| | 164th Edition | May
23,
2024 |
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| Federal Affairs | Emory Scholars on the Hill
On May 15, the OGCA team hosted a dozen Emory Woodruff Scholars on Capitol Hill. We organized meetings with three Emory alumni who are leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives (photos below), organized a panel of alumni staffers, and met with key staff in Georgia’s Senate offices. We hope to convince smart, hard-working students to contemplate a career in public service. |
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|  | | | Pictured above: The students met with Joe Yates, Superintendent, U.S. House of Representatives; Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-FL); and Congressman Jeff Jackson (D-NC). The students were also treated to a panel discussion comprised of alumni congressional staffers. From left to right: Becca Flikier, Deputy Chief of Staff, Rep Lois Finkel (D-FL); Jessica Davis, AVP, Federal Affairs, Emory (moderator); Scott Cunningham, Administration and Member Services Director, House Office of the General Counsel; and Joshua Moscow, Parliamentary Clerk, Senate Office of the Parliamentarian.
Congressional Support for the National Institutes of Health
Emory University thanks Senator Warnock, Rep David Scott, Rep Hank Johnson, Rep McBath, and Rep Williams for signing onto their respective National Institutes of Health (NIH) Dear Colleague Letters advocating for $51.3 billion in funding for fiscal year 2025. Given that the NIH is one of Emory’s largest external funders, we are thankful for this support from members of our delegation. |
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| State Affairs | Governor Kemp Signs Fiscal Year 2025 Budget
On May 7, Governor Brian Kemp, alongside First Lady Marty Kemp, House and Senate leaders, and members of the General Assembly, signed House Bill 916, the fiscal year 2025 (FY25) budget, into law at the Georgia state capitol. The $36.1 billion budget for FY25 was crafted by Senate Appropriations Chairman Blake Tillery and House Appropriations Chairman Matt Hatchett, with input from leaders of both legislative chambers. The budget will take effect on July 1, 2024.
The State Affairs team secured new, additional funding line items for Emory, including:
- $56,757 to support three new general medical education (GME) spots for a rural preventative medicine rotation through the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce (GBHCW) at the Department of Community Health (DCH);
- $108K increase in funds to the Emory Autism Center through the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD); and
- $225K increase in funds to Georgia Memory Net (GMN) to extend the brain health awareness campaign to a younger audience through the Department of Human Services (DHS).
- This funding supplements at least a dozen existing funding contracts that Emory has with the state.
The FY25 budget also includes:
- $1 million expansion of the Veterans Mental Health Services Program;
- $835K dedicated to reimbursement for biomarker testing for inpatient pregnant people between 23-34 weeks with hypertensive disorder through DCH;
- $200K to establish the Comprehensive Health Coverage Commission;
- $248 million to shore up the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP); and
- Approximately $40 million to improve Medicaid reimbursement and coverage.
For more information on the FY25 budget, please visit the House Budget and Research Office website.
The 28th Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Forum
On May 14, the State Affairs team attended the 28th Rosalynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum at the Carter Center. The event had a packed agenda that promoted inclusivity, equity, and resilience in mental health advocacy with speakers such as Commissioner Kevin Tanner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and First Lady Marty Kemp. Emory was represented through the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program and the Recovery Quilt, previously displayed at the Michael C. Carlos Museum and other Emory locations. Watch the forum in its entirety online. The photos below are credited to the Carter Center. |
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|  | Community Affairs | Peace Walk
On June 8, Emory Hillandale Hospital’s Violence Prevention Program will host a Peace Walk in recognition of National Gun Violence Awareness Month. Congressman Hank Johnson’s office will be on hand to present a proclamation to the group. |
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|  | | Voting at 1599
Close to 1,000 votes were cast at Emory‘s DeKalb County polling site during advance voting which ran from April 29 through May 17 and on election day, May 21, for the general primary election. Read more about this community engagement initiative. |
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