Congressional leaders face a critical deadline next week – they must reach a budget agreement by Dec. 13 or the next round of sequester cuts goes into effect, reducing vital government programs by billions of dollars for the second year in a row. Nothing less than our nation’s global competitiveness is on the line. I […]
Today, the Seattle Times published a story highlighting President Elson S. Floyd’s visit to Capitol Hill. President Floyd was invited to join a group of his peers for a series of meetings with members of Congress and the press in Washington, DC to discuss the impacts of sequestration on research universities. The meetings were organized by […]
This week we are ramping up for what is already becoming a rollercoaster of a week here in Washington DC. A showdown is underway as Republicans and Democrats debate on how to fund the government after September 30, 2013. Here is what we know so far. On Friday, the Republican-led House passed a Continuing Resolution […]
September 19, 2013 It was an honor and a privilege to join officials from the Federal Aviation Administration, Sen. Maria Cantwell, Port of Seattle representatives and Alaska Airlines and other aviation industry leaders at Sea-Tac International Airport Friday to celebrate creation of a new FAA Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment. Washington […]
Last week the WSU Government Relations team hosted its annual Congressional and State Legislative Fact Finding Tour. After months of preparation and planning, the three-day event was a great success. Each year WSU brings key congressional and state staff to several WSU locations statewide to highlight research and academic programs. The tour serves an opportunity […]
Despite a week of rainy weather, the streets of Washington DC are becoming a little more crowded as tourists descend on the nation’s capitol for the Fourth of July weekend. With many locals leaving town for the beach, visitors are being greeted with patriotic displays in shopping windows and streets adjourned with stars and stripes […]
Congress left town for the Fourth of July recess with no resolution on extending the current rates for new subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford student loans. The House passed their version of legislation in June, but the Senate still working on consensus and waiting for a CBO score on one proposal, had not scheduled floor time for […]
Following the surprise of the Farm Bill coming up short of votes on the House floor last week, House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor (R-VA) had originally scheduled a vote of the Agriculture Departments FY 2014 budget, however it was pulled from the schedule on Monday and it is unclear if he will put it back […]
Focus this week is shifting to the House. Members of the House will be busy on the floor considering a five-year $939 billion farm bill (H.R.1947), including a large list of amendments that were submitted yesterday. The White House has already released a statement that the President would veto the House version of farm bill […]
Monday kicked off the start to a busy week in both the House and Senate. Yesterday the Senate passed the five-year Farm Bill (S.954) with a vote off 66-27 and move onto a vote today on a comprehensive immigration bill titled the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S.744). The House will begin […]