The University of Washington has published our 2021 Federal Agenda outlining our top priorities for the coming year. Our agenda reflects a commitment to service, excellence, and innovation, taking into account the unique challenges of the past year.
We are proud of our longstanding partnership with the federal government and look forward to further collaboration in 2021.
Democrats have introduced an immigration bill – The US Citizenship Act- which could provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented people. The bill is being championed by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ). President Biden has already indicated support. Among other things, the bill will:
The bill is expected to be introduced in the House this week, and in the Senate next week, where it would need 10 Republican Senators to vote in favor. Bill text is available here (Senate) and here (House).
The bill contains numerous, wide-ranging provisions, and our office is still working through the text.
Earlier this morning, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee approved the nomination of Miguel Cardona to serve as Education Secretary. His nomination now moves on to the full Senate.
The House Education and Labor Committee approved this morning its portion of the larger COVID relief package by a vote of 27 to 21, making it the first committee of many to move on the budget reconciliation process. Among other provisions, the bill (a section-by-section summary is available here) includes $39.6 billion for higher education. A number of other House committees are scheduled to markup their bills today: Ways and Means, Transportation and Infrastructure, Financial Services, and Agriculture (the text of the bill it is marking up is available here).
As noted yesterday, House committees that received instructions to craft specific parts of the larger COVID relief package will begin to act today, with the Education and Labor Committee marking up its bill at 3 PM today (the session will be webcast here). The Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I), Financial Services, and Agriculture Committees are scheduled to follow suit by marking up their bills on Wednesday. Copies of the T & I and Financial Services bills were released late yesterday.
The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to take up its piece of the COVID package next week during a markup that is expected to take multiple days. The entirety of the Ways and Means package and summaries of each section are available here. Provisions of interest in the bill include, for example:
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Capitol complex, the full Senate today is scheduled to start the trial to convict former president Donald Trump. Once the trial officially starts, both sides can use up to 16 hours to make their case.