The DC Digest

Duke Government Relations

Duke in DC's Top News Today:

Senate Resumes Work as Funding Deadlines Approach
Senate Republican White Paper on Artificial Intelligence
White House Encourages More Public Engagement with the Sciences
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The Highlights 📰

Budget & Appropriations

The latest coverage on Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations that are relevant to Duke.

Duke Government Relations' primer on the federal appropriations process.

SENATE BEGINS WORK ON PASSING APPROPRIATIONS BILLS

Having returned from August recess this week, the Senate announced plans to try and pass their 12 appropriations bills in a series of smaller packages known as 'minibus' bills. As reported by POLITICO, "The first minibus is expected to bundle some of the least controversial bills coming out of the 12 Appropriations subcommittees, including the Agriculture-FDA and Military Construction-VA measures, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said Tuesday. Collins, the top Republican appropriator in the Senate, said a third bill is still being discussed."

(Mini)Bus Stops

UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE DEADLINES

As we have discussed in previous Digests, Congress is returning from recess to several key deadlines this month. National Journal has provided this graphic to highlight the key upcoming dates.

Additional Federal Relations Items of Interest to Duke

SENATE REPUBLICAN RELEASES PAPER ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), ranking member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, released a new white paper this week exploring the government's role in regulating artificial intelligence. The many topics the paper explores include drug R&D, health care, health data privacy, and education and curriculum access. Senator Cassidy noted in releasing the paper, "As Ranking Member of the Senate [HELP] Committee, I’m focused on making sure that we strike the right balance for Americans from the earliest stages of developing new products through deployment of an AI system or solution solving complex problems.”

White Paper

WHITE HOUSE ENCOURAGES PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH SCIENCES

A new set of recommendations from the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) promotes "the development of public policies that are informed by scientific understandings and community values through inclusive dialogue among scientists, policymakers, and the public." PCAST recommends two specific actions be taken:

Issue a clarion call to Federal agencies to make science and technology communication and public engagement a core component of their mission and strategy.
Establish a new office to support Federal agencies in their continuing efforts to develop and build participatory public engagement and effective science and technology communications.

More Public Engagement

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT FEDERAL ISSUES? SIGN UP FOR FEDERAL FORUMS

Have questions about federal issues impacting Duke? Duke's Office of Government Relations (OGR) is kicking off its weekly virtual office hours for members of the Duke community, "Federal Forums," again starting Jan. 27. Join us on Fridays at 10:00 AM to hear OGR staff give a quick rundown of the latest news out of DC of most relevance to Duke, answer questions, provide connections to resources and more! Register in advance to receive the Zoom link, and please include any issues you'd like to discuss.

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