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Interior Appropriations Bill to Move Next

The next item on the agenda for the House Appropriations Committee is its FY2019 Interior spending bill, with the committee scheduled to take it up tomorrow, Tuesday, May 22.

Among the agencies that the bill funds is the U.S Geological Survey (USGS), which in turn supports a number of programs of interest to the University of Washington.  For example, the bill would instruct the USGS to support the Earthquake Early Warning system on the West Coast at a total of $21.1 million, with $16.1 million dedicated to the continued development of the system and $5 million for its capital infrastructure needs.

The  legislation would dedicate $19.29 million for the Cooperative Research Units (CRUs), another USGS program, which represents an increase of $1.9 million.  The increase would be dedicated to filling the number of vacancies across the country at participating universities.  The CRUs were proposed for elimination by the Administration.

The newly renamed Climate Adaptation Science Centers program would be level-funded at $25.3 million.  The Administration is seeking a cut of more than $12 million to the program.

A copy of the bill report is available here.

 

Senate Clears Spending Package

A few hours after House did its part, the Senate cleared the FY2018 omnibus spending package by a vote of 65 – 32. President Trump has signaled that he will sign the measure, avoiding a shutdown, which would occur if it were not signed into law before midnight tonight.

Senate Clears 17-Day CR

After agreeing to bring up a short-term continuing resolution (CR) earlier in the day that would end the three-day government shutdown, the Senate officially approved it this afternoon.  The 17-day measure would keep the government funded through Thursday, February 8.  The House is expected to take up the CR later today.

DHS Pick Confirmed

The Senate confirmed yesterday by a vote of 62 – 37 Kirstjen Nielsen to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). She replaces John Kelly, who resigned from that position to become the White House Chief of Staff.  She served most recently as the White House Deputy Chief of Staff under Kelly.  She also worked for Kelly before joining the White House staff as his chief of staff at DHS.

Read more about her herehere, and here.