CU Federal Government Transition Updates Page
CU Federal Relations has created a Federal Government Transition Updates page to provide access to communications and information regarding the ongoing federal transition, recent executive orders, and their ongoing implementation on the university’s mission and the people who work and learn on our campuses. Resources include statements from CU Federal Relations and partner organizations, information regarding executive orders and federal agency actions, and an FAQ regarding the implementation of executive orders. Further updates will be published on the website and on the CU Government Relations news page.

FY25 Appropriations and Reconciliation Update
Negotiations for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) appropriations have been ongoing to fund the government as the current Continuing Resolution expires on March 14. Congress is currently negotiating top line funding levels for FY25, a necessary step before finalizing appropriations. More can be read at Politico.

Additionally, Congressional leaders are working on potential budget reconciliation legislation, a process which allows legislation to bypass the Senate filibuster. Senate Republicans released a draft budget resolution on February 7 and House Republicans released a draft budget resolution on February 12. More can be read at CBS News.

CU Federal Relations will continue to provide updates throughout the appropriations and reconciliation processes.
 
Recent Capitol Hill Visits
CU President Todd Saliman and Danielle Radovich Piper, Senior VP for External Relations & Strategy met with Sen. Michael Bennet (CO) and Reps. Diana DeGette (CO-1), Joe Neguse (CO-2), Jeff Hurd (CO-3), Lauren Boebert (CO-4), Jeff Crank (CO-5), and Jason Crow (CO-6) on February 11. They were joined by CU Anschutz School of Medicine Dean John Sampson for meetings with Reps. DeGette and Crow. Dean Sampson also met with staff for Sens. Bennet and John Hickenlooper (CO) and Rep. Gabe Evans (CO-8).

Members of the Colorado School of Public Health’s Centers for Health, Work, and Environment met with staff for Sens. Bennet and Hickenlooper and Reps. DeGette, Crank, Crow, Brittany Pettersen (CO-7), and Evans on February 10 and 12.

CU Deans of Engineering Keith Molenaar, CU Boulder and Martin Dunn, CU Denver teamed up on Capitol Hill on February 5 and met with staff from the offices of Sens. Bennet and Hickenlooper and Reps. DeGette, Neguse, and Hurd.

Dr. Vik Bebarta, Director of the Center for COMBAT Research at CU Anschutz, met with staff for Reps. Crank, Crow, and Evans on January 31.

Twila Moon, Deputy Lead Scientist and Science Communication
Liaison at the National Snow and Ice Data Center at CIRES, met with staff for Sens. Bennet and Hickenlooper and Reps. Neguse, Hurd, Crank, Pettersen, and Evans on January 28.
 
Rep. Crank Visit UCCS to Talk Cybersecurity & Military
Rep. Crank visited the UCCS Kevin O’Neil Cybersecurity Center on February 14, and met with Chancellor Sobanet along with Gretchen Bliss, Director of Cybersecurity Program, and partners from the National Cybersecurity Center (NCC), and the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC). The Congressman also discussed military services with Crista Hill, Director of Veteran and Military Affairs and Jenifer Furda, Director of Partnerships, Governmental Affairs & Military Liaison.

U.S. Space Command Visit to CU Boulder
Representatives from the U.S. Space Command Academic Engagement Enterprise (AEE) visited CU Boulder on February 6. During the visit, they toured the Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences Building and met with campus leaders including Michael Gooseff, Associate Dean of Research for College of Engineering and Applied Science; Hanspeter Schaub, Chair of the Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences; and Frank Eparvier, Interim Director of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP). They were joined by congressional staff members from the offices of Sens. Bennet and Hickenlooper, and Reps. Neguse, Boebert, and Evans.
 
Rep. Crow Speaks at CU Denver Thrive Lecture Series
Rep. Jason Crow spoke at CU Denver’s School of Public Affairs as part of the Thrive Lecture Series on January 30, and focused on how we can look for bipartisan solutions in Congress. A photo of the event can be seen on X.
 
CU Boulder Institute of Behavioral Science Ribbon Cutting
CU Boulder held a ribbon-cutting event to celebrate renaming the Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS) building to the Richard Jessor Building on January 28. The event was attended by Representative Joe Neguse, CU Boulder Chancellor Justin Schwartz, CU Boulder Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Massimo Ruzzene, and staff from the office of Rep. Gabe Evans. More can be read at the IBS news page.
 
Quantum Incubator Ribbon Cutting - CU Boulder Project
CU Boulder, alongside their partners, announced a new quantum incubator facility on January 15. The facility, established in partnership with Colorado State University, Colorado School of Mines, and Elevate Quantum, will provide state-of-the-art equipment and resources for research into innovative quantum technologies. The event was attended by CU President Todd Saliman, CU Boulder Chancellor Justin Schwartz, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, CU Boulder Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Massimo Ruzzene, and CUbit Quantum Initiative executive director Scott Sternberg. Rep. Joe Neguse released a statement celebrating “the nation’s leading quantum tech hub under the CHIPS and Science Act.” Congressional staff from the offices of Sens. Bennet and Hickenlooper and Rep. Neguse were also in attendance. More can be read at CU Boulder Today.
 
Former Chancellor DiStefano, LASP Director Baker Honored in Congressional Record
Rep. Joe Neguse honored former CU Boulder Chancellor Phil DiStefano and former LASP Director Dan Baker in remarks published in the Congressional Record on December 18, 2024. Rep. Neguse expressed his gratitude for Chancellor DiStefano and detailed his accomplishments leading CU Boulder. Those remarks can be read in the Congressional Record. Rep. Neguse also recognized Dan Baker’s leadership of LASP and the contributions he made towards space science and aerospace workforce development. Those remarks can be read in the Congressional Record.