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What’s Ahead
At Last, Science Agencies Receive FY17 Appropriations
On Friday evening, hours before federal funding was set to expire, President Trump signed legislation that finalizes appropriations through the end of fiscal year 2017. The law restores budget certainty for the federal science agencies for the next five months, with many receiving increases over fiscal year 2016 levels. Defying the administration’s request for deep non-defense spending cuts, Congress funded the science agencies largely within or near ranges the House and Senate Appropriations Committees approved last summer.
Having finalized their work on the fiscal year 2017 appropriations bill, members of the House have returned to their home districts for the week. When they come back to Washington, Congress will turn to consideration of the fiscal year 2018 budget, beginning with the release of the Trump administration’s budget request on or about May 22. Stakes are expected to remain high for the entire federal budget portfolio during fiscal year 2018 negotiations, with Trump having tweeted last week that the government “needs a good ‘shutdown’” this fall to “fix [this] mess!”
National Science Board Convenes for Spring Meeting
The National Science Board is holding its spring meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. In closed session, the board will discuss their role in advising the president and Congress and in shaping the National Science Foundation’s future budget requests. In open session, the board will hear an update from NSF Director France Córdova and will discuss the INCLUDES program and efforts to foster convergence research — two of the foundation’s “ten big ideas” — as well as efforts to support the nation’s skilled technical workforce. The board will also consider the proposed creation of a National Center for Optical-Infrared Astronomy and will welcome new NSB award recipients, including former NSF Director Rita Colwell, who is receiving the Vannevar Bush Award. The full agenda is available here.
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In Case You Missed It
Space Weather Bill Passes Senate
Last week, the Senate passed the “Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act” by unanimous consent. Originally introduced last year, the bill would codify much of the National Space Weather Strategy in law, directing the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to coordinate federal efforts to “improve the nation’s ability to prepare, avoid, mitigate, respond to, and recover from potentially devastating impacts of space weather events.” The bill would also provide a legislative mandate for the National Science and Technology Council’s interagency working group on space weather.
Perry Says All Previously Obligated DOE Projects Will Be Funded
Secretary of Energy Rick Perry released a memo last week that said the Department of Energy will honor all funding commitments for “previously obligated” grants and agreements, according to E&E News. The news follows several Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy grantees reporting that they had not received anticipated grant disbursements. House Science Committee Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) sent a letter to Secretary Perry last month warning that a failure to spend appropriated funds would be illegal, but Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) subsequently said that the ARPA–E projects were merely on hold. The White House has proposed eliminating ARPA–E in fiscal year 2018.
Trump Administration Dismisses EPA Science Panel Members
The Washington Post reports that the Environmental Protection Agency has dismissed at least five academic members of its Board of Scientific Counselors. An EPA spokesman said they may be replaced with scientists representing regulated industries. EPA’s approach to science has been under increasing scrutiny as the agency recently removed several climate change education pages from its website, and as the House has passed bills aimed at reform the use of science in EPA’s advisory and rulemaking processes, including one to reform membership of the larger Science Advisory Board.
Senate Subcommittee Hearings Address DOD R&D
Last week, two Senate subcommittee hearings addressed the subject of research, development, and innovation at the Department of Defense. The Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities welcomed former administrators from the DOD research and engineering enterprise to discuss the needs of defense laboratories in view of the recent Defense Research Board assessment of them and the next National Defense Authorization Act. The Defense Appropriations Subcommittee heard from Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work and William Roper, director of DOD’s Strategic Capabilities Office — both of whom have been integral to the development of DOD’s Third Offset Strategy — and from Steven Walker, acting director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The witnesses discussed strategies that DOD is currently undertaking to maintain a rapid pace of innovation and to be responsive to military needs.
National Academy of Sciences President Outlines New Initiatives
On May 1, National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt gave her inaugural speech to members during the academy’s 154th Annual Meeting. During her talk, she summarized new National Academies’ initiatives, including the first-ever external review of the National Research Council to determine how the organization can be more responsive during a time of budget constraints and high turnover rates in the federal government. She also mentioned efforts the organization has made to foster scientific integrity, spotlighting the April Sackler colloquium on research reproducibility and the new Academies report on misconduct and detrimental practices. McNutt concluded her speech by talking about enhancement of the Koshland Science Museum and a new initiative tentatively titled “America Asks, Science Answers.” Their purpose, she said, is to improve public engagement in science in a time when “the respect for evidence in decision-making is waning and acceptance of alternate facts is waxing.”
Congressmen Question Management of DOI Science Centers
House Natural Resources Committee Chair Rob Bishop (R-UT) sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke last week expressing oversight concerns with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Climate Science Centers (CSCs) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCCs), both established during the Obama administration. The letter states that “Since their inception, the CSCs and LCCs have lacked necessary internal controls, failed to develop effective communication policies, and have put taxpayer dollars at risk,” and requests documentation on how DOI plans to address concerns about duplication in grants offered by the programs.
Senate Energy Committee Weighs Threat From Electromagnetic Pulses
On May 4, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee convened a hearing to evaluate the threat of electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) and to discuss policies in place to protect vulnerable energy infrastructure. The panel of witnesses from government, industry, and defense unanimously agreed that EMPs do represent a serious threat to national defense and the electrical grid, but there was considerable debate whether it is a higher priority than other issues such as cybersecurity. Building grid resiliency was a key theme throughout committee members’ comments, with special attention on how needed improvements to energy infrastructure should be addressed.
House Committees Examine Small Business R&D Programs
The House Science and Small Business Committees held a joint hearing on May 4 to consider improvements to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs. A number of committee members praised the successful technology commercialization efforts that have benefitted from SBIR/STTR grants, but a primary purpose of the hearing was to discuss a Government Accountability Office report on additional actions needed to protect against potential fraud, waste, and abuse in the programs. Science Committee Chair Lamar Smith (R-TX) said in his opening statement that the Small Business Administration has a history of not fully implementing GAO recommendations on the matter and called for the committees to develop new legislation as a remedy.
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Events This Week
Monday, May 8 DOE: Basic Research Needs workshop on catalysis science
Invitation only
Tuesday, May 9 NSF: National Science Board Meeting (continues Wednesday)
Open sessions: 8:00 am – 1:30 pm, Tue.; 8:00 – 8:35 am and 10:40 am – 2:30 pm, Wed.
NSF headquarters (Arlington, VA)
Webcast available
George Washington University: Humans to Mars Summit (continues through Thursday)
George Washington University (1957 E St. NW, DC)
Acting NASA Administrator Robert Lightfoot and NASA Associate Administrator for Science Thomas Zurbuchen are among the speakers
Wednesday, May 10 Federal Demonstration Partnership: Spring Meeting (continues through Friday)
Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill (400 New Jersey Ave. NW, DC)
STEM Education Coalition: “STEM Education 101: Major Policy Issues for the 115th Congress” Congressional Briefing
2:00 – 3:30 pm, House Science Committee (2318 Rayburn Office Building)
RSVP to jfbrown@stemedcoalition.org
Friday, May 12 No events start today.
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Opportunities
NSF Accepting Nominations for Advisory Committees
The National Science Foundation is requesting recommendations for new members to serve on its many scientific and technical advisory committees, including the committees which review and provide advice to the foundation’s six research directorates. Committees typically meet twice annually. Self-recommendations are accepted.
GSA Seeking Science Policy Fellow
The Geological Society of America is accepting applications for a year-long science policy fellowship. Recent geoscience M.S. or Ph.D. graduates who are interested in public policy and communications are encouraged to apply by May 22.
Know of an upcoming science policy opportunity? Email us at fyi@aip.org.Know of an upcoming science policy event? Email us at fyi@aip.org.
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