September 8, 2022
Following a remarkably eventful August, during which Congress passed both the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, the fall is likely to be far less eventful. Members of Congress will be eager to wrap up work on the fiscal year 2023 budget in order to return to their districts in order to campaign for the November election. As has become the norm, lawmakers are not expected to complete appropriations for the new fiscal year before it begins on Oct. 1. They are reportedly working on a continuing resolution (CR) - a stopgap spending bill – to keep the government funded past the September 30th deadline. The CR is expected to run until December 16. The White House has asked Congress for additional funding for key priorities including aid for the Ukraine, pandemic measures, and natural disaster recovery. The House passed its version of the FY budget in July – see budget chart here.
Shortly before heading home for the August recess, the Senate Commerce committee narrowly approved the nomination of Arati Prabhakar to lead the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Dr. Prabhakar is awaiting a Senate floor vote.
