72nd Annual University of Michigan Congressional Breakfast
President Santa Ono speaks. Photo courtesy of Paul Sherman
Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY-6) delivers the keynote address. Photo courtesy of Paul Sherman
On Wednesday, March 15th, the University of Michigan Club of Greater Washington, D.C. hosted its 72nd annual Congressional Breakfast. The event brought together alumni, congressional staff, U-M leadership, and business leaders.
President Santa Ono delivered remarks highlighting U-M’s impact in D.C., saying his goal is to “better connect the leaders and best in Ann Arbor with the best and brightest in D.C.” He went on to say that “together, we can find solutions. For I am confident that our brightest days are still ahead. And I am convinced that by constantly discovering, learning, connecting and aspiring, we can transform our world.”
Representative Grace Meng (D-NY-6), a 1997 U-M alumna, provided the keynote address. She discussed her experience at U-M, noting how the university’s diversity created an environment where she could listen to and learn from others. The different people and varied campus groups presented options to participate in different activities, but she could always come back to the larger university community and remain connected to her fellow students.
Proceeds from the event help provide scholarship support to D.C.-area students attending U-M. Further information on the breakfast is available in a Record article here.
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Congressional Calendar
The U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives will be in session next week.
Committee Hearings
Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Full Committee Hearing: Drug Shortage Health and National Security Risks: Underlying Causes and Needed Reforms
10:00 AM, 562 Dirksen
**U-M’s Dr. Andrew Shuman, Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Michigan Medical School and Chief of the Clinical Ethics Service in the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, will be testifying**
Senate Committee on Finance
Full Committee Hearing: The President's FY24 Health and Human Services Budget
10:00 AM, 215 Dirksen
Senate Committee on Appropriations
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee Hearing: A Review of the President's FY24 Funding Request for the Department of Health and Human Services
2:30 PM, 138 Dirksen
Thursday, March 23rd, 2023
Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Full Committee Hearing: Examining Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities to the United States' Energy Infrastructure
10:00 AM, 366 Dirksen
Senate Committee on Appropriations
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee Hearing: Funding Request and Budget Justification for the U.S. Department of Transportation
10:00 AM, 192 Dirksen
House Committee on Appropriations
Defense Subcommittee Hearing: FY24 Request for the Department of Defense
10:00 AM, 2359 Rayburn
House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
Full Committee Hearing: Advanced Air Mobility: The Future of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Beyond
10:00 AM, 2318 Rayburn
House Committee on Homeland Security
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee Hearing: The State of American Cybersecurity from a Stakeholder Perspective
10:00 AM, 310 Cannon
House Committee on Appropriations
Energy and Water Subcommittee Hearing: FY24 Request for the Department of Energy
10:30 AM, 2362-B Rayburn
House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
Energy Subcommittee Hearing: Unleashing American Power: the Development of Next Generation Energy Infrastructure
2:00 PM, 2318 Rayburn
House Committee on Armed Services
Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation Subcommittee Hearing: Science, Technology, and Innovation at the Department of Defense
3:30 PM, 2216 Rayburn
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Request For Information and Public Comment Opportunities
Government agencies and other organizations issue Requests for Information (RFIs) that allow stakeholders to provide input, shaping the decisions that the federal government makes. The below RFIs have been issued and are currently accepting input. If you are planning to submit a response, we would love to know! Please email us at UM.FedRel@umich.edu.
U.S. Department of Education Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Related to Religious Student Organizations and First Amendment and Free Inquiry Related Grant Conditions RFI
Last September, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced it was conducting a review of regulations related to First Amendment freedoms. Pursuant to that review, ED issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to rescind a portion of the regulation about religious student organizations. ED stated that the regulation is not necessary to protect the First Amendment’s rights to free speech and free exercise of religion given the sufficiency of well-established existing legal protections afforded religious student organizations.
The U.S. Department of Education also issued a Request for Information regarding other parts of the regulations, known as the "free inquiry rule." These regulations mandate that public institutions of higher education (IHEs) receiving certain U.S. Department of Education grants comply with the First Amendment. They also stipulate how ED will determine public IHEs to be in violation of ED’s grant conditions in cases where a public IHE has been found by a court to have violated the First Amendment. This RFI seeks input on how these regulations have affected decisions surrounding First Amendment and free speech-related litigation in Federal and State courts, how the regulations have affected public IHE’s approach to designing institutional policies regarding freedom of speech, and other issues.
Comments are due March 24th, 2023, and can be submitted here.
DOE National Laboratories as Catalysts of Regional Innovation RFI
The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Request for Information regarding opportunities to strengthen place-based innovation activities leveraging the DOE National Laboratories and Sites. The objective of this RFI is to identify both opportunities and challenges for developing place-based innovation ecosystems anchored by the DOE National Laboratories and Sites, and what ongoing activities would benefit from additional support. The DOE is seeking information related to regional characteristics, descriptions of existing place-based innovation activity in the region, and descriptions of potential new or expanded place-based innovation activities in the region.
Responses to the RFI must be received by March 28th, 2023. Comments can be submitted here.
U.S. Department of Education Extends Deadline for Comments on Third-Party Servicers
Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) extended its comment period for its Dear Colleague letter on Third-Party Servicers (TPS) to March 30th, 2023. ED had previously announced that it was revising its guidance concerning TPS that are used to perform various functions for institutions of higher education (IHEs), including student recruiting and retention, providing software and services involving the administration of Title IV financial aid, and the provision of curriculum on campus. Companies providing such services are sometimes referred to as “online program managers” or OPMs.
The Higher Education Act provides ED with oversight authority over any agreements IHEs make with TPS to administer the IHE’s Title IV activities. Due to an increase in the use of OPMs at IHEs and a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report highlighting the need for more oversight of OPMs, ED’s Dear Colleague details how it plans to update its guidance involving TPS. The Dear Colleague letter also details various reporting requirements IHE’s will have to comply with related to their use of TPS.
Comments are due March 30th, 2023, and can be submitted here. The guidance in the Dear Colleague Letter and the reporting requirements will not become effective until September 1st, 2023.
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Nomination Announcements
Federal Advisory Committees provide an opportunity for the public to serve the federal government, providing their expertise and influencing the operations of federal agencies.
New and Upcoming Openings
Committee of Scientific Advisers on Marine Mammals
The Marine Mammal Commission is seeking nominations for membership on the Committee of Scientific Advisers on Marine Mammals. The committee consists of scientists knowledgable in marine ecology and marine mammal affairs, and consults the Marine Mammal Commission on all studies and recommendations for research programs. In particular, the Commission requires a high level of knowledge with respect to the biology and ecology of certain marine mammal species that require special attention due to their small population size or threats they face.
Nominations are due April 1st, 2023. Further information is available here.
EPA National Drinking Water Advisory Council
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for three-year appointments to the National Drinking Water Advisory Council. This council was established to provide independent advice, consultation, and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on matters relating to activities, functions, policies, and regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Applicants should have experience with drinking water issues, water hygiene, environmental justice, and public health.
Nominations are due April 12th, 2023. Further information is available here.
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