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Category: 2018 UW Federal Agenda

Initial Details of Senate CJS, Interior Bills Available

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As noted yesterday, two of the Senate appropriations subcommittees approved the FY2019 Commerce-Justice-Science and Interior spending bills. While the detailed reports accompanying the bills are not yet available, some from the measures are known.

The CJS bill would fund some of the agencies in the following manner:

  • $8.1 billion for NSF, $301 million above the FY2018 enacted level, including:
    • $6.56 billion for NSF’s research and research activities, an increase of $222 million above the current level;
    • $915 million for NSF’s education and training programs, an increase of $13 million above FY2018.
  • $21.3 billion for NASA, $587 million above current level, including:
    • $6.4 billion for Science, $179 million above the FY2018 level, including $1.9 billion for Earth science, $2.2 billion for Planetary science, $1.5 billion for astrophysics (including $304 million for the Webb telescope), and $720 million for Heliophysics;
    • $725 million for Aeronautics, an increase of $40 million;
    • $933 million for Space Technology, $173-million increase.
  • $5.48 billion for NOAA, a $426-million decrease below the current level, including $71 million for the Sea Grant program, which is a $6-million increase.

The Interior bill, which funds, among other agencies the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).  It would appropriate $1.15 billion to the USGS and $155 million to the NEH.

We will continue to provide additional details as they become available.

Two More Spending Bills Cleared by Senate Subcommittees

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Earlier today, two Senate subcommittees cleared for consideration by the full Appropriations Committee later this week two FY2019 spending bills of great interest to the University of Washington.

The Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved its bill, which funds, among other agencies and programs, the U.S. Geological Service, the EPA, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.  The Commerce-Justice-Science Subcommittee adopted its measure, which provides funding for NSF, NASA, and NOAA, as well as other programs and agencies.

The full Appropriations Committee is scheduled to take up the two bills on Thursday.

The House versions of the bills have already been approved by the Appropriations Committee in that chamber.

House Passes First “Minibus”

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After completing its debate earlier today, the House passed the first of its “minibus” packages containing three of the 12 FY2019 appropriations bills, the Energy and Water Development, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, and Legislative Branch bills.  The goal of the House leadership is to bundle different spending bills into “minibus” measures and move several bills at once rather than trying to pass them individually.

Although the Senate Appropriations Committee has cleared a number of spending bills, none have yet reached the floor for consideration.

 

More Progress Seen on Appropriations Front

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Both chambers of Congress continue to make progress on the FY2019 appropriations bills.

The House is expected to start its debate on its first “minibus” package of bills today.  The measure includes the Energy and Water Development, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bills.  The Appropriations Committee approved its Interior spending bill yesterday evening.

On the Senate side, the Appropriations Committee earlier this morning approved both the Transportation-Housing and Urban Development and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs bills.  Four of the 12 spending bills have been cleared by the committee in the Senate so far.  Seven bills have been approved by the House committee.

Most of August Recess for Senate Canceled

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today that he is cancelling most of the traditional month-long August recess.  Under the new schedule, the Senate would have a week-long recess at the beginning of August but would return to Washington for the rest of the month.

Read more about McConnell’s decision here, here, and here.  It is still possible that the August recess could be extended.

The House has not announced any changes to its August schedule.