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Discover the latest updates on the FY2020 budget and policy priorities in engineering and public policy. Learn about potential cuts, immigration reform, energy policy, artificial intelligence, patent reform, and more.
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Engineers and Public Policy IEEE GRC April 5, 2019 Russell Harrison Daniel E Sniezek
Outlook for FY2020 Budget • President’s budget requests significant cuts to most R&D budgets (other than DOD and NASA) • Congress will likely ignore, as they have for the past 10 years • House is moving ahead aggressively with hearings and deadlines • Senate is moving slower, as required by the Constitution • But …. This is the easy part • Already hearing whispers … “We are going to do a Continuing Resolution”
Immigration Policy • Not really on Congress’ agenda yet, but we are pushing • Country Cap bill to move in House after DACA and Ag • May? June? • Prospects in Senate are good, but not as good as last year • Some resistance from Iranian, Greek & Romanian groups • High-Skill timing: late spring or summer at the earliest • Bureaucratic reforms? • Light H-1B reforms • Long shot – more green cards
Energy Policy – Notable Bills • $3.7 B in loan guarantees for nuclear power • Southern Co. project in Georgia • Last nuclear reactor construction project in the Untied States • Carbon capture bill, USE IT Act introduced by Sen. Barrasso (R-WY) • ARPA-A Reauthorization legislation introduced soon, Rep. E. Bernice Johnson (D-TX)
Energy Policy • One of the few areas of bipartisanship left on Capitol Hill • Focus on rural issues, cybersecurity and resilience • Sen. Murkowski (R-AK) and Manchin (D-WV) run the Senate Energy committee and appear to actually be talking to each other • Similar states • Similar interest • They may be able to draft a bipartisan bill
Artificial Intelligence • House: • Key legislation has not been introduced yet • Bipartisanship is breaking down • No clear path forward • Senate • Still in information-gathering mode • Senior staff have been put on the issue • More interest in doing “something” • Focus on legal limits placed on AI • Privacy and ethics big
Patent Reform • Sen Coons (D-DE) to re-introduce his patent reform bill “soonish.” • Similar to last Congress • Changed to reflect court cases from last year • IEEE-USA expects to endorse • Bill will strengthen property rights for inventors, helping small and independent inventors especially
IEEE-USA 2019 CVD • April 2 & 3 • Focused on: • R&D Budget • Internet Bill of Rights • Immigration • 65 IEEE Attendees met with nearly 20% of Congress Next CVD – Late March or Early April 2020 All are welcome and needed!