The Latest: A Weekly Federal Update (03/07/22)
Upcoming Events & Activities
February 28th, 2021 - March 4th, 2022
All events in Eastern Standard Time
Monday, March 7th
No meetings to report.
Tuesday, March 8th
10:00 AM - House Science, Space, & Technology Committee: Hearing on "Federal Climate Adaptation and Resilience for the 21st Century"
10:00 AM - House Financial Services Committee: Hearing on "The Inflation Equation: Corporation
Profiteering, Supply Chain Bottlenecks, COVID-19"
10:00 AM - House Natural Resources Committee: Hearing on "Examining the History of Federal Lands & Development of Tribal Co-Management"
10:15 AM - House Energy & Commerce Committee: Hearing on "Charging Forward: Securing American Manufacturing & Our EV Future"
Wednesday, March 9th
10:15 AM - House Energy & Commerce Committee: Hearing on "Changing Times: Revisiting Spring Forward, Fall Backwards"
Thursday, March 10th
10:00 AM - Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee: Hearing on "Examining Energy as a Tool & a Weapon"
12:00 PM - Canada Institution & Wilson Center: Webinar on a "Progress Report on a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership"
Friday, March 11th
No meetings to report.
Energy, Water & Environment
The latest from the House and Senate Committees on energy (infrastructure), WIFIA, wastewater management, environmental issues, interior, or environmental justice.
Legislation
H.R. 6859 - No Profits for Taliban-Controlled Mines Act, To prohibit the use of rare earth minerals originating from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in United States sold and manufactured components
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL-12) referred to Commerce Committee
Date Introduced: February 28, 2022
H.R. 6874, To establish a program to reduce the reliance of allied European countries on natural gas, petroleum, and nuclear fuel produced in Russia
Sponsor: Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-08) referred to Energy & Commerce Committee; Foreign Affairs Committee
Date Introduced: February 28, 2022
H.R. 6884, To To prioritize United States energy independence
Sponsor: Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX-23) referred to Energy & Commerce Committee
Date Introduced: March 1, 2022
H.R. 6886, To prohibit the importation of crude oil and petroleum products from the Russian Federation
Sponsor: Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH-05) referred to Energy & Commerce Committee; Natural Resources Committee
Date Introduced: March 1, 2022
H.R. 6894, To limit the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to authorize United States financial institutions to engage in certain Russian-related energy transactions blocked by Executive order 14024
Sponsor: Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY-23) referred to Foreign Affairs Committee; Financial Services Committee
Date Introduced: March 2, 2022
H.R. 6916, To authorize the Keystone XL Pipeline and direct the President to take certain actions relating to the importation into the United States from Russia, and the exportation from the United States, of oil and gas
Sponsor: Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA-01) referred to Energy & Commerce Committee
Date Introduced: March 3, 2022
H.R. 6919, To prohibit the importation of petroleum products from Russia
Sponsor: Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK-04) referred to Ways & Means Committee
Date Introduced: March 3, 2022
News
Washington Post: Calls for U.S. to Ban Russian Oil Gain Momentum Despite High Inflation
A growing number of officials including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Joe Manchin III (D-WV), and Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-CA) are calling for a U.S. ban as part of the ongoing bid to hinder the Russian economy over its invasion of Ukraine. Last week, Senators Joe Manchin and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced a bill that would block the importing of Russian oil and natural gas, which have largely been excepted from sanctions. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has said she supports a ban. The Russian Federation is the world's third-largest energy producer.
Transportation & Infrastructure
The latest from the House and Senate Committees on industrial and commercial mechanical insulation, cybersecurity, supply chains, port authority, metropolitan transit, or airport.
Legislation
H.R. 6868 - Cybersecurity Grants for Schools Act, To provide for financial assistance to fund certain cybersecurity and infrastructure security education and training programs and initiatives
Sponsor: Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02) referred to Homeland Security Committee
Date Introduced: February 28, 2022
H.R. 6883, To To prohibit certain aircraft associated with the Russian Federation from operating in the national airspace system
Sponsor: Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL-26) referred to Transportation & Infrastructure Committee; Foreign Affairs Committee
Date Introduced: March 1, 2022
H.R. 6887, To prohibit the owner or operator of a port in the United States to enter into a contract with certain entities for operation or management of such port
Sponsor: Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA-48) referred to Transportation & Infrastructure Committee
Date Introduced: March 1, 2022
H.R. 6890, To prohibit Russian vessels from operating in the navigable waters of the United States
Sponsor: Rep. Don Young (R-AK-At Large) referred to Transportation & Infrastructure Committee; Foreign Affairs Committee
Date Introduced: March 1, 2022
H.R. 6905, To provide for the withdrawal of normal trade relations treatment with Russia
Sponsor: Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC-07) referred to Ways & Means Committee
Date Introduced: March 2, 2022
News
Politico: Senate Passes Bill to Require Cyber Incident Reporting
On Tuesday, March 1st, the U.S. Senate passed S. 3600 The Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act, which would require a wide range of companies responsible for U.S. critical infrastructure to report cybersecurity incidents to the Federal government, as well as kickstart an update of federal programs for protecting government networks and adopting cloud software.
Politico: DOT Sec. Buttigieg & Sen. Capito Spar Over FHA Memo
On Wednesday, March 2nd, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg asserted that states still are able to spend their IIJA dollars on highway expansions regarding a Federal Highway Administration memo, which says states should prioritize fixing existing assets first. Senate Environment & Public Works Committee Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) asserted that the FHA memo is an attempt to circumvent the will of Congress because the IIJA contains no such prohibition of or particular encouragement for use of funds.
Immigration & Detention
The latest from the House and Senate Committee on immigration, detention, homeland security, border security, asylum seekers, criminal justice reform, Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP), U.S. Marshal Service (USMS), alternatives to detention programming, reentry programming, or Bureau of Prisons.
Legislation
H.R. 6877, To establish limitations on the use of no-knock warrants
Sponsor: Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) referred to Judiciary Committee
Date Introduced: March 1, 2022
H.R. 6892, To designate Ukraine under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to permit nationals of Ukraine to be eligible for temporary protected status under such section
Sponsor: Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI-01) referred to Judiciary Committee
Date Introduced: March 2, 2022
H.R. 6895, To establish the Commission on Sustaining Medicare & Social Security
Sponsor: Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12) referred to Ways & Means Committee; Energy & Commerce Committee
Date Introduced: March 2, 2022
News
Politico: Florida Senate Passes Controversial Immigration Bill
On Thursday, March 3rd, the Republican-lead Senate passed FL S.B. 1808, which bans sanctuary cities (though none exist in Florida); requires county detention facilities to enter into the 287(g) program (allowing local law enforcement to perform federal immigration duties); and bans state contracts from going to companies that contract with the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, which transports unaccompanied minors from the Mexico-American border to states across the country, including Florida.
Public Health & Safety
The latest from House and Senate committees on health insurance, COVID-19 and testing, gun safety, Medicare & Medicaid, telehealth, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), CDC, FDA, or rural hospitals.
Legislation
H.R. 6888, To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to improve the treatment of rare diseases and conditions
Sponsor: Rep. Paul Tonko (N-NY-20) referred to Energy & Commerce Committee
Date Introduced: March 1, 2022
H.R. 6914, To prohibit the use of Federal funds to discriminate, directly or indirectly, against an individual on the basis of whether such individual has been vaccinated or acquired natural immunity against SARS-CoV-2
Sponsor: Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12) referred to Energy & Commerce Committee
Date Introduced: March 3, 2022
News
Politico: Biden Administration Slashes Covid Funding Request Amid GOP Opposition
The Biden administration is asking Congress for far less money to continue fighting the COVID-19 pandemic at home than agency leaders had insisted was needed just a few weeks earlier. In a letter to top lawmakers on Wednesday, March 2nd, White House budget official Shalanda Young said HHS needs $18.25 billion to buy enough tests, therapeutics and vaccines — including shots for children under 5 years old, which could be approved in the coming months. Just a few weeks ago, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra had argued $30 billion was needed. The new request cuts the amount for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s public health surveillance work, which helps officials find and combat new outbreaks, from $500 million to $300 million. The request for testing was reduced from $5 billion to $2 billion.
Finance & Federal Partnerships
The latest from House and Senate committees on taxation, retirement, small business, federal contracting, or monetary policy.
Legislation
H.R. 6853 - Russian Travel Sanctions for a Democratic Ukraine Act, To provide for the imposition of sanctions on certain citizens of the Russian Federation and their family members as a result of the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine
Sponsor: Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN-03) referred to Judiciary Committee
Date Introduced: February 25, 2022
H.R. 6858 - American Energy Independence from Russia Act, To strengthen United States energy security, encourage domestic production of crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas
Sponsor: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-05) referred to Energy & Commerce Committee; Natural Resources Committee
Date Introduced: February 28, 2022
Notices of Funding Opportunities
Aviation Grants: Airport Terminal Program
From February 25th until March 28th, 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration is accepting applications for grants, totalling approximately $1 billion, under for FY2022 of the Airport Terminal Program, made available under the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act. The purpose of the ATP is to make annual grants available to eligible airports for airport terminal development projects that address the aging infrastructure of the nation's airports. Applications must be completed electronically here. For further information, contact Robin K. Hunt at (202)267-3263 or the BIL Implementation Team at 9-ARP-BILAirports@faa.gov.
Community Revitalization Grants: Community Development Financial Institutions Prog.
From February 11th until April 12th, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund is accepting applications for grants, totalling approximately $188 million, under FY2022. Entities can apply for grants of up to $1 million to Certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), which serve rural and urban Low-Income people, to build their financial capacity to lend to Eligible Markets and/or their Target Markets, and TA grants of up to $125,000 to build Certified, and Emerging CDFIs' organizational capacity to serve Eligible Markets and/or their Target Markets. The Funding Opportunity Number is CDFI-2022-FATA, and the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number is 21.020. Applications must be submitted at CDFI's website, and if entities require assistance, email cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov.
Marine Transportation Grants: America's Marine Highway Program
Published on March 4, 2022, and open until April 29, 2022, the Maritime Administration is accepting applications for grants, totalling approximately $25 million, available to Marine Highway Projects that support the development and expansion of documented vessels or port and landslide infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Transportation is also seeking eligible grant projects that will strengthen American supply chains. Prior to applying, entities must complete the Grants.gov registration process, which usually takes about 2 to 4 weeks to complete, and all applications must be submitted electronically at Grants.gov. For further information, contact Fred Jones (Office of Ports & Ways Planning, Maritime Administration, DOT) at (202)366-1123 or email him at Fred.Jones@dot.gov.
Transit Grants: Low/No Emission Grant & the Buses and Bus Facilities Programs
From March 4th until May 31st, 2022, the Federal Transit Administration is accepting applications for competitive grants, totalling approximately $1.1 billion, under the FY2022 Low or No Emission Grant Program (Low-No Program) and approximately $372 million FY2022 funds under the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. Instructions for applying can be found on FTA's website. The funding opportunity ID is FTA-2022-001-TPM-LWNO for Low-No applications and FTA-2022-002-TPM-BUSC for Buses and Bus Facilities applications. Applications must be completed electronically; fax submissions will not be accepted.
Special Reports
The latest from reports issued from the Office of Government Accountability, the Congressional Research Service, and others.
GAO: March 3, 2022 - Internet Architecture is Considered Resilient, but Federal Agencies Continue to Address Risks
GAO: March 2, 2022 - Long COVID
GAO: March 1, 2022 - Critical Infrastructure Protection: CISA Should Improve Priority Setting, Stakeholder Involvement, & Threat Information Sharing
GAO: February 28, 2022 - Chemical Accident Prevention: EPA Should Ensure Regulated Facilities Consider Risks from Climate Change
CRS: March 7, 2022 - Social Security: The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)
CRS: March 3, 2022 - Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson: Selected Primary Material
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