The FY 2009 omnibus bill gave the National Nuclear Security Administration an increase of 3.6 percent. The Explanatory Statement had important language on a nuclear weapons strategy, Directed Stockpile Work, Campaigns, and other matters. (#26)
DOE: Looking Ahead:
A briefing by the Acting Director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Science stressed connecting basic and applied sciences, transformational science, re-energizing the national labs, and doubling the Office’s budget in seven to ten years. (#27)
Scientific Integrity:
President Obama issued a memorandum assigning the OSTP Director with the development of a plan guaranteeing the highest level of scientific integrity throughout the executive branch. (#28)
FY 2009 Budget Cycle Complete:
Almost six months late, the FY 2009 omnibus funding bill was enacting, providing significant increases in some S&T agency budgets. (#29)
Export Control Policy:
The House Science and Technology Committee held a hearing on U.S. export control policy and a recent report from the National Academies. (#30)
Energy Secretary Chu Testifies:
At two Senate hearings, the Secretary discussed funding, transformational technologies, ARPA-E, nuclear power, and carbon capture. (#31)
Stimulus Funding Plans:
NSF released an overview of how it will utilize $3.0 billion in stimulus funding; NIST launched a website with similar information. (#32) DOE outlined how it will spend the $1.2 billion provided for the Office of Science; Steven Koonin was nominated to be Under Secretary for Science. (#35) The Department of Defense announced how it would spend $300 million for near term energy efficiency technology demonstrations and research. (#36)
OSTP Director:
The Senate confirmed John Holdren as the new director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Earlier Senate testimony by Holdren outlined his views. (#33)
FY 2010 NSF, Office of Science Budgets:
A letter was circulated in the House of Representatives in support of the Obama Administration’s $7.0 billion request for the National Science Foundation. (#34) Another House letter asked appropriators to provide $5.2 billion for the Office of Science. (#37)
Nuclear Weapons Complex:
House appropriators explored difficult issues about the future size and cost of the nuclear weapons complex. (#38)
National Science and Technology Council:
The full House Science Committee will consider bills to establish committees under this Cabinet-level council to coordinate STEM education activities and international S&T efforts. (#39)
Richard M. Jones
Media and Government Relations Division
American Institute of Physics rjones@aip.org
301-209-3095
