Federal and Legislative Updates
May 2024 Federal and Legislative Updates
May 8, 2024
NIH raises compensation levels for NRSA scholars The NIH recently announced plans to raise annual pay levels for pre- and postdoctoral scholars supported by the Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) at NIH-funded external institutions over the next five years. In FY24, predoctoral scholars will see an approximate 4% increase, bringing their pay level to ... Read more
April 2024 Federal and Legislative Update
April 11, 2024
Congress passes FY24 bills In March, Congress passed all twelve spending bills for FY24, which began October 1. Lawmakers passed the spending legislation in two parts, with six appropriations bills in each package. Many research and student aid programs received flat funding or decreases compared to the previous fiscal year. See the Office of Federal ... Read more
March 2024 Federal and Legislative Update
March 13, 2024
Congress passes half of FY24 bills ahead of March 22 deadline On March 8, Congress passed a comprehensive FY24 spending package encompassing six bills: Agriculture-FDA, Energy-Water, Military Construction-VA, Transportation-HUD, Interior-Environment, and Commerce-Justice-Science. President Biden signed the spending package into law on March 9. This action marks completion of six out of the total twelve spending ... Read more
February 2024 Federal and Legislative Update
February 8, 2024
FY24 spending bills update An agreement on funding levels for the 12 annual spending bills that fund the government has been reached following extensive negotiations. Topline numbers have not been publicly disclosed. Congressional appropriators can now determine the specific funding details for every program and department within each government agency. Congress’s self-imposed deadlines for passing ... Read more
January 2024 Federal and Legislative Update
January 11, 2024
Congress works to make FY24 funding agreement before Jan. 19 deadline Senate and House leaders say they have reached an agreement on FY24 funding levels. Overall, the agreement would increase defense spending by 3% and non-defense discretionary funding would stay roughly flat. The deal does not specify the amounts for each of the twelve FY24 ... Read more
December 2023 Federal and Legislative Update
December 14, 2023
FY24 funding agreement discussions continue In November, lawmakers avoided a government shutdown by passing a two-step continuing resolution (CR) that funds some federal government agencies through January 19, and others through February 2, 2024. In a letter to his colleagues on December 7, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) stated his intention to complete action on full-year bills ahead ... Read more
November 2023 Federal and Legislative Update
November 8, 2023
U.S. House elects new Speaker as funding extension deadline nears Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) has been elected Speaker of the House, and both the House and Senate continue to work on their respective FY24 appropriations bills. The current government funding, supported by a continuing resolution (CR), is set to expire on November 17. Prior to ... Read more
October 2023 Federal and Legislative Update
October 12, 2023
Federal funding deadline reset to November 17 Congress approved a short-term continuing resolution on September 30, setting November 17 as the new funding deadline to avert a government shutdown. In the weeks prior, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) instructed agency leaders to commence preparations by reminding them of their obligations to review ... Read more
September 2023 Federal and Legislative Update
September 12, 2023
Congress must pass continuing resolution to avert October 1 shutdown Following their August recess period, House and Senate lawmakers have returned to Washington, D.C. to work on FY24 appropriations. There is not enough time for both chambers to pass all 12 spending bills before the start of the next fiscal year on October 1. Congress ... Read more
August 2023 Federal and Legislative Update
August 9, 2023
Congress departs Capitol Hill for August recess Both the House and Senate wrapped up their legislative business on July 27 and started their respective summer recess periods, which will end after Labor Day. When lawmakers return in September, they will have much to do – including funding the federal government past September 30. Senate appropriators pass ... Read more