Policy Committee Updates

New Initiative: HOUSING WORKING GROUP

• Over the past year, the Council has heard from members across an array of industries about the region’s housing shortages and the impact on the region’s economy. As such, the Council convened a special program exploring the housing challenges and possible solutions in December 2023.  Elizabeth Warren delivered keynote remarks, outlining her vision for how the federal government can play a role in solving housing challenges.  Following the Senator’s remarks, a panel of Council members whose work focuses on housing discussed their own initiatives and how policy makers can support their work to address housing shortages. Watch Program
• Based upon the success of this event and the widespread interest among Council members in expanding the Council’s work on housing issues, the Council launched a new cross-sector Housing Working Group to bring together a diverse array of Council members who are interested in the housing issue to work collaboratively on federal hosing policy advocacy.
• Some 100 council members have already joined the working group, which held it’s first meeting on February 15 with some 50 members participating.
• The Council is now reviewing several pieces of legislation for possible advocacy, and working on several future meetings, including:
  • Meeting with HUD Region 1 Administrator Juana Matias
  • Virtual “Housing Policy 101” briefing for members looking to learn more about housing policy
  • Meeting with Rep. Joe Courtney’s office during the Washington Leaders’ Conference

 

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

• On November 1, Committee members met with Rachel McCormick, Director General of International and Intergovernmental Affairs, Natural Resources Canada, at a luncheon hosted by the Canadian Consulate in Boston.
• On January 23, Committee members met for a planning session in which members outlined priorities for advocacy and programming.
• On April 5, the Council plans to host a Regional Energy Forum featuring ISO-New England President and CEO Gordon Van Welie. The event will include keynote remarks by Mr. van Welie, followed by a panel discussion with Council members focused on the state of the grid and an update on the resource mix. National Grid will host the program, which will be held at the UMass Club. Register Here.

 

FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

• Building upon a long history of support for cannabis banking legislation, in October 2024, the Committee submitted a letter of support for the SAFER Banking Act. This bill would ensure that all businesses—including State-sanctioned cannabis businesses—have access to deposit accounts, insurance and other financial services. The legislation also creates common-sense standards for banks and credit unions to maintain customer relationships and to expand access to deposit accounts for underbanked groups. Read the letter.
• On February 14, the Committee held their first meeting of the year to discuss policy goals and future event ideas for 2024. The Committee has decided to establish several subsector-specific subcommittees to better focus the group’s work.
• On February 27, the Committee held a breakfast meeting with Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI). The Congressman updated Committee members on issues he was working on as a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee as well as Council policy interests. Read More.
• The Committee is planning an event with staff from Congressman Stephen Lynch’s office to discuss the new bipartisan working group focused on Artificial Intelligence. Congressman Lynch has been named the lead Democrat for the working group.

 

HEALTHCARE COMMITTEE

• On November 20, the Council hosted a very well attended program led by the Healthcare Committee focused on the public and private sector efforts to address behavioral health throughout the region.  The program began with a fireside chat with Senator Maggie Hassan and Congresswoman Annie Kuster, both leaders in Congressional efforts to expand access to behavioral health services.  The event also featured a panel discussion with Council members in the behavioral health sector, including representatives of Bi-State Primary Care, Dartmouth Health, Point32Health, Solution Health, and Youth Villages.  Beth Israel Lahey Health sponsored the program, which will take place at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics.  Watch here.
• On January 16, Committee members met for a planning session in which members outlined priorities for advocacy and programming. Issues identified included Support Act Reauthorization, the Orphan Cures Act, AI’s role in the Healthcare Sector as well as a possible New England Innovates Program on Rare Diseases.
• The Healthcare Committee is currently working to finalize letters on several federal policy priorities:
  • Reauthorization of the SUPPORT Act, which provides resources for behavioral health and addiction services.
  • ORPHAN Cures Act, which would address a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act that de-incentivizes rare disease R&D.
• The Committee is also planning the next event in the Council’s New England Innovates series, this time focused on innovation in the treatment of rare diseases.  The event has been confirmed for April 23 at the Seaport Hotel in Boston, sponsored by Alexion.  Rep. Jake Auchincloss will deliver keynote remarks, followed by a panel discussion with Council members engaged in research and development of rare diseases.

 

HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

• On January 23, the Higher Education Committee held it’s first meeting of the year. During this meeting we discussed priorities for the year, including possible legislation to weigh in on and Congressional offices and other leaders to meet with. The next Committee general business meeting is April 16.
• The Committee is closely monitoring the U.S. Department of Education’s implementation of a new FAFSA form, which has created several challenges for students and institutions alike. The Committee is considering sending a letter to the delegation highlighting concerns with the new FAFSA process.
• The Committee has extended and invitation to Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal to once again meet with Committee members during the Washington Leaders Conference in May.

 

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION WORKING GROUP

• The Working Group hosted a virtual meeting on December 5 featuring a briefing from several officials at the U.S. Department of Commerce.  Members were updated on the ongoing implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act, the recent establishment of 31 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs, and President Biden’s recent Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• On January 25, the Council sent a letter to House and Senate New England Delegation members urging them to prioritize renewing funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) before it is estimated to run out in April 2024. The ACP was established under Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and provides income-based broadband subsidies to ensure equitable access to high speed internet. The Council urged Congress to extend funding for this critical program. Read the letter.
• On January 31,^,theTechnology and Innovation Working Group held it’s first meeting of the year. During this meeting we discussed priorities for the upcoming year, such as follow up meetings on the CHIPS and Science Act, as well as our ongoing advocacy efforts related to the R&D Tax Issues, the Affordable Connectivity Program, Artificial Intelligence, and Cybersecurity. Our next Working Group general business meeting is April 10^th.
• Advocating for legislation to reverse a recent change in the tax code that requires businesses to amortize R&D expenses continues to be a top priority for the working group. Last year, the Council endorsed bipartisan legislation both the House and Senate on this issue, and also wrote to House Ways & Means and Senate Finance leaders in November urging them to include the provision in any year-end tax deal.  On September 27, we hosted a Hill day when a group of members met with New England House and Senate offices to advocate for this legislation.  The group included representatives of various industries impacted by the changes, from defense, to technology, to healthcare and more.  And most recently, in January, the Council sent a letter to all members of the New England House delegation urging them to support the bipartisan tax deal that included this provision.

 

TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE

• On October 10, the Committee met with Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA). Congressman Auchincloss is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and spoke on implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and moving forward on BIL reauthorization and the future of infrastructure investments. The Congressman also addressed such items as Buy America streamlining and clarity on rules, gas tax and electric vehicles, workforce development and participation, permitting reform, and project planning. Learn more.
• On January 8, the Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a meeting where Senator Ed Markey’s transportation and infrastructure staffer, Nate Birnbaum, provided his insight on issues currently being faced by the U.S. Senate, including FAA reauthorization, the renewal of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), rail safety legislation, and efforts to make America’s roads safer. After Nate addressed the Committee, there was a discussion regarding the priorities that our T&I Committee should address during the coming year. A future meeting is set to be held around the middle of April.
• On February 29, the Council sent a letter to all members of the New England Senate delegation to express support for legislation to reauthorize the policies and programs of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The five-year bill the Council supported will provide 20 billion for airport improvement grants (AIP); $18.2 billion over five years for facilities and equipment; a total of roughly $67.5 billion over five years for FAA operations; and $1.8 billion for research and development dedicated towards aerospace technology. (Read the Council’s Senate letter.) A similar letter to the region’s House delegation was sent in June 2023.

 

TRADE WORKING GROUP

• On February 5, the Council’s Trade Working Group held a meeting where Rep. Seth Moulton’s staffer, Ben Press, was able to provide some insight on Mr. Moulton’s work as a member of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. After Ben addressed the Committee, there was a discussion regarding the priorities that our Trade Working Group should address during the coming year, leaning toward a focus on how best to resolve supply chain concerns.  Another meeting of the Trade Working Group is slated for mid-April.