WASHINGTON UPDATES

Capitol Advocacy Partners provides weekly newsletter updates featuring curated news from the executive and legislative branches, along with timely information on federal funding opportunities—tailored to keep you informed and ahead.

Amanda Fenton Amanda Fenton

1/9/18: AFG solicitation- Important Eligibility Update

Today CAP  attended the 2nd webinar on AFG applications, with this one focused specifically on the Safety and Operations application. This includes requests for equipment, training, PPE, facilities modification, and health and wellness programming.

We want to highlight one area in particular that impacts what is considered a high priority item. AFG staff say they’ve received the most questions about this change... 

Read More
Amanda Fenton Amanda Fenton

1/8/18: DC Update: 2018 Kicks Off with Appropriations (Again)

Today the House and Senate are back in session for the New Year. We want to provide you with a quick update on activities over the break as well as a rundown of anticipated actions in the next few weeks.

  • Appropriations
  • Disaster Aid
  • DACA and Immigration
  • DOJ and marijuana enforcement
  • Additional Topics On the Horizon for 2018

...

Read More
Amanda Fenton Amanda Fenton

12/22/17: Last DC Update of 2017!

We wanted to provide a brief update before closing shop for the holidays.

Appropriations:  There will be no government shutdown. The Senate sent to President Trump yesterday by a 66-32 vote a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government through January 19, provide funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program and community health centers through March 31, appropriate $2.1 billion for a private care access program for veterans and temporarily extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act just until Jan. 19. Senate action came just hours after the House voted, 231-188, to pass the measure...

DACA: Along with delaying fiscal year federal spending until next year, Congress also punted efforts protect Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients...

Disaster Supplemental:  Yesterday the House lawmakers passed, 251-169, an $81 billion disaster supplemental spending bill.  Senators said there wouldn't be time to take up the measure before adjourning for the holidays. "I'll say that I'm disappointed that we're leaving here at the end of this year not having taken on a disaster relief bill," Senator Rubio said...

Spending Caps:  Congressional leaders and the White House need to negotiate new fiscal 2018 spending levels to avoid a reduction in discretionary spending, due to the Budget Control Act of 2011. Negotiations...

Tax Code:  This morning President Trump signed the GOP tax overhaul legislation passed earlier this week the House and Senate. The House voted 227-203 to adopt the conference report.  A small number of House Republicans, including Representatives Darrell Issa and Dana Rohrabacher from California and the rest mostly from New York and New Jersey, joined with every Democrat in opposing the final tax bill...

Read More
Amanda Fenton Amanda Fenton

12/12/17: Grants.gov transition- getting your account ready for 2018 grants

On December 31st Grants.gov, the federal grant application and management system, will switch to a new platform called Workspace  Workspace is designed to make it easier for applicants to collaborate on an application. So that, for example, multiple people can work together in Grants.gov on a draft budget document before it is submitted.

We need you to take some action before 12/31 to transition your account to the new system. This way we can keep submitting grants and managing grants.gov features going forward.  

...

Read More
Amanda Fenton Amanda Fenton

12/11/17: Higher Education Update: ED Grant making timeline, DACA, PROSPER Act...

PROSPER Act: As we mentioned in our update earlier this month, on 12/1 House Republicans introduced their reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, the Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act. The Republican bill as introduced would have a sweeping impact on the higher education sector, touching everything from student financial aid to student loans to Title IX administration and investigation of sexual assaults.

...

DACA: On 12/5 34 House Republicans sent a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan urging a legislative solution for DACA by the end of the year. Three members of the CA Republican Delegation signed on: Rep. David Valadao (Hanford), Rep. Jeff Denham (Atwater), and Rep. Mimi Walters (Laguna Niguel).

...

Department of Education Grant Timeline: From our sources in the Department of Education we know that ED is planning to release a large number of grant RFPs in...

Read More