January 2012

The U.S. House convened January 17, 2012 and the U.S. Senate convened January 23, 2012.

On December 23, President Obama signed into law the $915 billion “megabus” appropriations bill, (HR 2055), concluding the FY 2012 appropriations process. The final megabus package contains funding for nine of the 12 annual appropriations bills, with the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations bill as the underlying measure, and including the Defense, Energy-Water, Financial Services, Homeland Security, Interior-Environment, Labor-HHS-Education, Legislative Branch and State-Foreign Operations spending bills.

On November 17th, Congress passed a “minibus” appropriations bill, (HR 2112, H Rept 112-284) which provided 2012 fiscal year funding for Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Transportation-Housing Urban Development.

Dec 21, 2011

Congress Agrees to Continuing Resolution and Omnibus Appropriations Bill 

On December 17, the U.S. Senate passed the conference agreement to accompany H.R. 2055, the Consolidated Appropriations bill for fiscal year (FY) 2012, which includes nine of the 12 annual appropriations measures. The Senate agreed to the conference report on a 67 to 32 vote.

The Congress also passed, and the President has signed, a bill to extend the Continuing Resolution through December 23rd to allow the President to review and sign the Consolidated Appropriations bill into law this week. These actions will finally complete the FY 2012 appropriations process.

Funding for the US Department of Agriculture is not included in the Continuing Resolution because the FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill was negotiated separately and signed into law November 18, 2011. The bill again contains no congressionally-directed funding, or "earmarks." The bill does however, keep level funding for programs through which NMSU receives federal formula funding: Hatch Act, McIntire Stennis, and Smith-Lever.

U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Agriculture Appropriations Bill with Some Cuts Restored

The FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations Bill was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee Sept 8. The Senate bill includes programs through which NMSU receives formula funding. The Senate bill restored some of funding cut from these programs in the House version of the bill. Thank you to Senators Bingaman and Udall, from whom NMSU requested support for restoring these funds. The bill must still be passed by the full Senate and then go to a House-Senate conference committee that will iron out the difference between the House and Senate versions of the bill. The OGR is hopeful the Senate will prevail in retaining their levels of funding. The national funding levels for these programs are below (in millions):

FY11 House Senate

Hatch Act $236 $208 $236

McIntire Stennis $32.9 $30 $32.9

Smith Lever $293 $259 $296

March 2012

President Barack Obama released his budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2013 on February 13, 2012. The budget request recommends funding levels for the fiscal year and is sent to Congress. Congress will use the budget request as a blueprint for its appropriations process, however the final result can be very different from the request.

The President's request mostly maintains federal funding for scientific research agencies and federal postsecondary education programs. Among programs and agencies that received small increases over the FY12-enacted levels were the National Science Foundation (4.8 percent increase), Pell Grant funding (increase maximum award to $5,635, $85 over the FY12 level), and the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI, 23.1 percent increase).

Flat funding was recommended for the National Institutes of Health, and NASA is also targeted for major budget reductions. In total, President Obama's budget proposes 210 cuts, consolidations, and savings measures (including the Congressionally-supported Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Community Services Block Grants).

Senator Tom Udall's Office Seeking Summer Interns

Deadline for the summer session is March 18. Go to http://tomudall.senate.gov/?p=internships for information.

Senator Bingaman Visits NMSU campus, Early College High School

Senator Jeff Bingaman hosted his annual Student Leadership Institute at NMSU's Corbett Center on February 22. While on campus that day he also visited and toured the Arrowhead Early College High School.

Congressman Pearce visits NMSU's CAMP

Congressman Steve Pearce was briefed on NMSU's College Assistance Migrant Program on March 2.

February's Research Rally

February's research rally celebrated the Howard Hughes Medical Institute funding for the HHMI-NMSU Precollege and College Science Education Program. The next NMSU Research Rally is scheduled April 4.

Week of Nov 26

Floor Activities

The Senate reconvenes Monday afternoon, Nov 26, and the House returns Tuesday. Later in the week, the House is expected to consider the Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) sponsored immigration bill, HR 6429, the STEM Jobs Act, (Subject to a Rule).

Committee Activities

· Wednesday, November 28

Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs and International Environmental Protection Subcommittee Hearing – “Evaluating Current U.S. Global Food Security Efforts and Determining Future U.S. Leadership Opportunities." 10 am, 419 Dirksen

House Science, Space, and Technology Committee

Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Hearing - National Priorities for Solar and Space Physics Research and Applications for Space Weather Prediction. 10 am, 2318 Rayburn

· Friday, November 30

House Science, Space, and Technology Committee

Energy and Environment Subcommittee Hearing - Tapping America's Energy Potential Through Research and Development. 9:30 am, 2318 Rayburn