Policy Committee Updates

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

• On April 5, the Council hosted a Regional Energy Forum featuring keynote remarks from ISO-New England CEO Gordon van Welie. The program also featured a panel discussion with Council members in the energy sector who discussed their own efforts to ensure reliable and affordable energy for the region, while also working toward ambitious climate goals. The event was attended by some 150 people and was sponsored by National Grid.
• On May 16, in conjunction with the Council’s Washington Leaders Conference, the Energy & Environment Committee met with David Diamond, Deputy Chief for Atlantic Operations, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The conversation included a summary of BOEM goals and priorities, as well as a detailed review of the Gulf of Maine renewable energy leasing schedule and process.
• On June 18, the Energy & Environment Committee convened for a planning session in which members highlighted interest in Committee advocacy and/or programming focused on the positive impacts of the IRA and continued need for federal investment in the energy sector, as well as a potential hill briefing focused on successful practices by state and local governments as well as examples and ideas from the business community.
• The committee is actively planning an event for later this fall focused on PFAS chemicals, including an overview of PFAS, where it’s located, and ongoing efforts by the business community to address testing and remediation. We also hope to incorporate the role of government agencies as well as regulations, and review what businesses in the region need to prepare for both new consumer expectations and government regulations. Senator Ed Markey has been invited to deliver keynote remarks.

FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

• During the Washington Leaders’ Conference in May, the Committee met with House Majority Whip Tom Emmer’s Chief of Staff, and the senior Democratic staff on the Senate Finance Committee. Among the issues discussed were regulation of the Financial Services industry, tax policy issues, the SAFER Banking Act and retirement savings.
• On June 28, the Committee held its second meeting of the year to discuss policy goals and future event ideas for 2024. The Committee discussed the establishment of their subsector-specific subcommittees to better focus the group’s work. Additionally, we discussed tax priorities for the 2025 tax debate.
• The Committee continues to support the Improving Disclosure for Investors Act of 2024, which was passed by the House of Representatives earlier this year and is currently before the Senate Banking Committee. This legislation would direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to transition the default method for receiving investor documents and disclosures from paper to digital (eDelivery). The Council recently sent a letter of support for the legislation to the New England Senate delegation, and on September 17, a group of members participated in a series of meetings with Senate offices to advocate for the bill’s passage and highlight the positive impact on industry and investors alike. Read the letter.

HEALTHCARE COMMITTEE

• On April 17, the Committee sent a letter to the New England Senate delegation expressing support for the reauthorization of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention That Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Act. Read the letter.
• On April 23, the Committee hosted an installment of New England Innovates series, this time focused on innovation in the treatment of rare diseases.  The event featured keynote remarks by Congressman Jake Auchincloss, and was followed by a panel discussion of New England Council experts. Watch the event.
• On May 7, the Committee sent a letter to the New England Congressional Delegation expressing support for the ORPHAN Cures Act, which would address a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act that de-incentivizes rare disease R&D. Building upon this advocacy, on September 11, several committee members are planning to participate in a day of Hill advocacy surrounding the ORHPAN Cures Act. We have 8 meetings with New England House offices confirmed. Read the Letter.
• On May 15, in conjunction with the Council’s Washington Leaders Conference, the Healthcare Committee met with Jasmine Masand, Health LA and Policy Advisor to Senator Maggie Hassan and Tara Wilson, Policy Advisor to Senator Ed Markey in Washington DC. The conversation focused on food security, workforce challenges, addiction and behavioral health initiatives, as well as what Congress is doing regarding AI in healthcare.
• On May 16, in conjunction with the Council’s Washington Leaders Conference, the Healthcare committee met with Liz Fowler, Deputy Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. The discussion focused on addressing the agency’s initiatives on payment reform, equity models, as well as efforts to address health equity challenges.
• On September 5, Healthcare Committee members gathered for an in-person meeting with U.S. Representative Lori Trahan (D-MA) to discuss current health policy priorities within the House Energy & Commerce committee.

HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

• On May 6, the Committee sent a letter to the New England Congressional delegation regarding the Federal Pell Grant program. The letter thanks Congress for passing the recent Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations package with level funding levels for the Pell Grant. While we are of course supportive of doubling the maximum amount for the Pell Grant program, we understand the work that it took to ensure level funding for this year and appreciate their efforts. Read the letter here.

• In May, the Committee released an updated version of fact sheets highlighting the economic impact of the higher education sector in each New England state.  The Council again partnered with NEBHE to gather data for these resources. The fact sheets were shared with New England Congressional offices, and are available for Council members to use in their own advocacy efforts.

• During the Washington Leaders’ Conference, the committee met with Higher Education Senate Staff for Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), both members of the Senate HELP Committee, for a discussion of current higher education issues before the committee.
• The Committee continues to closely monitor the U.S. Department of Education’s implementation of a new FAFSA form, which has created several challenges for students and institutions alike.
  • In April, the Committee sent a letter to Secretary Miguel Cardona urging the Department to delay implementation of the Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment rules due to the impact of the FAFSA implementation delays.  Read more.
  • Following an announcement by the Department of Education in August that the FAFSA release would be delayed from October 1 to December 1 for most schools, the committee is now in the process of preparing a letter to the delegation expressing concerns about this delay and the impact it will have on students and institutions.

• On October 11, the Committee will host a breakfast with former MA Governor and now NCAA President Charlie Baker in Boston.  The program will focus on the NCAA’s work on NIL issues.

HOUSING WORKING GROUP

• In early 2024, based on feedback from a wide array of members who expressed concern about the impact of housing shortages in the region, the Council launched a new cross-sector Housing Working Group.  The goal of the working group is to bring together a diverse array of Council members who are interested in the housing issue to work collaboratively on federal housing policy advocacy, and over 100 members have already joined the group.
• On May 1, the Council hosted a special program in Boston featuring HUD Region 1 Administrator Juana Matias in Boston, MA.  Administrator Matias briefed members on HUD and White House Housing priorities, as well as the various affordable housing programs and resources available through HUD. Watch Program.
• On September 10, the Housing Working Group held a virtual meeting with Ryan Donovan, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Council of Federal Home Loan Banks. Mr. Donovan updated members on housing related issues before Congress and the Administration, and provided insight on the upcoming Presidential election.

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION WORKING GROUP

• The Working Group held two meetings during the Washington Leaders’ Conference. First, members met with staff to Representatives Seth Moulton (D-MA) Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) to discuss their work as members of the China Select Committee.  The working group also met with officials from the CHIPS for America office at the U.S. Department of Commerce.
• The Council released an updated version of our AI legislation tracker in June.  The new version includes all bills surrounding AI legislation from the past year, including policies concerning deepfakes, AI’s role in cybersecurity, preventing scams using AI, AI regulatory frameworks, and much more. Since the first version of this report was released in late 2023, 48 new bills have been added.  View the report.
• On October 31, the Council will host the next installment of our popular “New England Innovates” series, this time focused on innovation in the field of robotics.  Representative Jim McGovern, co-chair of the Congressional Robotics Caucus, will deliver keynote remarks.  Following the keynote, Tom Ryden of MassRobotics will moderate a panel of Council members to discuss challenges and opportunities for continued innovation in the robotics sector and highlight how different industries are leveraging this new technology.

TRADE WORKING GROUP

• On May 15, members of the Council’s Trade Working Group held an in-person meeting with Senate Finance Committee Chief International Trade Counsel, Sally Laing, in conjunction with the Washington Leaders’ Conference.  Ms. Liang updated members on current trade policy matters before the committee and answered questions.
• On June 20, the Council’s Trade Working Group again hosted  Senate Finance Committee’s Sally Laing for a virtual meeting with a larger group on members. Liang was able to able to provide additional insight on what the U.S. Senate was working on related to trade matters and what TWG members could expect the rest of the year to occur on trade.
• In August, Mr. Christopher Melly accepted the Council’s offer to serve as the new Chair of the Trade Working Group. Melly is a Vice President of Government Affairs at AIG and has an extensive trade background, including senior roles at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. International Trade Commission.
• The Trade Working Group has a meeting scheduled for October 1 to discuss any possible trade items that may come up in Congress before the end of the calendar year, or items that the Biden White House may pursue prior to a change in Administrations. Jay Weissmuller, Legislative Director to Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), has been invited to address the TWG.

TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE

• On April 12, the Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a meeting where Mr. Ed Higgins, legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), provided his insight on issues under consideration in the U.S. Senate, including the possibility of an Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) 2.0, the renewal of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), Baltimore bridge rebuild funding, and FAA reauthorization.

• On May 16, in conjunction with the Washington Leaders’ Conference, the T&I Committee met with Nate Birnbaum, Senator Ed Markey’s transportation staffer.  Mr. Birnbaum provided an update to many of the items previously discussed in the Committee’s January virtual meeting (FAA reauthorization, the renewal of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), rail safety legislation, and efforts to make America’s roads safer).
• The Committee is currently planning a meeting for early October to discuss the state of transportation funding, transit and other similar matters that may need to be addressed in either a stand-alone or omnibus appropriations measure. Steven Keenan, Legislative Director to Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), has been invited to address the T&I Committee. Senator Reed serves on the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, and is a senior member of the Banking Committee, which has jurisdiction over transit issues.
• The T&I Committee has set a date of November 13 for a forum in Boston as part of the New England Innovates series. This particular event will focus on the increased use of AI in various modes of the transportation sector. The program will be hosted by ML Strategies at their Boston office, and Luisa Paiewonsky, Director of Infrastructure Systems and Technology at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe Center, will deliver keynote remarks.  Following the keynote, a panel of Council transportation members will discuss how they are leveraging AI technologies.