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Category: Energy R&D

USICA Goes to Conference

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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.

OSTP Listening Sessions on AI and Equity

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The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy announced a series of listening sessions between November 18th-29th covering AI, data-driven technologies, and equity. The sessions will focus specifically on Public and Private Sector Uses of AI-Enabled Biometric Technologies.

Details and registration information can be found here.

PCAST Public Meeting: Join November 29th

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The Department of Energy will host a public hearing of the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) at 12:15pm ET on November 29th. PCAST is consulted on and provides analyses and recommendations concerning a wide range of issues where understanding of science, technology, and innovation may bear on the policy choices before the President.

PCAST will hear from invited speakers on and discuss various aspects of biomanufacturing, the Federal science and technology workforce, and the National Nanotechnology Initiative. Additional information and the meeting agenda, including any changes that arise, will be posted on the PCAST website at: www.whitehouse.gov/​PCAST/​meetings.

View the Federal Register Notice here.

 

 

It’s “Infrastructure Week”– Infrastructure Bill Officially Signed

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With more than 800 guests in attendance at the White House, President Biden officially signed into law yesterday the $1.2-trillion infrastructure legislation.  The signing ceremony became possible after Democrats were able to come to an agreement on how to proceed on it and the reconciliation package and the House cleared the infrastructure bill before leaving town for Veterans Day last week.

Read more about the signing event here and here.

House Sends $1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill to President

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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.