LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FOR WEEK OF MAY 10, 2021

First Biden Budget Request to be Released Soon
Plus, a transportation & vaccine distribution update

The date to keep your eye on is Thursday, May 27. The Biden Administration announced that is the date the President will release his FY2022 budget request. As we have noted, most Presidents’ budgets are dead on arrival, but with Democrats controlling the House, Senate, and White House, expect this budget to have more influence than budgets past.

In addition, this week the Senate Appropriations Committee set its submission deadlines as well as confirmed which “pots” of funding will be eligible for Community Project Funding requests (or
“Congressionally Directed Spending” as it is being called in the Senate). Here is what you need to know about the Appropriations process:

• Some Senators will not make any requests, some will consider on a case-by-case basis, and still others have already said they will make requests.
• Senators who will make requests have begun releasing their request forms and setting deadlines. Some deadlines are as soon as the week of May 24.
• The Senate’s available funding pots largely align with the House, with some notable exceptions, such as Defense, where only programmatic plus-up requests will be accepted.
• Members of the House were limited to just 10 Community Project requests; it is unclear whether Senators will face any such limit.
• While each Senator will handle the process a little differently, we understand that to cover as many priorities for their State as possible, at least some (and perhaps many) Senators will not request projects that made it on the “short list” in the House.

[su_button url=”https://www.deepwaterpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Week-of-5.10.pdf” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#ff9900″ color=”#000000″ size=”8″]View Full Summary[/su_button]

A Review of the State of Play: Vaccines, Jobs, & More
Plus, upcoming political considerations
Nothing in Washington this week was especially flashy in the eyes of the national press, but several notable issues were front-and-center. A review of what happened (and what’s to come) can be found in the Full Summary.

[su_button url=”https://www.deepwaterpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Week-of-5.3.pdf” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#ff9900″ color=”#000000″ size=”8″]View Full Summary[/su_button]

APPROPRIATIONS/BUDGET NEWS

The Congress yesterday passed HR 133, a combination of the twelve FY 2021 appropriations bills, and coronavirus relief legislation (Division M).  Attached is a division-by-division summary of the coronavirus relief package which you may find of interest.  Some items of interest:

Provides an additional $250 million to the FCC for its COVID-19 Telehealth Program authorized under the CARES Act.

Provides $65 million to the FCC to create broadband data maps required under the Broadband DATA Act.

Establishes two grant programs at the NTIA. The first is a grant program of $1 billion to support broadband connectivity on tribal lands, to be used not only for broadband deployment on tribal lands, but also telehealth, distance learning, broadband affordability, and digital inclusion. The second is a $300 million broadband deployment program to support broadband infrastructure deployment to areas lacking broadband, especially rural areas.

[su_button url=”https://www.deepwaterpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/HR-133-Corona-Relief-Provisions.pdf” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#d0ccc5″ color=”#000000″ size=”10″]Download Full Summary[/su_button]

For more information, contact:
Jerry Chouinard
Deep Water Point Legislative Affairs Lead
jerry.chouinard@deepwaterpoint.com

Contact Deep Water Point Today
to Increase Your Federal Business Win Probability

APPROPRIATIONS/BUDGET NEWS

The Senate Committee on Appropriations recently released its versions of the various FY 2021 appropriations bills. It is still unknown if these individual bills will be included in a possible end of year Omnibus spending bill.
Attached is a review of the Senate’s bill on FY 21 funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Some highlights:

Provides $501.4 million for OCIO, which is $83.2 million above the current level.
Provides $48 million for continued funding for border security technology.
Provides $6 million to ICE for its continued efforts to develop and execute an enterprise data management strategy.
Provides $1.207 billion for cybersecurity for CISA, which is $140 million above the request.

[su_button url=”https://www.deepwaterpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/FY-2021-Senate-Funding-for-DHS.pdf” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#d0ccc5″ color=”#000000″ size=”10″]Download Full Review[/su_button]

For more information, contact:
Jerry Chouinard
Deep Water Point Legislative Affairs Lead
jerry.chouinard@deepwaterpoint.com

Contact Deep Water Point Today
to Increase Your Federal Business Win Probability

APPROPRIATIONS/BUDGET NEWS

The Senate Committee on Commerce recently reported S. 4462, and it is now pending Senate action.

The bill would authorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a national integrated flood information system and improve the coordination and communication of flood events by the National Weather Service through site-specific designation of warning coordination hydrologists and an assessment of NOAA’s system for issuing flash flood watches and warnings.

The bill would also establish a program, referred to as the ‘‘NOAA Precipitation Frequency Atlas of the United States’’, to estimate and communicate precipitation frequency in the United States.  The program would be authorized appropriations of $3.5 million for each fiscal year from 2021 through 2030.

A section analysis is attached.

[su_button url=”https://www.deepwaterpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/S.-4462-Floods-Act.pdf” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#d0ccc5″ color=”#000000″ size=”10″]Download Analysis[/su_button]

For more information, contact:
Jerry Chouinard
Deep Water Point Legislative Affairs Lead
jerry.chouinard@deepwaterpoint.com

Contact Deep Water Point Today
to Increase Your Federal Business Win Probability

APPROPRIATIONS/BUDGET NEWS

The purpose of HR 5760 is to authorize a comprehensive inter-disciplinary research, development, and demonstration initiative to strengthen the capacity of the energy sector to prepare for and withstand cyber and physical attacks and improve the security of the energy sector.

On September 29, 2020, the House passed this legislation, and it is now pending Senate action.  There is no Senate related bill at this time.

A section analysis of this legislation can be downloaded below.

[su_button url=”https://www.deepwaterpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/HR-5760-Grid-Security-Research-Development-Act.pdf” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#d0ccc5″ color=”#000000″ size=”10″]Download Analysis[/su_button]

For more information, contact:
Jerry Chouinard
Deep Water Point Legislative Affairs Lead
jerry.chouinard@deepwaterpoint.com

Contact Deep Water Point Today
to Increase Your Federal Business Win Probability

APPROPRIATIONS/BUDGET NEWS

The House has passed a continuing funding bill for FY 2021. It now goes to the Senate. This legislation:

1. Provides funding through December 11, 2020.
2. Prevents new starts or activities.
3. Increases the funding available to the Veterans Electronic Health Record Modernization during the period of the CR to successfully deploy the health record system at planned sites during the first fiscal quarter.
4. Extends various health programs and activities.
5. Includes an extension and expansion of the Pandemic EBT program.
6. Allows the Commodity Credit Corporation to be replenished for net realized losses

A section by section summary of this legislation can be downloaded below.

[su_button url=”https://www.deepwaterpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/FY-2021-Continuing-Resolution-HR-8337.pdf” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#d0ccc5″ color=”#000000″ size=”10″]Download Full Summary[/su_button]

For more information, contact:
Jerry Chouinard
Deep Water Point Legislative Affairs Lead
jerry.chouinard@deepwaterpoint.com

Contact Deep Water Point Today
to Increase Your Federal Business Win Probability

APPROPRIATIONS/BUDGET NEWS

The House Committee on Appropriations recently filed the FY 2021 appropriations legislation for the Department of Homeland Security (HR 7669).  While the House has passed ten of the twelve annual funding bills, the DHS spending bill is not one of them.  The Senate Committee on Appropriations is not expected to act on any funding legislation prior to the start of FY 2021.  Final FY 21 funding decisions will probably not occur until after the election period.

Some highlights of this legislation:

1. Provides $14M for the Incident Driver Video Recording System under CBP.
2. Provides an additional $20M for updated video monitoring equipment.
3. Provides $20M for upgrades to POE technology.
4. Provides $16M for Coast Guard Cybersecurity and IT modernization efforts.
5. Provides $118M for the E-Verify program.

[su_button url=”https://www.deepwaterpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/FY-2021-House-Funding-for-DHS.pdf” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#d0ccc5″ color=”#000000″ size=”10″]Download Full Summary[/su_button]

For more information, contact:
Jerry Chouinard
Deep Water Point Legislative Affairs Lead
jerry.chouinard@deepwaterpoint.com

Contact Deep Water Point Today
to Increase Your Federal Business Win Probability

APPROPRIATIONS/BUDGET NEWS

The House Appropriations Committee recently approved the fiscal year 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill.  This legislation provides annual funding for the Treasury Department, the Executive Office of the President, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, the Small Business Administration, the General Services Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and several other independent agencies.

This legislation will be combined with several other appropriations bills (HR 7617) to be considered on the House Floor in the next couple of weeks.

Some funding highlights of this legislation:

• recommends $25 million for the Technology Modernization Fund, the same as last year.
• recommends $18 million for the Cybersecurity Enhancement Account, the same as last year.
• recommends $6 million for Department-wide Systems and Capital Investments Programs, a reduction of $118,000 from last year.
• recommends $250 million, an increase of $70 million above the FY 2020 level, for the IRS Integrated Modernization Business Plan.
• includes $5 million for implementation of the OPEN Government Data Act.

[su_button url=”https://www.deepwaterpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FY-21-House-Financial-Services-GSA-Funding.pdf” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#777e85″ color=”#000000″ size=”10″]View Full Summary[/su_button]

For more information, contact:
Jerry Chouinard
Deep Water Point Legislative Affairs Lead
jerry.chouinard@deepwaterpoint.com

Contact Deep Water Point Today
to Increase Your Federal Business Win Probability

APPROPRIATIONS/BUDGET NEWS

The House Committee on Appropriations recently recommended FY 2021 funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Attached are recommendations for the VA’s IT Systems. It is uncertain how this legislation will proceed to the House Floor, but it is the beginning of the process. The Senate Committee on Appropriations has not yet issued its recommendations.

Some highlights:

• Provides $4.9 billion overall for VA Information Technology Systems, an increase of $540 million over FY 20.
• Provides $495.5 million for IT Development Projects.
• Provides $2.625 billion for the Veterans Electronic Health Record, an increase of $1.1 billion over FY 20 level.
• Provides $1.3 billion for telehealth and connected care.

[su_button url=”https://www.deepwaterpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FY-2021-House-Funding-for-VA.pdf” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#777e85″ color=”#000000″ size=”10″]Full Summary[/su_button]

For more information, contact:
Jerry Chouinard
Deep Water Point Legislative Affairs Lead
jerry.chouinard@deepwaterpoint.com

Contact Deep Water Point Today
to Increase Your Federal Business Win Probability