The Legislative Update presented on March 3, 2023, offered an in-depth overview of key congressional committees and leadership relevant to science, research, and higher education policy, as well as an outlook on legislative and budgetary developments impacting these areas. The session emphasized the ongoing focus in Congress on research security, particularly concerning foreign influence—a topic encompassing implementation of regulations like NSPM-33, CHIPS and Science Act provisions, Section 117 reporting, tech transfer requirements, and increased scrutiny of endowment investments and conflicts of interest within federal agencies and recipients. In parallel, several immigration matters remain under congressional watch, such as legislation related to border security, the DREAM Act, high-skilled immigration, ongoing USCIS fee increase proposals, and persistent visa processing delays, all of which have implications for the higher education and research sector.
The briefing also detailed the annual federal budget process, highlighting the roles of the Executive and Legislative branches, appropriations and authorizing committees, and the timeline beginning with the President’s Budget Request. Select leadership posts on House and Senate appropriations subcommittees were outlined, illustrating the key policymakers influencing federal funding for research, education, and associated domains. Overall, the update provided stakeholders with a concise, structured understanding of the current policy environment, major legislative priorities, and procedural landscape shaping fiscal year 2024 and beyond for research institutions and their partners.
