The PAA/APC Government and Public Affairs Committee (GPAC) marked the end of 2021 with the departure of several committee members (Joe Hotz, Jarron Saint Onge, Matt Hauer, Eileen Crimmins, Marcy Carlson, and Giovanna Merli) and began 2022 by welcoming six new members: Lisa Berkman, PAA President-Elect; Narayan Sastry, Chair, PAA Committee on Population Statistics; Will Dow, APC Vice President, Jennifer Karas-Montez, APC Treasurer, and two At-Large members, Lina Guzman and Lynne Cossman.

GPAC anticipates a busy year with Congress returning to a long list of unfinished business, including enactment of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations bills (ideally before February 18 when the current Continuing Resolution expires), voting rights legislation, National Science Foundation reauthorization, and the President’s proposed climate and social spending measure also known as the Build Back Better Act. In addition, deliberations on FY 2023 appropriations will commence in early February when the Biden Administration sends its proposed budget to Congress. Complicating and accelerating the legislative schedule are the November 2022 mid-term elections in which every seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and 34 seats in the U.S. Senate are up for re-election. In light of 2022 being a major election year, Congress will be striving to adjourn in September to allow members to return home and campaign.

GPAC is already making plans for early and consistent congressional engagement. On February 28, PAA and the Association of Population Centers (APC) will be conducting a virtual Advocacy Day in which PAA and APC officers and invited members will be meeting with targeted congressional staff and members. In addition, in 2022, GPAC plans to hold two congressional briefings to help promote population research activities and findings on timely, policy-relevant topics. PAA and APC also are looking forward to welcoming Rob Santos as the new Director of the Census Bureau in January and have requested an opportunity to meet with him and senior Census Bureau staff.  GPAC is also sponsoring a session at the PAA annual meeting that will highlight activities key federal agencies are conducting to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

GPAC is looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that the new year present and thanks PAA members in advance for supporting our efforts to inform policymakers about population research and the resources needed to support the field.

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