2022 Capitol Hill Outlook

Congress is entering a jam-packed year with sky high aspirations, but serious roadblocks stand in the way of significant legislation passing into law.

The Federal government is currently operation under a continuing resolution (CR), which expires February 18. Congressional appropriators are still attempting to find agreement on spending plans that would fund the government through the remainder of fiscal year 2022 (FY22). Little progress has been made, however, and concerns of a year-long CR

House Committee Discusses the Balance of Open Science and Global Competition

October 6, 2021

The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology met on October 5 for a hearing to examine Balancing Open Science and Security in the U.S. Research Enterprise. Members of Congress expressed concern over increasing threats to sensitive information from foreign countries looking to gain an advantage in global research and development competition. Nonetheless, Representatives on both sides of the aisle communicated their commitment to openness and

Congress Avoids Shutdown, but Uncertainty Remains

October 1, 2021

On Thursday night, Congress passed a continuing resolution (CR) narrowly avoiding a government shutdown that would have gone into effect at midnight on September 30th. The legislation maintains current funding levels until December 3, by which time Congress will again have to find agreement on spending levels for fiscal year (FY) 2022. The bill also included emergency supplemental funding for disaster relief related to recent hurricanes, as well as for Afghan resettlement

Budget Update: House Passes Bill that Combines Short Term Funding with Lifting Debt Limit

September 22, 2021

Congress continues to inch closer to a number of key deadlines in the coming weeks. Most importantly, government funding expires on September 30 and the federal debt limit will be reached sometime in October. If Congress fails to pass appropriations and lift the debt limit, the government will shut down and the Treasury will be unable to meet its financial obligations. 

On September 21, the House of Representatives passed a bill combining short-term