On the Hill:
Last week was a big week in DC. While the House considered a number of appropriation bills, the Senate Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee (CJS) passed the Senate’s FY16 CJS appropriations bill. While the House version of this bill contained language that would direct the National Science Foundation (NSF) to fund four specific NSF office directorates within Congressional provided ranges, the Senate left that decision to the NSF. This represented a small win for institutions such as Washington State University that compete for funds for basic scientific related research beyond the four directorates listed in the House version of the bill.
The Senate CJS Appropriations Bill would provide $7.3 billion for the National Science Foundation, $18.3 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and $893 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
See the status report of appropriations bills provided by McBee Strategic Consulting:
House Appropriations*:
| Subcommittee |
Legislation |
Subcommittee Markup |
Full Committee Markup |
Considered on Floor |
Status |
| Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies |
|
|
|
|
|
| Commerce, Justice, and Science |
H.R. 2578 |
May 14 |
May 20 |
June 2 |
Passed, 242-183 |
| Defense |
H.R. 2685 |
May 20 |
June 2 |
June 10 |
Passed, 278-149 |
| Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies |
H.R. 2028 |
April 15 |
April 22 |
April 29 |
Passed, 240-177 |
| Financial Services and General Government |
|
June 11 |
June 17 |
|
|
| Homeland Security |
|
|
|
|
|
| Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies |
|
June 10 |
June 16 |
|
|
| Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies |
|
June 17 |
|
|
|
| Legislative Branch |
H.R. 2250 |
April 23 |
April 30 |
May 19 |
Passed, 357-67 |
| Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies |
H.R. 2029 |
April 15 |
April 22 |
April 29 |
Passed, 255-163 |
| State and Foreign Operations |
|
June 3 |
June 11 |
|
|
| Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies |
H.R. 2577 |
April 29 |
May 13 |
June 4 |
Passed, 216-210 |
Senate Appropriations*:
| Subcommittee |
Legislation |
Subcommittee Markup |
Full Committee Markup |
Considered on Floor |
Status |
| Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies |
|
|
|
|
|
| Commerce, Justice, and Science |
|
June 10 |
June 11 |
|
|
| Defense |
|
June 9 |
June 11 |
|
|
| Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies |
|
May 19 |
May 21 |
|
|
| Financial Services and General Government |
|
|
|
|
|
| Homeland Security |
|
June 16 |
|
|
|
| Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies |
|
June 16 |
|
|
|
| Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies |
|
|
|
|
|
| Legislative Branch |
|
|
June 11 |
|
|
| Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies |
|
May 19 |
May 21 |
|
|
| State and Foreign Operations |
|
|
|
|
|
| Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies |
|
|
|
|
|
*Graphs courtesy of McBee Strategic Consulting
This week the Senate is expected to continue consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Once business on the NDAA is completed, Senate Majority Leader McConnell has announced his intention to move shortly after to consideration of the defense appropriations bill.
Senate Democrats have stated their intention to block all appropriations bills on the Senate floor due to the use of money from the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) fund to sidestep spending caps. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) described the Democrats’ motivations: “We will not vote to proceed to the Defense appropriations bill or any appropriations bills until Republicans have sat down at the table and figured out with us how we’re going to properly fund the Defense Department … and our families’ domestic needs.”
After a trying week for President Obama and Speaker Boehner on trade, the House will vote again on Trade Adjustment Assistance. If the procedural motion passes, the House will hold a new vote on Trade Adjustment Assistance.
The House is expected to consider a number of healthcare and Medicare bills, including H.R. 160, the Protect Medical Innovation Act, H.R. 2507, the Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act, and H.R. 6, the 21st Century Cures Act. The House may also consider its State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill.
Additionally, today the House Rules Committee released a notice that it will meet on June 16 regarding H. Con. Res. 55, which directs the president to remove US Armed Forces deployed to Iraq or Syria on or after August 7, 2014, pursuant to the War Powers Resolution. After the Committee meets, the House could consider this measure next week.
WSU in DC:
Visiting last week, Chancellor of WSU North Puget Sound at EverettBob Drewel and Dean Paul Pitre, had the opportunity to introduce themselves and discuss the needs that the campus has been designed to meet. 
Dr. Guy Palmer, Director of the Paul G. Allen School of Global Animal Health, met with individuals from several key agencies, including the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, to discuss the importance of the institution’s research.
Additionally, WSU grid experts Dr. Anjan Bose and Dr. Chen Ching Liu, met with Washington delegation staff to discuss the Grid Security project. This project could have large scale implications for how electric power services are delivered.