DC Insight - 4/7/23

If you would like more information regarding any of the stories we share, or if you have any suggestions, please feel free to contact Dusty Schnieders schniedersd@umsystem.edu and/or Emily Lucas lucasem@umsystem.edu.

Follow UM Government Relations on Twitter: @UMGovRelations

NIFA Invests $5M for Higher Education Challenge
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) – April 4, 2023
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture has announced an investment of $5 million for 18 projects as part of the Higher Education Challenge (HEC). The HEC program strengthens institutional capacities, including curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems and student recruitment and retention, to respond to identified state, regional, national or international educational needs in the food and agricultural sciences, or in rural economic, community and business development. It focuses on improving formal, baccalaureate, or master’s degree level food and agricultural sciences education, and first professional degree-level education in veterinary medicine (DVM). The University of Missouri and University of Missouri-Kansas City were two of the 18 projects selected.

Biden Vetoes Congressional Bid to Undo His Water Regulations
The Hill – April 6, 2023
President Biden on Thursday vetoed an attempt by Congress to undo waterway pollution regulations put forward by his administration — marking the second veto of his presidency and effectively killing the attempt to nullify the water rule. 

DOE Releases Strategy to Accelerate and Expand Domestic Offshore Wind Deployment
U.S. Department of Energy – March 29, 2023
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the release of its Offshore Wind Energy Strategy, a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive summary of the Department’s efforts to meet President Biden’s goal to deploy 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy by 2030 and set the nation on a pathway to 110 GW or more by 2050. Deploying 30 GW of offshore wind would provide enough power for 10 million homes, support 77,000 jobs, and spur $12 billion per year in direct private investment. The Department-wide strategy outlines how DOE will support the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind in support of achieving a carbon-free electricity sector by 2035.

Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship
U.S. Department of Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship program funds recent graduates and energy professionals to support critical energy organizations to advance clean energy solutions that will help decarbonize the power system, electrify transportation and industry, and make the U.S. power system more resilient, equitable and inclusive.

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Funded Technical Assistance for Building Energy Codes
Department of Energy, Office of State and Community Energy Programs - March 31, 2023
The Department of Energy’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) announced its intent to make $1 billion in funding available to states and local governments for improved building codes that reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency through the IRA Funded Technical Assistance for the Adoption of Building Energy Codes. 

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $50 Million to Incentivize Smart Manufacturing at Small-and Medium-Sized Facilities
Department of Energy – March 31, 2023
The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announced $50 million in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for states to ensure that smart manufacturing technologies and high-performance computing are more accessible by domestic manufacturing firms.

HHS Releases National Cancer Plan
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - April 3, 2023
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a National Cancer Plan, developed by the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Cancer Institute (NCI). “The plan provides a framework for everyone—across the federal government and all of society—to collaborate in ending cancer as we know it, and to realize the vision laid out by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden’s Cancer Moonshot.”

US to build $300 million database to fuel Alzheimer's research
Reuters - April 3, 2023
The U.S. National Institute on Aging (NIA) is funding a 6-year, up to $300 million project to build a massive Alzheimer's research database that can track the health of Americans for decades and enable researchers to gain new insights on the brain-wasting disease.

House GOP Launches Probe into Use of COVID-19 Education Funds
The Hill – April 4, 2023
House Republicans announced Tuesday they are investigating potential misuse of coronavirus pandemic education funds and are requesting documents from the Department of Education regarding its guidance and use of the money. 

Education Department unveils Title IX transgender sports eligibility rule
Politico – April 6, 2023
The Education Department on Thursday unveiled its proposed rule on athletics eligibility that bolsters transgender students’ rights to play on sports teams — but includes some limitations. The proposal would bar schools from adopting or enforcing policies that categorically ban transgender students from participating on teams consistent with their gender identity. But the Education Department also added the caveat that “in some instances, particularly in competitive high school and college athletic environments, some schools may adopt policies that limit transgender students’ participation.”