DC Insight - 11/17/2023

If you would like more information regarding any of the stories we share, or if you have any suggestions, please feel free to contact Dusty Schnieders schniedersd@umsystem.edu and/or Emily Lucas lucasem@umsystem.edu.

Follow UM Government Relations on Twitter: @UMGovRelations

Senate passes short-term government funding bill, averting shutdown
ABC News – November 15, 2023
The Senate voted Wednesday night to approve the short-term government funding bill the House passed Tuesday night, averting a government shutdown days before Friday's shutdown deadline. Below is what is included in the CR.

• Continued funding agencies at mostly FY23 enacted funding
• Farm Bill: includes a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill.
• Laddered approach with two deadlines:
  
  • Jan. 19: Agriculture, Energy and Water, Military Construction-VA and Transportation-HUD.
  • Feb. 2: Funding for the rest of the federal government, the eight remaining bills.

Senate, House headed for showdown over defense bill
Defense News – November 17, 2023
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., succeeded in his efforts this week to call a formal House-Senate conference to come to an agreement on the military defense bill also known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), his office said Thursday.

President Joe Biden to Announce First-Ever White House Initiative on Women's Health Research, An Effort Led by First Lady Jill Biden
The White House – November 13, 2023
The White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research will galvanize the Federal government as well as the private and philanthropic sectors to spur innovation, unleash transformative investment to close research gaps, and improve women’s health.

U.S. Department of Commerce Announces 60 Recipients of 'Build to Scale' Program
US Economic Development Administration – November 9, 2023
U.S. Department of Commerce announced “Build to Scale” grants awarded to 60 organizations across the country. This is the 10th cohort of grantees for this program. These EDA investments support innovation industries, such as agriculture technology (agtech), bioscience, advanced manufacturing, blue economy, and health technology, among others. One of the awardees was the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) for $2 million. 

House Republicans Blame DEI Programs for Rise in Campus Antisemitism
Inside Higher Education – November 15, 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs on college campuses are behind the recent spike in campus antisemitism, several House Republicans said Tuesday during a Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development hearing on “confronting the scourge of antisemitism on campus.”