188th Edition

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188th EditionDecember 12, 2025

Federal Affairs

On Tuesday, Dec. 9, Major General (Ret.) Matt Smith visited Capitol Hill to engage with House and Senate VA Committees, reinforcing Emory’s commitment to serving our nation’s veterans.

Congress’ Compressed Calendar 
As the year ends, lawmakers are contending with unfinished FY 2026 appropriations, a must-pass NDAA, expiring ACA premium tax credits, and internal divisions within the House. The legislative window is narrow, and the potential for renewed shutdown brinkmanship in early 2026 remains significant.

State Affairs

2026 Legislative Preview 
Georgia’s 2026 state legislative session begins Monday, Jan. 12, and will run for 40 legislative days. With lawmakers preparing for the upcoming election cycle — and Governor Kemp entering his final session — the year promises to be active and politically dynamic under the Gold Dome. 

Emory’s priorities include expanding access to care through Medicaid coverage for heart and lung transplants, protecting existing tort reform statutes and supporting campus safety initiatives. 

If you plan to visit the Statehouse, please ensure any advocacy reflects your personal views and not official Emory positions. Our team appreciates knowing when you are at the Capitol; please contact Sydney Wilkins at sydney.wilkins@emory.edu

Resolution Presentation by Sen. Elena Parent 
On Monday, Dec. 1, Senator Elena Parent presented a resolution honoring the Atlanta Emory Heart Transplant Team for their exceptional contributions to cardiac care and transplant medicine. The ceremony celebrated the team’s dedication, innovation and life-saving work. Former heart transplant recipients joined physicians, surgeons and care team members to mark this milestone, underscoring the profound impact of Emory’s heart transplant program.

OGCA Updates

Final Legislative Update of 2025 
The OGCA team will hold the final Legislative Update of 2025 on Monday, Dec. 15. Registration is required

We will continue to provide updates to the Emory community every other month in 2026 at 10 a.m. Scheduled dates are Feb. 23, Apr. 20, Jun. 15, Aug. 17, Oct. 19 and Dec. 14. 

Board of Visitors Holiday Gathering 
On Thursday, Dec. 4, the OGCA team hosted a holiday gathering for the Board of Visitors, featuring a tour of the observatory platform and a planetarium presentation. Special thanks to Emory’s astronomers for making the experience memorable!

Pictured above is Erin Wells Bonning, PhD, associate teaching professor and director of the Emory Planetarium.

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