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News and updates

Senate Environment & Public Works Committee Approves Climate Legislation

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Today, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee approved its climate change mitigation legislation -despite a boycott of the markup by the minority party. Republicans wanted more analysis from the EPA on the impacts of the legislation. The Senate bill, which requires 60 votes on the floor to move to a final vote, will likely require significant modification to pass.

Senators Kerry (D-MA), Graham (R-SC), and Lieberman stated today that they intend to work on a compromise with business groups and the White House that can garner 60 votes. The three offered few details on what the essential elements of a compromise bill would include.

Of note to our community in the legislation:

Investments in Advanced Energy Research and Development- 4% (compared to 1.5 % in House legislation) of distributed allowances in 2012 and 2013, 2% in 2014 and 2015, and 1.7% of allowances in subsequent years will be allocated for research on advanced energy technologies, including funding for applied research at “Clean Energy Innovation Centers” at research universities and institutions.

Seen in DC

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On October 7th, Dr. Joel Berg, Chairman of Pediatric Dentistry, testified before the Oversight and Government Reform’s subcommittee on Domestic Policy.  The hearing was held to examine the steps that state Medicaid programs have taken to improve access to and utilization of dental services by Medicaid eligible children.  Dr. Berg addressed his testimony to the academic and peer-reviewed research that has been conducted on the State of Washington Access to Baby and Child Dentistry program, and the administration of the program.  While he was here he was also able to meet with Senator Murray, Representative McDermott, and a member of Representative Reichert’s office.

Brad Portin, Director and Professor of Education at UW Bothell, was in DC mid-October to attend an educational conference.  While he was here, he met with a staff member in the Office of Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (member of the House Education & Labor Committee) to urge support for the Department of Education’s School Leadership Program, make recommendations for the anticipated reauthorization of “No Child Left Behind” legislation, and discuss the ongoing learning needs of teachers to more effectively meet the needs of diverse students.

Kenyon Chan, Chancellor of the UW Bothell campus, and Kelly Snyder, Director of Government and Community Relations at the Bothell campus, were both in DC October 20-22 to meet with Members of Congress and organizations of higher education.  They were able to meet with Senators Murray and Cantwell, Congressmen Inslee, Dicks, and McDermott, and professional staff from the offices of Congressmen Larsen, Reichert, and Smith.  They also had meetings at the Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Education, and Diverse:  Issues in Higher Education.  They were able to discuss projects underway at the Bothell campus and learn of possible intersections with federal priorities and opportunities.

Also on October 20th, Dr. Paul Ramsey, Dean of the School of Medicine, was in DC with J. Shan Mullin, Vice Chair of the UW Board of Medicine.  They met with both Senators and several members of the House to provide an update on how health reform may affect academic health centers and graduate medical education, as well as on UW’s plans to “grow” medical education opportunities in Spokane.

President Mark Emmert completed the visitors to DC.  He was in town to attend the National Security higher Education Advisory Board meeting.  He also had a meeting at The Chronicle of Higher Education, and attended a University Leaders Roundtable Discussion with India Prime Minister Sibal.

Note:  If you are planning a trip to Washington, DC, please contact the Office of Federal Relations (202.624.1420) for assistance in setting up appointments to meet with Members or staffers of the Washington delegation.  We’re happy to help.

UW Week Article Features Support for UW Role in Puget Sound Partnership

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UW’s newly-formed Puget Sound Institute to advise in the clean-up of the Sound
By Sandra Hines

News and Information

The $50 million appropriated by Congress last week to the Puget Sound Partnership for the clean-up of Puget Sound includes $4 million for the UW to launch an institute to provide expert advice about the Sound, based on the best-available science, to the partnership, policy makers and citizens.

The newly funded UW Puget Sound Institute is designed to be the bridge between the scientific community and those charged with restoring and protecting Puget Sound, says Joel Baker, UW Tacoma professor and science director of the Center for Urban Waters. The initiative is a partnership between the center and the UW’s new College of the Environment. Among other things the institute will convene panels of experts, much as the National Research Council does. Continue reading “UW Week Article Features Support for UW Role in Puget Sound Partnership”

This Week on Capitol Hill November 2-6

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Floor Action

The Senate will convene at 2:00 pm to consider HR 3548, Unemployment Aid, a homebuyer tax credit and corporate tax provisions.  Later in the week the Senate may consider two FY 2010 spending bills:  Military Construction-VA and Ecommerce-Justice-Science.

The House meets on Monday to consider pending legislation, including S 509, a bill to authorize a major medical facility project at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical in Walla Walla.  The bill was introduced by Senator Patty Murray in March and was passed by the Senate on July 15.  Tuesday and later in the week the House will consider HR 3639, Consumer Protection; HR 2868, Chemical Facility Security; and HR 3962, Affordable Health Care.

The House and Senate are scheduled to meet for a joint session on Tuesday at 10:00 am to receive Her Excellency, Doctor Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Markups and Hearings of Interest

On Tuesday the Senate Commitee on Environment and Public Works will mark up legislation on clean energy jobs (S 1733).  On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committe will mark up, among other items, legislation on free flow of information; personal data privacy and security; medical bankruptcy fairness; and human rights enforcement.

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will hold a hearing on Tuesday on the increasing health care costs facing small businesses. 

The House Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education  will hold a briefing on Wednesday at 10:00am on H1N1 influenza pandemic.

Source:  CQ Today Print Edition

Second Continuing Resolution on the Horizon

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Today, the leadership in Congress announced that a second continuing resolution (CR) lasting until December 18th will be attached to the Interior-Environment Appropriations bill conference report -as appeared likely earlier this week. It is expected that the measure will pass by the end of the week. Since the end of the fiscal year was September 30th and all appropriations bills were not passed on-time, Congress passed a CR to keep the government operating. A CR is a stopgap measure that funds the government at the previous year’s appropriations level. The CR will give Congress more time to complete the remaining 7 appropriations bills. With the passage of the joint Interior/Environment-CR measure later this week, Federal Relations expects support for the Puget Sound Ecosystem Research Initiative.

Agency Items of Note from the Interior-Environment Conference Report:

  • $167.5 million for the NEH and the same for NEA; an increase of 8% over FY09
  • $846 million for EPA S&T; an increase of 7% over FY09
  • $1.112 billion for USGS; an increase of 6.5% over FY09