Skip to content

News and updates

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.

 

This Week in Congress, May 21-25

Here is a selection of committee meetings taking place on the hill this week.

U.S. House of Representatives

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
Full Committee Markup
Interior and Environment Appropriations
May 22, 10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn Bldg.

HOUSE EDUCATION & THE WORKFORCE
Full Committee Hearing
Education Department Policies/Priorities
May 22, 10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn Bldg.

HOUSE RULES
Full Committee Business Meeting
National Defense Authorization Act
May 22, 3 p.m., H-313, U.S. Capitol

HOUSE OVERSIGHT & GOVERNMENT REFORM
Subcommittee Joint Hearing
Freedom of Speech on College Campuses (Part Two)
May 22, 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn Bldg.

HOUSE OVERSIGHT & GOVERNMENT REFORM
Subcommittee Joint Hearing
Freedom of Speech on College Campuses (Part Two)
May 22, 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn Bldg.

HOUSE ENERGY & COMMERCE
Subcommittee Hearing
Children’s Hospital Graduate Medical Education Program
May 23, 1 p.m., 2322 Rayburn Bldg.

U.S. Senate

SENATE ARMED SERVICES
Subcommittee Markup
Defense Authorization Act
May 22, 9:30 a.m., 232-A Russell Bldg.

SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR & PENSIONS
Full Committee Hearing
Healthcare Workforce Issues
May 22, 10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS
Subcommittee Markup
Energy and Water Development Appropriations
May 22, 2:30 p.m., 138 Dirksen Bldg.

SENATE ARMED SERVICES
Full Committee Markup
Defense Authorization Act
May 24, 9:30 a.m., 222 Russell Bldg.

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS
Full Committee Markup
Agriculture Appropriations/Energy-Water Appropriations
May 24, 10:30 a.m., 106 Dirksen Bldg.

SENATE FINANCE
Full Committee Hearing
Rural Health Care
May 24, 9 a.m., 215 Dirksen Bldg.

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.