Emory is pleased with a number of legislative efforts that are advancing this state session, including legislation to support maternal health, promote mental well-being, and prevent workplace violence. There are other bills under consideration that may cause concern on campus, and our team is working with legislators to explain the full ramifications of these bills.

The Senate and House Committees on Appropriations have released their guidance, and the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) appropriations process is beginning to take shape. Budgetary discussions will continue escalating with the release of President Biden’s budget request and hearings in the House beginning later this week. Emory is currently preparing our set of requests to Congress, if you have Emory specific programs that you would like to be considered, please reach out to Jessica.Ann.Davis@emory.edu (Jessica.Ann.Davis@emory.edu)
as soon as possible. 

Complicating the FY24 appropriations process, we expect the nation to reach the debt ceiling this summer. Congress will need to address the debt limit soon to avoid a default on the nation’s debts. While Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy and President Biden have discussed this issue, little common ground has been found. Republicans are demanding spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt limit, while Democrats state that paying our outstanding debts is non-negotiable. Congress has previously been in debt-limit standoffs and managed to avoid serious consequences. However, with politics being so partisan, congressional leaders need to begin working soon to avoid an economic catastrophe. 

Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) Request for Information 

Representatives Richard Hudson (R–NC) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) are leading the effort in the House to reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA). As a first step, the two House Energy and Commerce Committee members have released a Request for Information (RFI) asking for feedback from stakeholders on how to reauthorize and revise PAHPA programs and initiatives. PAHPA has authorized many of the federal government’s biodefense and pandemic preparedness programs, including the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). The OGCA team is coordinating Emory’s response to the RFI, which is due on March 13. If you would like to submit your own comments based on your area of expertise, please send your written comments to Jessica.Ann.Davis@emory.edu and the OGCA team will make sure they are submitted.  

Senate HELP Committee Hearing and RFI on the Healthcare Workforce 

On February 16, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing on the nation’s healthcare workforce shortages. During the hearing HELP Committee members heard from the chief academic officer of Ochsner Health, the dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, and other higher education institutions. Since that hearing, Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), ranking member of the HELP Committee, and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), chair of the HELP committee, have released an RFI (or request for information) requesting input from providers and stakeholders on the root causes of the current healthcare workforce shortage and ways to address it. Senator Cassidy has emphasized the importance of increasing education opportunities for healthcare workers and has stated he plans to introduce legislation to address the healthcare workforce shortage in our nation.

Stonecrest Hiring Fair

On February 22, the OGCA team partnered with Emory University’s Human Resources Department to host a hiring fair in the City of Stonecrest. This was the first time that Emory University recruiters participated in a community outreach effort, and it was a success. Over 60 recruiters participated in this event and close to 650 attendees were present to speak with recruiters about available positions at Emory. As a result of the hiring fair, there have been several hires with the possibility of up to five more. The Stonecrest Mayor and several city council members greeted the attendees and provided opening and closing remarks. We are grateful to the City of Stonecrest and the Emory Human Resources team for their partnership and for helping to make this event an impactful one for those who attended.

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance is hosting a walk with the three founders of the Georgia Beloved Naturalist Program. One of these founders is our own Kendra Price, Associate Director of Community Programs, who helped launch the inaugural program last year. Join us to learn more about this work: the walk is scheduled for Wednesday, March 22 at 10am on the PATH, located at 3350 Klondike Road, Stonecrest, GA 30038.