Top Government Affairs Firm RPG Scores Big in Omnibus Bill

Ridge Policy Group, a top DC lobbying firm, is thrilled to have many successful wins in the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus package, which President Biden signed into law this week. This has been more than a year-long effort, requiring a comprehensive government relations strategy. We have met with decision-makers, supported public affairs efforts, worked with state and local governments to garner support, partnered with trade groups, and more to ultimately secure this funding in this year’s appropriations package. Among our successes, we secured the below increases on behalf of our clients. 

Health Care and Pandemic Response 

  • A $4 million increase in funding level for the Traumatic Brain Injury State Partnership Program. This funding will help ensure states can build capacity to support brain injury survivors. 
  • $2 million for a CDC Concussion Surveillance System to ensure we have the data we need on the incidence of mild brain injuries throughout the United States. 
  • $500,000 in community project funding directly for Woods Services to support individuals with substance use and mental health challenges

Pandemic Response 

  • A requirement from the Director of National Intelligence to submit to the congressional intelligence committees a comprehensive report on the activities, prioritization, and responsibilities of the intelligence community with respect to foreign biological threats.
  • $1 billion to establish ARPA-H, a new agency to fund high-risk, cutting-edge biomedical research
  • $715 million, an increase of $20 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, for public health emergency preparedness cooperative agreements. 
  • $745 million, an increase of $148 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
  • $780 million, an increase of $10 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, for Project BioShield.
  • $845 million, an increase of $140 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, for the Strategic National Stockpile.

Economic Development and Small Business Support

  • $373,500,000 for the programs and administrative expenses of the Economic Development Administration (EDA). EDA has been a vital partner to local communities since its creation in 1965, serving as a federal catalyst for regional economic growth.
  • $2 million for a STEM Apprenticeship Program EDA. Our partner, the University City Science Center, received funding from EDA’s STEM Apprenticeship Pilot Program, known as the EDA STEM Talent Challenge. The Science Center is using this funding to expand the Building an Understanding of Lab Basics (BULB) program to provide a mix of virtual and on-the-job training to prepare Philadelphia residents for biotech careers. The Science Center, along with us as their government affairs consulting firm, is one of the only groups that advocated for this important funding.
  • $45 million for Build to Scale at EDA, an increase of $7 million
  • $6 million for the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program at the Small Business Administration (SBA)
  • $3 million for Growth Accelerators at SBA
  • $8 million for Regional Innovation Clusters at SBA, including language emphasizing that nonprofit innovation intermediaries should be able to apply for this funding 

If you are looking for support in reaching your funding goals, or budget requests, Ridge Policy Group can help you achieve this. There are many opportunities in FY23, including through community funding projects, or earmarks. Earmarks are funding that goes directly to one nonprofit or local government without having to participate in a competitive funding process.  

We are grateful to our House and Senate champions for helping to secure this funding in FY22 and look forward to our successes in FY23 and beyond.

Written by

Ridge Policy Group

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