Throughout 2025, The New England Council’s policy committees and cross-sector working groups continued to work with our members to advocate for federal policies that support economic growth and a high quality of life in the region. These groups also provided forums for networking and information sharing, and hosted a variety of informative meetings and discussions with key federal policymakers and subject matter experts.
Budget Reconciliation Advocacy
- As Congress considered the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in June and July, the Council’s collaborated with members across various industries to identify and compile top priorities for inclusion in the final legislation, as well as key areas of concern. As a result of extensive member outreach and collection of feedback, the Council prepared a letter that was sent to each member of the region’s Senate delegation that detailed the feedback.
- Specifically, the Council expressed support for:
- Increased funding for Pell Grants
- Provisions to promote investment in rare disease innovation, including the ORPHAN Cures Act
- Investments in Air Traffic Control improvements
- Preserving the 21% corporate tax rate
- Restoration of full Research & Development (R&D) expensing
- Extending and expanding the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit
- Expanding the Low Income Housing Tax Credit
- Provisions to encourage charitable giving
- Expanding access to Health Spending Accounts(HSA)
- The letter outlined the Council’s opposition to:
- Medicaid Program funding cuts
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding cuts
- Changes programs that provide financial assistance for education
- Phasing out of Renewable Energy Tax Credits
- Expanding the Endowment Tax for higher education institutions
- Retaliatory taxes on foreign-based corporations
Energy & Environment Committee
- Post Election Policy Outlook – In January, the committee hosted a virtual Post-Election Policy Outlook program, highlighting possible federal legislative and regulatory activity in 2026 impacting the energy and environmental sectors. The session featured a presentation by experts from member firms Cornerstone Government Affairs and Holland & Knight. Watch Here.
- New England Innovates: Protection our Communities from Forever Chemicals – In September, the Council hosted a program as part of our New England Innovates series exploring efforts to detect and remediate PFAS chemicals. The program featured a keynote fireside chat with Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), followed by a panel discussion with several NEC members with expertise in PFAS challenges. Watch Here or View the Event Program.
- Offshore Wind – Following the Trump Administration’s issuance of a stop work order on the Revolution Wind project off the coast of New England, the Council hosted a webinar in September open to all Council members highlighting the economic impact of this renewable energy project on the region.
- Committee Meetings & Briefings – Over the course of the year, the Energy & Environment Committee hosted several informative meetings and briefings, with guest speakers including:
- Joe Valente, Legislative Assistant to Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA)
- Commissioner Judy Chang, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- Congressional Staff Leads on the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act
Financial Services Committee
- Post Election Policy Outlook – In February, the committee hosted a virtual Post-Election Policy Outlook program, highlighting possible federal legislative and regulatory activity in 2026 impacting the financial services sector. The session featured a presentation by experts from Thorn Run Partners, a Council member. View Slides.
- Financial Services Industry Report – In October, the Council released a new report, “The New England Financial Services Industry: Driving Innovation and Growth in Our Region and Beyond,” which highlights the significant impact of the financial services industry in the region. The report was the result of a collaborative efforts with a number of Council members participating and providing feedback. Following the release of the report, the Council also released state-by-state fact sheets, and in December, hosted a briefing on the report for Congressional staff on Capitol Hill in December.
- E-Delivery Advocacy – Building on earlier advocacy efforts in years past, in December, the Council once again weighed in on the Improving Disclosure for Investors Act of 2025, which would make electronic delivery of financial statements and disclosures the default. The bipartisan legislation was incorporated into a larger capital markets package that passed the House in December. Read the Letter.
- Committee Meetings & Briefings – Over the course of the year, the Energy & Environment Committee hosted several informative meetings and briefings, with guest speakers including:
- Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee Majority Staff to Chair Tim Scott (R-SC)
- Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee Minority Staff to Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
- Stephen Lynch (D-MA), senior member of the House Financial Services Committee
Healthcare Committee
- Multi-Cancer Early Detection – In July, the Council sent a letter of support for the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage (MCED) Act to the New England delegation. The bill would allow Medicare to cover MCED tests in a timely manner following FDA approval and evidence of clinical benefit. Currently, most vulnerable patients could face years-long waits to access the latest innovations in cancer detection. Read the letter.
- Access to Medical Technologies – In November, the Council endorsed the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act with a letter to the region’s House delegation. This bipartisan proposal would provide a clear pathway for four years of transitional Medicare coverage of breakthrough devices upon the manufacturer’s application and requires CMS to make a permanent coverage determination by the end of the temporary period. Read the letter.
- Committee Meetings & Briefings – Over the course of the year, the Healthcare Committee hosted several informative meetings and briefings, with guest speakers including:
- New England Senate Delegation Healthcare Staff
- Nick Valenti, Legislative Assistant to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen
Higher Education Committee
- Post Election Policy Outlook – In January, the committee hosted a virtual Post-Election Policy Outlook program, featuring a panel discussion with the leaders of several higher education advocacy groups in the region. The panel shared their insights on possible federal legislative and regulatory activity in 2026 impacting the higher education sector.
- Federal Research Funding – Building on a long history of support for federal investment in research funding, the Council wrote to Congressional leaders on several occasions in 2025 to highlight the critical importance and economic impact of research funding for NIH, NSF and other agencies. Read the March and September letters.
- Economic Impact Fact Sheets – In March, the Council once again partnered with the New England Board of Higher Education to release fact sheets on the economic impact of the higher education sector in each New England state, as well as the region as a whole. The fact sheets are available as a resource for both Council members and policymakers. View the Fact Sheets.
- Duration of Stay for International Students – In September, the Council submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on a proposed rule that would limit the duration of stay for international students. The Council expressed significant opposition to he proposal due to concerns that the rule would create unnecessary fear, confusion, and procedural roadblocks for international students, exchange visitors, and universities. Read the Comment Letter.
- Committee Meetings & Briefings – Over the course of the year, the Higher Education Committee hosted several informative meetings and briefings, with guest speakers including:
- Sara Garcia, Senior Policy Advisor, Senate HELP Committee
- Amanda Fuchs Miller, former U.S. Department of Education official
- Michael McCann, University of New Hampshire Law Professor and national expert on sports law
Housing Working Group
- ROAD to Housing Act – In September, the Council endorsed the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act, a bipartisan Senate bill co-sponsored by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). The bill aims to tackle the housing crisis by boosting supply, modernizing financing, reducing regulations, and supporting homeownership through programs to improve affordability and economic mobility. While the bill passed the Senate as part of the NDAA, it was not included in the House version of NDAA. Read the Council’s Letter.
- HUD Continuum of Care – In November, the Council wrote to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the New England delegation, to express concern about policy changes to the Continuum of Care program. The proposed change would shift a significant portion of funding from permanent housing assistance to transitional housing models that include work or service requirements. Read the Letter.
- Committee Meetings & Briefings – Over the course of the year, the Housing Working Group hosted several informative meetings and briefings, with guest speakers including:
- Andrew Mikula, Senior Housing Policy Fellow, The Pioneer Institute
- Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Minority Staff
Technology & Innovation Working Group
- Post Election Policy Outlook – In January, the working group hosted a virtual Post-Election Policy Outlook program focused specifically on legislation and regulation related to Artificial Intelligence (AI). The program, which was open to all Council members, featured a presentation from AI policy experts at NEC member firm ML Strategies. Watch Here.
- STEM Education & Workforce Pipeline – In 2025, the Working Group hosted informative presentations with several local organizations working to improve STEM education and develop a strong talent pipeline for the tech sector. These sessions gave Council members the opportunity to learn more about these initiatives and how the business community can partner with them:
- STEMatch COMPETE – Watch Here
- Kids in Tech – Watch Here
- SBIR & STTR Reauthorization – In July, the Council sent a letter to the New England delegation expressing its support for legislation to permanently reauthorize the Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. These programs focus on spurring innovation in high-impact technology sectors – such as healthcare, energy, and defense, and ensuring that the United States remains competitive internationally. Read the letter.
- Committee Meetings & Briefings – Over the course of the year, the Technology & Innovations Working Group hosted several informative meetings and briefings, with guest speakers including:
- Caroline Jones, Staff to Rep. Seth Moulton
- Dylan Irlbeck, Staff to Rep. Lori Trahan
- Alan McQuin, Staff on the House Subcommittee on Research and Technology
Trade Working Group
- Post-Election Policy Outlook – In February, the working group hosted a virtual Post-Election Policy Outlook program exploring possible legislative and regulatory activity related to trade in 2025. The program featured a discussion with two leading trade policy experts: former senior White House official Kelly Ann Shaw, and former Senate Finance Committee staffer Sally Liang.
- Tariff Advocacy – As the Trump Administration put into place a wide array of new tariff policies early in the year, the Council sent a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce highlighting concerns about these new tariffs. In particular, the Council highlighted how tariffs imposed on imports from key trade partners including Mexico, Cananda, and China would have a negative economic impact in the region. Read the letter.
- Tariff Policy Programming – To help Council members stay abreast of the latest developments in tariff policy through out the year, the Council hosted informative virtual programs in February, and again in September, featuring briefings from trade policy experts at member law firm Wilmer Hale. Read the February and September briefing recaps.
- Committee Meetings & Briefings – Over the course of the year, the Trade Working Group hosted several informative meetings and briefings with key Congressional staff, including:
- Virginia Lenehan, Senate Finance Committee Chief International Trade Council – Minority Staff
- Dan Ruboss, Senior Adviser, Office of Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
- Haley Adams, Counsel, Office of Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Transportation & Infrastructure Committee
- Committee Meetings & Briefings – Over the course of the year, the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee hosted several informative meetings and briefings, with guest speakers including:
- Kate Donoghue, Office of Rep. Seth Moulton
- Senior U.S. Department of Transportation Officials including Chris Senn, Assistant Administrator for Government and Industry Affairs (FAA), Tony Fyre, Associate Administrator for Highway Policy and External Affairs (FHWA), Zan Guendert, Office of Policy and Governmental Affairs (FHWA), Ben Siegrist, Director Office of Public Liaison & Senior Advisor, and Luisa Guerra-Young, Deputy Director Office of Public Liaison
- Abby Camp Wenk, Deputy Staff Director, and Jimmy Ballard, Director of Coalitions, House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Majority Staff
- Nate Birnbaum, Office of Sen. Ed Markey