Category: Uncategorized

Today, the University of Washington Office of Federal Relations released its call for proposals for inclusion in the official FY11 University of Washington Federal Agenda. The agenda will serve as the basis for advocacy efforts during the congressional appropriations process that begins early next year. Guidelines can be found by clicking the Federal Agenda Submission link on the left side of this website. Submissions are due by October 26th, and questions can be directed to the Office of Federal Relations.

In the Senate:

The Senate will debte amendments to the fiscal 2010 Interior-Environment Spending Bill, with votes expected on Tuesday.  A vote on pasage is likely by the end of the week.  The Senate is then likely to consider either the fiscal 2010 Defense Spending Bill or the Military Construction-VA Spending Bill.

The Senate Finance Committee marks up its health care overhaul bill this week beginning on Tuesday and continuing the rest of the week.

In the House:

The House votes on a number of measures under suspendion of the rules on Tuesday, including an extension of unemployment aid.  Later in the week, they are scheduled to take up a defense production reauthorization bill, as well as a number of bills to extend certain authorizations — including for small business programs, the Federal Aviation Administration and surface transportation programs.  The House is also expected to vote on a continuing resolution to make stopgap appropriations into fiscal 2010.

Source:  CQ Today Print Edition

Monday, September 14

Floor Action:

• The Senate will resume consideration of the fiscal 2010 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill (HR 3288). Roll call votes are possible after 5:30 p.m. 
• The House is expected to take up several measures under suspension of the rules. Votes expected at 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, September 15

Both the House and the Senate will be in session.

Committee Meetings:

• Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources will hold a full committee hearing on the Impact of Greenhouse Gas Trading Program

Wednesday, September 16

Both the House and the Senate will be in session

• The House is expected to take up a fuel efficiency technology measure (HR 3246).
• The House Committee on Natural Resources will hold a full committee hearing on Land, Energy and Aquatic Resources

Thursday, September 17

The House is expected to take up the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 (HR 3221).

Committee Hearings:

• Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources will hold a full committee hearing on the Economic Effects of Climate Change Legislation  
• The House Committee on Natural Resources will continue its full committee hearing on Land, Energy and Aquatic Resources

  Friday, September 18

The House is not in session.

Last Friday, the House voted 264-153 to approve the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education spending bill for fiscal year 2010. Included in the House legislation is $73.7 billion in discretionary funding for Department of Health and Human Services programs. Funding would increase by $92 million for nursing programs, $10 million for children’s hospitals’ graduate medical education programs, $43 million for bioterrorism hospital preparedness grants, and $23 million increase for rural health programs. The measure would increase funding for NIH to $31.3 billion, an increase of $941 million over the FY09 level and $500 million above the Administration’s FY10 request.  Additionally, through a combination of discretionary and mandatory funding, the bill would enable the maximum Pell Grant to increase to $5,550 in FY10, an increase of $200 over the FY09 level.

In response to criticisms that Grants.gov is an inadequate portal for grants application and reporting, the House included language in the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill that directs the Government Accountability Office to review Grants.gov and “recommend a business model that provides an adequate, reliable funding stream and the appointment of a unified administrative body that is delegated both control and resources” for the online grant application system. 

It is expected that the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations subcommittee will consider an FY 2010 Labor, HHS and Education appropriations bill on Tuesday.

Summary of House Labor-HHS-Education