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W E E K L Y  U P D A T E  June 1st, 2020
 
In this Week's Issue:
House Leadership Announces Summer Schedule and Legislative Priorities
Senate Draft of Endless Frontier Act To Propose Major Federal Technology Investment
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House Leadership Announces Summer Schedule and Legislative Priorities
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) has released the planned schedule for the U.S. House to move forward with its legislative business over the summer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier in the spring, the House passed a resolution that allow s proxy voting, where one Member of Congress votes on behalf of another, while also allowing c ommittees to proceed remotely with official legislative business meetings. According Majority Leader Hoyer this will allow the House to consider legislation in committees and on the Floor while protecting Member and staff safety over the summer months. The resolution does not allow a single Member to serve as proxy for more than 10 other Members.
Majority Leader Hoyer also outlined key legislative priorities for the House moving forward that include:
  • The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA);
  • An infrastructure package that includes reauthorization of expiring surface transportation provisions;
  • The 2020 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA);
  • Legislation to strengthen and expand the Affordable Care Act; and
  • The FY 2021 appropriation bills.

A calendar outlining the House's committee and voting schedule can be found here.
Senate Draft of Endless Frontier Act To Propose Major Federal Technology Investment
 
A bill to be introduced in the U.S. Senate by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) proposes a major federal investment of $110 billion over ten years to spur technological innovation. The bill would create a new directorate focused on technology in the National Science Foundation (NSF), funding it with $100 billion, and also would create a new office in the Department of Commerce and 10 to 15 regional hubs to advance the development and implementation of those technologies.

This proposed legislation would represent a historic level of new federal investment in scientific and technological innovation.

Support for this approach to technological innovation and implementation is broad, including statements lauding the approach from the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, the American Manufacturing Communities Collaborative, and the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

The proposed Senate bill can be examined here:

This Week in Washington

In the House:


In the Senate:



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