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Washington Updates

Congress Agrees to Another Funding Patch as Deadline Looms

February 28, 2024

Today, Congressional leaders reached an agreement on a fourth continuing resolution (CR) to temporarily fund the government beyond March 1, the first of two funding deadlines, with the plan to consider a full year spending package for six of the twelve annual spending bills next week. Under the agreement, final text on bills to fund Agriculture/FDA, Energy & Water, Military Construction, Transportation/Housing, Interior, and Commerce/Justice/Science could be released as soon as this weekend, with final passage in advance of the new deadline established in the CR of March 8. This set of bills includes important University priorities, including the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy Office of Science, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, the CR would extend funding for the remaining bills, including those that fund the Departments of Defense, Education, and Health, through March 22 to give Congressional leaders additional time to negotiate agency and program funding levels and policy provisions.... Read more about Congress Agrees to Another Funding Patch as Deadline Looms

Congress Working to Avoid Shutdown

November 14, 2023

Less than two months after narrowly avoiding a government shutdown, Congress once again is facing an end-of-the-week deadline to extend current funding with another continuing resolution (CR) or face a lapse in appropriations after Friday, November 17. As of today, leadership and bipartisan majorities seem to be coalescing around the legislation laid out by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) that would continue current funding into the new year. A key vote to pass this measure in the House is expected this afternoon.... Read more about Congress Working to Avoid Shutdown

Government Shutdown Likely Averted with Funding Patch until November 17

September 30, 2023

In an unexpected turn of events, the House of Representatives this afternoon on a strong bipartisan vote approved a continuing resolution (CR) to provide 45 days of stopgap federal funding at current levels. The Senate is expected to take up and pass this legislation later today and President Biden will sign it without any disruption in government operations.... Read more about Government Shutdown Likely Averted with Funding Patch until November 17

Congress Makes Progress on Appropriations, NDAA

July 28, 2023

Congress adjourned late yesterday for the August recess, capping a legislative session that included an agreement to suspend the debt limit in exchange for two years of capped discretionary spending, House and Senate passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and progress in committee on the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) appropriations bills. Although some had hoped that the bipartisan agreement on topline spending levels would streamline the annual budget process, significant funding differences have emerged between and within the two bodies and political parties. In addition, hot-button issues, from support for Ukraine to abortion, climate, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), have found their way into nearly every legislative debate, and there have been no discussions on how to bridge these differences before the end of the fiscal year on September 30, raising the specter of at least one continuing resolution and the possibility of a government shutdown.... Read more about Congress Makes Progress on Appropriations, NDAA

Federal Update: President Biden Releases FY24 Budget Request -- UPDATED

March 10, 2023

This week, President Biden released his fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget request, which seeks total discretionary spending of $1.695 trillion, split between $886 billion for defense programs and $688 billion for nondefense, reflecting increases of three and seven percent respectively over FY23. Building on themes and policy proposals in last month’s State of the Union address, the President’s budget for FY24 features deficit-reduction goals alongside new programs and significant new investments in existing initiatives.... Read more about Federal Update: President Biden Releases FY24 Budget Request -- UPDATED

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News from the Harvard Gazette

Bionic leaf turns sunlight into liquid fuel

Bionic leaf turns sunlight into liquid fuel

June 2, 2016

Daniel Nocera, the Patterson Rockwood Professor of Energy at Harvard University, and Pamela Silver, the Elliott T. and Onie H. Adams Professor of Biochemistry and Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School, have co-created a system that uses solar energy to split water molecules and hydrogen-eating bacteria to produce liquid fuels.

Alzheimer’s insights in single cells

Alzheimer’s insights in single cells

February 3, 2016

Building on research reported last year, Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have succeeded in identifying the neurons that secrete the substance responsible for the plaques that build up in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients.

4D-printed structure changes shape when placed in water

4D-printed structure changes shape when placed in water

January 25, 2016

A team of scientists at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) has evolved their microscale 3-D printing technology to the fourth dimension, time.

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Service: Cambridge to Capitol Hill
A Harvard education includes a healthy dose of service, as illustrated by students working in positions from Cambridge to Capitol Hill.
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Harvard Stem Cell Institute - First 5 years
What has the Harvard Stem Cell Institute accomplished in its first 5 years? More »

Harvard's green commitment
Harvard's fall 2008 sustainability celebration included panels, tours, fairs, film screening, coffee-house style discussions - and the very convenient appearance of former Vice President Al Gore.
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Close The Innovation Deficit

The innovation deficit is the gap between actual and necessary federal investments in research and higher education. At a time when other nations such as China, India and Singapore are dramatically boosting research funding to develop the next great technological and medical breakthroughs, the share of the US budget devoted to research has been declining. This video explains the link between basic research and economic growth, and the risk that recent cuts pose to the United States' role as the global innovation leader.