FY25 Appropriations Update
The House and Senate passed the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act 2025 (H.R. 9747) on September 25, a stopgap bill to fund the government through December 20 and avert a government shutdown. Fiscal year FY2024 funding was set to expire on September 30. President Biden signed the legislation the following day capping off weeks of debate over its content and length. The bill mostly maintains current spending levels, although it also includes additional funding for the Secret Service.

After passing the measure, Congress adjourned for recess and will return after Election Day, giving lawmakers roughly five weeks to pass a full-year spending bill for FY2025 or punt funding decisions to the next Congress. CU Federal Relations will continue to provide updates throughout the fall on appropriations progress.

Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves Visits CU Boulder, JILA
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves visited JILA, CU Boulder’s joint research institute with NIST, on September 16. Graves was joined by senior NIST leadership, Chancellor Schwartz, and VCR Massimo Ruzzene. The visit spotlighted the workforce development and training happening at JILA and across CU Boulder and concluded with a tour of Nobel Laureate Eric Cornell’s lab. For more information, read the following story from CU Boulder Today.

US Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves visits JILA at the University of Colorado Boulder

Casey A. Cass/University of Colorado

CU Boulder Research Leaders Visit DC
Massimo Ruzzene, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, and Waleed Abdalati, Executive Director of CIRES, visited Washington D.C. the week of September 23 to highlight university-federal partnerships that fuel regional innovation and global impact. Ruzzene and Abdalati visited the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), NASA, and NOAA during their visit.

CU Boulder Athletic Director Visits DC
Rick George, CU Boulder Athletic Director, visited Congress on September 24 to discuss ways federal lawmakers and universities can partner to support student athletes. George met with Colorado Reps. Joe Neguse (D-CO) and Lauren Boebert (R-CO) during the visit.

Kempe Center Hosts Briefing on Work Combatting Online Child Abuse
The Kempe Center, an academic center within CU Anschutz focused on child welfare, hosted a congressional briefing on September 21 to highlight the Center’s work on combating online child abuse. The briefing was attended by nearly 50 congressional staff and advocacy groups.

Summary of Recent Congressional Staff Visits
Congressional staff from the offices of Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Reps. Yadira Caraveo (D-CO), Jason Crow (D-CO), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), and Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) joined CU in Colorado over the last month at events supporting all campuses, including CU Anschutz’s Ludeman Family Center for Women’s Health Research Annual Community Event, CU Boulder’s Renee Crown Institute Event, UCCS’s Homecoming Tailgate and 1,000 Gathering Community Event and CU Denver’s Block Party.

DHS Hosts Listening Session at CU Boulder
CU Boulder’s Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence hosted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on September 24 for a listening session on the challenges universities and communities face in responding to threats and acts of targeted violence. DHS will use the conversation to inform future trainings and technical assistance workshops. Participants included CU Boulder, CU Denver, Colorado State University, University of Northern Colorado, and Front Range Community College.

Rep. Lopez Visits CU Denver Block Party
Colorado U.S. Rep. Greg Lopez (R-CO) visited the CU Denver Block Party on August 26. He met with Interim Chancellor Ann Schmiesing and Antonio Farias, VC of DEI and heard from students, staff, and faculty.

Rep. Greg Lopez (R-CO) and CU Denver Interim Chancellor Ann Schmiesing at the CU Denver Block Party

CU Office of Government Relations

CU Anschutz/Fort Lewis Nursing Facility Toured by Senator Hickenlooper
Sen. Hickenlooper visited a nursing training facility on Fort Lewis College’s campus on August 29. The training facility was established alongside CU Anschutz under the CU Nursing Fort Lewis College Collaborative. For more information, read this article from the Montezuma Local News.

CU Comments on Distance Education Oversight Proposal
President Todd Saliman and all CU chancellors wrote to the U.S. Department of Education on August 23 offering input on a new proposal to increase oversight of distance education programs. Their letter expressed concern that the proposed policies would undermine equitable access to quality programs, create duplicative and costly processes, and stifle innovation. Over 470 stakeholders joined CU in commenting on the proposed regulations. For more information, read the following letter from the American Council on Education (ACE), cosigned by the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities (APLU).

CU Denver Student Highlighted for Participation in Colorado Capital Conference
CU Denver student and 2024 Colorado Capital Conference participant Ali Alnazzal was featured in an article from CU Denver News on September 6 featuring students’ summer break experiences. Alnazzal was part of a group of CU students who took part in the conference and had the opportunity to hear from lawmakers and other high-level speakers about the legislative process.