Washington Updates

Facing a Lengthy To-Do List, Congress Begins Stretch Run to August Recess

July 24, 2020

Ahead of its traditional monthlong break beginning August 7, Congress is working to move forward and, in some cases, complete action on critical funding measures. The House has made substantial progress on FY21 legislation with a goal of completing action on all 12 appropriations bills within the next week. Less clear at this point but considered a must-do across the government is the next COVID-19 relief package. Finally, the annual FY21 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – setting defense policy for the next year – is well underway, although final approval is not expected until September.... Read more about Facing a Lengthy To-Do List, Congress Begins Stretch Run to August Recess

CARES Act Supplemental Funding for Small Businesses, Hospitals and Testing Approved

April 23, 2020

After two weeks of tense negotiations, Congress completed action this afternoon on a bipartisan $484 billion package to replenish funding for the popular small business loan program, provide additional supports for hospitals and health care providers, and expand COVID-19 testing nationwide. The Senate passed the legislation unanimously on Tuesday night, the House approval was forced to wait until today as certain members insisted on a recorded vote so members needed to time to return to town. The final House vote was 388 – 5 (and one abstention), and the President is expected to sign the legislation into law as quickly as possible.... Read more about CARES Act Supplemental Funding for Small Businesses, Hospitals and Testing Approved

Bipartisan Agreement on $2 Trillion COVID-19 Stimulus Package

March 25, 2020

Congress and the Administration have agreed to a nearly $2 trillion package of urgent assistance, economic stimulus and supplemental appropriations to address the ongoing national public health emergency. This third legislative package responding to COVID 19 builds on earlier efforts (for information on the first and second please see our update here) and includes a wide range of economic supports, from expanded unemployment insurance to small-business loans, direct payments to individuals, corporate financial support, tax relief, flexibilities for student aid, and funding for research and development related to COVID-19. The Senate is expected to pass the measure quickly, although last minute drafting is continuing, and the House is exploring options for passing swiftly with the expectation that the bill will reach the President before the end of the week.... Read more about Bipartisan Agreement on $2 Trillion COVID-19 Stimulus Package

Federal Government’s Emerging COVID-19 Response

March 18, 2020

In the last two weeks, the federal government has been working to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and domestic public health and economic crisis, with efforts intensifying after the President declared a national emergency late last week. Ten days ago, a first bill was approved and signed to inject $8.3 billion into CDC, NIH, and the nation’s public health infrastructure. A second major emergency-funding package totaling nearly $100 billion was approved by House last week to support the public’s health and caregiving needs. This measure is pending in the Senate, while work on a third package to address the larger economic fallout of the pandemic is already underway with a likely cost between  $750 billion and $1 trillion in direct funding and tax supports.... Read more about Federal Government’s Emerging COVID-19 Response

Federal Update | Good Start on Congressional Appropriations Although Long Road Ahead

May 10, 2019

The House Appropriations Committee began the annual appropriations process in earnest this week, advancing the first of 12 funding bills for Fiscal Year 2020. In marked contrast to the President’s FY20 budget proposal, it was an encouraging start for University priorities, as appropriators approved substantial increases across student aid programs at the Department of Education and a $2 billion boost for the National Institutes of Health.

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Federal Update | President’s Budget Outline for FY20 Released

March 12, 2019

The White House yesterday released its topline budget request for Fiscal Year 2020, once again proposing increased spending on defense, large cuts to spending on non-defense and mandatory programs, and significant new funding for a border wall. Of these familiar themes, which were included in each of the President’s two prior budget requests, only a growing defense budget has come to fruition. With Democrats now in control of the House and the 2020 election cycle already underway, the President’s newest budget is no more likely to be enacted than previous versions. However, it does give...

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Federal Update | 116th Congress to be Sworn in as Partial Shutdown Continues

January 2, 2019

Congress officially returns on January 3 to begin the 116th Congress with Democrats taking control of the House on the strength of their strong returns in November. Divided control of government will face an immediate challenge in the stalled efforts to address the partial government shutdown which began December 22. The new House leaders have pledged to act immediately on legislation to end the shutdown, although Republican Senate leaders indicate they will follow the President’s lead and are unlikely to take up the House legislation. With the shutdown heading into its second...

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Federal Update: Strong Outcomes for FY19

September 18, 2018

The Senate today overwhelmingly passed a two-bill spending package for FY19 comprised of the two largest annual funding bills – Labor-HHS-Education and Defense – which together make up about 63 percent of annual discretionary spending. It is a particularly important package for research universities since it provides strong increases for NIH (+5.4%), DARPA (+11.7%) and defense basic research (+11.8%), as well as a $100 increase to the maximum Pell Grant. Notably, FY19 will be the fourth straight year that NIH will receive a boost of at least $2 billion, bringing total funding to $9 billion more than NIH’s FY15 level.... Read more about Federal Update: Strong Outcomes for FY19

Federal Update: September Outlook in Washington

September 5, 2018

With attention focused on the White House and the upcoming November midterm elections, Congress made notable progress this summer on FY19 funding measures but returns this week to a busy and likely contentious fall session. Members will be working against several major deadlines: the start of the new fiscal year October 1, which will drive attention to appropriations, and the start of the fall Supreme Court term also on October 1, which conservatives are eying as a deadline for confirmation of nominee Brett Kavanaugh. In addition, Congress and the Administration will increasingly be focused on the midterms with majorities in the House and Senate hanging in the balance. While we will have to wait until November for clarity on who controls Capitol Hill, we know now that there will be a lot of new faces in the next Congress, given near record Republican retirements, a well as turnover on the Democratic side – including last night in Massachusetts, where Boston City Councilwoman Ayanna Pressley defeated 10-term Representative Michael Capuano in a district that includes Allston and Longwood.... Read more about Federal Update: September Outlook in Washington

Federal Update: Progress on the Congressional To-Do List

June 29, 2018

While the White House continues to dominate the headlines, the House and Senate have been making steady progress on must-do legislation including FY19 funding measures and the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Recognizing the shortened legislative window in an election year, members continue to push for action on immigration, although so far these efforts have not proven successful at breaking the impasse. Heading into the July 4 congressional recess, we wanted to provide an update on Congress’s progress so far and give some indications of what to expect moving forward on University priorities.... Read more about Federal Update: Progress on the Congressional To-Do List

Federal Update: Congress Releases Final FY18 Omnibus Funding bill

March 22, 2018

Bringing to an end the drawn-out negotiations over FY18 federal funding, Congressional leaders released a final omnibus-spending bill late Wednesday. The package allocates $1.3 trillion in FY18 funding across all government accounts and, on account of Congress’s agreement last month to eliminate the sequester, provides big increases for defense, as well as boosts to a number of University priorities, including a significant $3 billion increase for NIH.... Read more about Federal Update: Congress Releases Final FY18 Omnibus Funding bill

Federal Update: Congress Approves Two-Year, $300 Billion Budget Increase

February 9, 2018

After Senate Majority and Minority Leaders Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY, AB’71, JD’74) unveiled a massive budget agreement on early Thursday, Congress moved quickly to continue government funding and pass this deal. There were objections to the deal from Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) that led to a brief middle of the night shutdown but ultimately, the deal continuing funding and providing a $300 billion increase of discretionary funding for fiscal years 2018 and 2019 passed both houses with strong bipartisan votes of 71-28 and 240-186. The President signed the bill this morning.... Read more about Federal Update: Congress Approves Two-Year, $300 Billion Budget Increase

Federal Update: Congress Passes Tax Reform, Avoids Shutdown, will Adjourn for the Year

December 21, 2017

In its final week before adjourning for the year, Congress moved to clear the deck of some major outstanding issues, beginning with final passage of the tax reform bill (more information here) on Wednesday. With that package headed to the President’s desk for his signature, Congress turned its attention to funding the government ahead of the December 22 expiration of the current continuing resolution (CR). Unprepared to finalize spending for the year, lawmakers passed yet another short-term CR to provide stopgap funding at current spending levels through January 19.... Read more about Federal Update: Congress Passes Tax Reform, Avoids Shutdown, will Adjourn for the Year

Federal Update: Tax Bill Emerges from Conference: A Mixed Bag for Higher Education

December 16, 2017

Continuing at breakneck speed, conferees agreed Friday to a final version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and released the language of the bill to the public late in the day. Final votes are expected in the House and Senate next week. After last minute jockeying by members, leadership has solidified Republican support for the bill and we do not anticipate further changes or roadblocks to its passage.... Read more about Federal Update: Tax Bill Emerges from Conference: A Mixed Bag for Higher Education

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