The Latest Word on All Things CAN

Government Relations aims to keep the Rice community informed about the developments that affect the university's mission. Visit our site frequently for updates on the key issues at the local, state and federal levels.

January 2013

The 112^th Congress adjourned earlier this month after reaching a deal on the fiscal cliff, and the 113^thCongress has already begun. While the debt ceiling and sequestration fights have both been temporarily postponed, these deadlines still loom in the upcoming agenda.
The 2013 Texas legislative session has also kicked off its 140 day sprint. This group of lawmakers has been described as one of the youngest in recent state history, with 41 freshmen and 25 sophomores sworn into the House of Representatives.

October 2012

The Rice campus has been busy preparing for the Centennial celebration. To celebrate Rice’s 100-year anniversary, we are inviting friends and community members to join us October 10-14 for various events. In the meantime, we continue to focus on the upcoming elections. The president and majority control of the U.S. Senate and House are at stake this November. In Texas, it appears the Republican majorities in the state House and Senate are not in any serious jeopardy.

September 2012

While the Rice campus is bustling with activity now that students have returned, Congress has left town after passing a continuing resolution that keeps the federal government funded. With the Republican and Democratic conventions behind us, all focus has turned to the presidential debates and the upcoming election. Before leaving, Congress did not address any of the major funding issues like sequestration, expiring tax cuts or deficit reduction. Failing to address any of these major items before the new Congress convenes in 2013 is pushing the country to what pundits are calling the fiscal cliff.

Memo on OMB Sequestration Report

March 2012

Since the start of the year, there has been a lot of activity in both Washington, D.C., and Austin, TX. Earlier this year the president gave his State of the Union speech, which focused attention on the cost of higher education – a theme we expect to be repeated frequently over the coming campaign cycle. Following his speech, the president also unveiled his fiscal year 2013 (FY13) budget, which fires the starting gun for Congress to begin its work. The president’s budget is just a wish list and a framework, and Congress will now work over the next six weeks to set its budget priorities. This will then allow for the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to begin work on passing the 12 bills that will fund the government.