DC Insight - 11/11/2022

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Budget panel race is on, regardless of Ways and Means outcome
Roll Call – November 3, 2022
Missouri Rep. Jason Smith, the current top Republican on Budget, is running for his party's top slot on the Ways and Means Committee to replace the retiring Kevin Brady, R-Texas. But if Smith loses that three-way race against more senior Ways and Means Republicans Vern Buchanan of Florida and Adrian Smith of Nebraska, he is expected to try to remain the top Republican on Budget.

Schumer Said to Prioritize Judges When Lame Duck Begins
Bloomberg Law – November 10, 2022
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is preparing to focus on federal judicial nominees rather than the annual defense authorization bill when the Senate returns for its lame-duck session next week, according to people familiar with the matter. Progressives have urged the Democratic-led Senate to continue processing Joe Biden’s judicial nominees even if results of the midterms aren’t known when lawmakers resume work Nov. 14.

DoD's Microelectronics Commons Takes Shape
U.S. Department of Defense – November 4, 2022
Thanks to funding provided by the CHIPS and Science Act, DoD is about to bring the Microelectronics Commons to life. This key network of microelectronics infrastructure investments, facilities, companies, and manufacturers is designed to empower commercial leaders to guide the DoD's efforts in microelectronics development. With the creation of regional technology hubs, each focusing on key technology areas, the Microelectronics Commons will close the gap between research ideas and realization of those ideas

Midterm takeaways: Unusual elections end on unexpected turf
Roll Call – November 9, 2022
As a block, this year’s midterm races did not go as expected. But even as Democrats stemmed their losses in the House and as the Senate still hangs in the balance. As the results pour in, themes are emerging in what motivated voters and whether candidates and money matter. Here are some takeaways from the 2022 midterm elections. 

Here’s who won open House seats in the 2022 midterms
Roll Call – November 8, 2022
Missouri’s 4th Congressional District: Republican Mark Alford, a former Fox 4 TV anchor, defeated Democrat Jack Truman to capture the seat held by Rep. Vicky Hartzler, who lost a primary bid for Senate.
Missouri’s 7th Congressional District: State Sen. Eric Burlison defeated Democrat Kristen Radaker-Sheafer, a business owner from Joplin, to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Billy Long, who lost his primary bid for U.S. Senate.

Missouri Election Results
New York Times – LIVE
Attorney General Eric Schmitt won the Republican Senate nomination in Missouri, taking the U.S. Senate seat of retiring Senator Roy Blunt. This New York Times article, includes results for federal races, state races and ballet measures in Missouri.

Some labs, projects win big as Department of Energy disburses extra funds
Science – November 9, 2022
Funding just became a little flusher for thousands of researchers supported by the Department of Energy (DOE). The department’s Office of Science last week announced how it will distribute a one-time infusion of $1.55 billion provided by Congress under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which President Joe Biden signed into law in August. The office will spread the money over 52 projects already in the works, in amounts ranging from $650,000 to $256 million.

Rep. Cleaver Introduces Legislation to Bring Transparency, Equal Opportunity to Management of College and University Endowments
Congressman Cleaver Press Release – October 26, 2022
Rep. Cleaver introduced the Endowment Transparency Act of 2022. The legislation would provide public transparency and accountability for diversity and inclusion in the management of more than $821 billion in assets from higher education endowments.

The Supreme Court Is Poised to Handcuff Universities
Politico – October 31, 2022
For decades, the Supreme Court has ruled affirmative action can be used to help overcome the historical gap in educational opportunity among racial and ethnic groups. That may be about to change by the end of the Court’s current term.