DC Insight - 9/8/23

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

NIFA Invests $459K to Address Disaster Prep, Response, Recovery and Mitigation in Food and Ag Systems
USDA – September 6, 2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced an investment of $459K for three projects to address disaster preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation in food and agricultural systems to address Disaster Prep, Response, Recovery and Mitigation in Food and Ag Systems. The Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program Awardees include Ohio State University, University of Georgia and University of Missouri. More detailed information on this investment is available by clicking this link.

Senate GOP throws cold water on House shutdown talk
The Hill – September 8, 2023
House conservatives’ threats of a government shutdown are getting a chilly reception from Senate Republicans as they try to temper expectations for what GOP priorities they can achieve amid a looming deadline. The House has just 11 legislative days to pass a stopgap measure to prevent a shutdown, but some hardline conservatives have been embracing the prospect as they look to dial up pressure in spending talks — prompting pushback from Republicans in the upper chamber.

Senators Propose Bipartisan Framework for A.I. Laws
New York Times – September 7, 2023
Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, and Senator Josh Hawley, Republican of Missouri, plan to announce a sweeping framework to regulate artificial intelligence, in the latest effort by Congress to catch up with the technology. The leaders of the Senate judiciary’s subcommittee for privacy, technology and law said that their framework will include requirements for the licensing and auditing of A.I., the creation of an independent federal office to oversee the technology, liability for companies for privacy and civil rights violations, and requirements for data transparency and safety standards.

Multi-Agency Research and Development Priorities for the FY 2025 Budget
The White House – August 17, 2023
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Arati Prabhakar and Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda D. Young sent a memo to heads of executive branch departments and agencies on multi-agency research and development (R&D) priorities for the President’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget. This annual memo outlines the Biden-Harris Administration’s R&D priorities to help guide agency budget submissions. You can read the full memo here.

With Budget Battles Looming in Congress, Prospects for Higher Ed Reforms Don’t Look Bright
Inside Higher Ed – September 8, 2023
Before the August recess, the Senate education committee was supposed to consider legislation related to short-term Pell, but that hearing was canceled. Passing it is a priority for the House education committee and other key lawmakers. Negotiations in the past have broken down over whether to include for-profit and online programs— something that Senate Democrats have historically opposed—and it’s unclear if lawmakers have resolved their differences on those issues.