like to…
Debt Ceiling Crisis Avoided… For Now
Senate Democrats and Republicans reached a deal last night that would, temporarily, prevent the debt ceiling being hit. The two sides agreed to increase the borrowing limits of the federal government by $480 billion through December 3. This would enable the government to make payments on its obligations through that date. However, this solution is…
October 1, 2021
The Government Stays Open But Still No Resolution On Infrastructure and Reconciliation
President Biden signed yesterday afternoon the continuing resolution that keeps the government open through December 3. However, there is still no resolution to the fight among Democrats over the the infrastructure and reconciliation packages. Not surprisingly, the promised vote yesterday on the infrastructure legislation did not occur, as negotiations among various Democratic blocs and individuals…
September 30, 2021
Shutdown Likely Averted But Fight On Reconciliation and Infrastructure Continues
Democrats have decoupled the provision to raise the debt ceiling from the continuing resolution (CR) package that would keep the government funded through December 3. This has allowed the Senate to vote on the slimmed-down package this afternoon. After passage by the Senate, the package is expected to be taken up by the House quickly….
September 29, 2021
Negotiations Still Continue on Infrastructure, Reconciliation Packages
Even with the deadline to keep the government open past Thursday quickly approaching, furious negotiations are still taking place among Democrats over both the infrastructure and budget reconciliation packages. Thursday is also the day when the House is scheduled to vote on the Senate-passed infrastructure bill. Whether that deadline– set by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)–…
September 28, 2021
Clocks Continues to Tick on Shutdown, Debt Ceiling
As predicted, the Senate yesterday was not able to adopt the House-passed legislation that would keep the government funded past midnight Friday and raise the debt ceiling through mid-December 2022. As promised, no Senate Republicans voted to move the measure forward for a vote. While Senate Republicans have publicly supported keeping the government open and…
September 27, 2021
House to Start Debate on Infrastructure Bill Today
After nonstop negotiations with different factions of her own party late last week and through the weekend, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) scheduled the floor debate on the bipartisan infrastructure package f to start today. The House leadership finds itself in a tough spot, as a group of Democratic progressives have insisted that they would not…
September 22, 2021
White House Releases PCAST Membership
Earlier today, the White House announced the members of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). PCAST is tasked with offering policy recommendations to the President in the areas of science, technology, and innovation. The list of members and their backgrounds are available here.
House Passes CR But Debt Ceiling Remains Uncertain
As expected, the House passed yesterday by a vote of 220 – 211 the continuing resolution package that would keep the government funded through December 3 while also lifting the debt ceiling through mid-December, 2022. Like most of their Senate counterparts, House Republicans voiced strong opposition to the lifting of the debt ceiling and voted…
September 21, 2021
Continuing Resolution Introduced
With FY2022 scheduled to start October 1 and no funding bills yet signed into law, a continuing resolution (CR) that would keep the government funded through December 3 has been unveiled. It also includes a host of “anomalies,” minor changes and corrections that are needed to ensure that no major changes in federal programs are…