DC Insight - 3/24/2023

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New NCAA President Meets with Lawmakers on Next Steps for NIL
Sports Illustrated - March 17, 2023
Baker met with nine members of Congress over the past two weeks, including at least five U.S. senators, multiple legislative aides tell Sports Illustrated. The meetings, with members of both parties and both branches, were described as introductory in nature and will likely serve as the first in ongoing conversations between Baker and lawmakers over potential federal legislation to govern college athlete compensation.

Congresswoman Bush Secures Over $82 Million Disaster Recovery Funding for St. Louis Region
Congresswoman Cori Bush Press Release – March 15, 2023
Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) announces that she secured $82,259,000 in disaster recovery for the St. Louis region through Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) grant funds. These funds are appropriated by Congress and allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to rebuild disaster-impacted areas and provide crucial seed money to start the long-term recovery process.  Congresswoman Bush advocated for this funding by working directly with HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge to prioritize St. Louis during last year’s appropriations negotiations, in response to the historic flooding that devastated her district last summer.

Hawley COVID Origins Bill Signed Into Law
Senator Josh Hawley Press Release - March 20, 2023
Today Senator Josh Hawley's COVID Origins Act of 2023 was signed into law by President Biden. The legislation requires the Biden administration to declassify intelligence related to any potential links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the origins of the COVID pandemic.  

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces New Bold Goals and Priorities to Advance American Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing
White House – March 22, 2023
In September, President Biden signed an Executive Order (E.O.) to advance biotechnology and biomanufacturing innovation for a sustainable, safe, and secure American bioeconomy. This week, the White House released their bold goals for U.S. biotechnology and biomanufacturing, report here. One of their goals being, – In 5 years, deploy broad synthetic biology and biomanufacturing capabilities to produce at least 25% of all active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for small molecule drugs.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is releasing its Biomanufacturing Strategy to guide these investments, and its broader efforts in this critical technology field.  In support of the strategy, DoD is issuing a formal request for information on biomanufactured products and process capabilities that could help address defense needs and whose development and commercialization could be addressed by DoD investment.

House Passes Parental School Oversight Measure
Roll Call - March 24, 2023
House Republicans on Friday passed a bill that would mandate local school systems give parents greater oversight over education, making good on a 2022 campaign pledge by Speaker Kevin McCarthy and providing fodder for a 2024 campaign battle over public schools.

Treating Farm Families Unfairly?
Inside Higher Ed – March 21, 2023
Students from families that own farms or small businesses could see less financial aid under the new formula set to launch this year, but some groups are calling on Congress to fix the issue before the new FAFSA is released.