The Week in Science & Technology: FY18 Budget Increases STEM Funding; CDC Head Has Tainted Past; Congress and EPA Seek to Restrict Science-Based Policymaking

Omnibus spending bill includes large research funding increase. On March 23, despite earlier threats of a last-minute veto, President Trump signed the $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill passed by Congress for FY18. Because of a February 2018 agreement permitting raised spending caps, the bill provides the largest increase in federal R&D spending since President Obama's 2009 stimulus package. Instead of the severe cuts proposed in the initial White House budget or the flat funding proposed by the subsequent addendum, the bill will increase the budgets of many federal science agencies above FY17 levels. Beneficiaries include the National Institutes of Health (8.3% above 2017 levels), National Science Foundation (+3.9%), Department of Energy (+15%), and NASA (+21%). The bill also explicitly permits the CDC to study gun violence -- and prohibits the use of federal funds to build a border wall through Texas's Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge.... READ MORE

The Week in Science & Technology: Budget Deadline Approaches; OSTP Reports on Trump’s First Year; Trump Blocks Broadcom-Qualcomm Deal

FY18 budget deadline approaches. Congress is reportedly making progress toward passing the FY18 budget, though it will need to pass its budget or a temporary continuing resolution by March 23 to avoid another government shutdown. Congress has already faced this deadline five times this year, and each time delayed the process by passing a continuing resolution. The last two deadlines led to brief government shutdowns as well. In response to the ongoing dysfunction in the congressional budget process, the Bipartisan Budget Act passed in February created a Joint Select Committee on Budget Process Reform tasked with making recommendations to improve the process. In the meantime, work has begun on the FY19 budget, with hearings in the House this week on the budgets for Department of Defense S&T programs, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Department of Health and Human Services, and others.... READ MORE

The Week in Science & Technology: ISS Privatization Proposal Draws Opposition; Net Neutrality Battle Heats Up; NSF to Close Three Overseas Offices

Administration proposes controversial plan to privatize ISS. The Trump administration's FY19 budget proposal, released on February 12, would end federal support for the International Space Station (ISS) after 2024, and the administration now--and controversially--favors fully privatizing its functions. In a February 20 letter to acting NASA administrator Robert Lightfoot and Office of Management and Budget Mick Mulvaney, Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) expressed concerns about the end of support, and are still awaiting details of NASA's transition plan for the ISS. Retired NASA astronaut and ISS veteran Leroy Chiao also slammed the privatization proposal in a February 22 op-ed, citing the importance of the ISS to U.S. leadership in basic space research. Aerospace Industries Association vice president Frank Slater and Boeing space station program manager Mark Mulqueen also weighed in against complete privatization, as did Made In Space CEO Andrew Rush, whose company manufactures 3D printers for use on spacecraft. Although the budget proposal's addendum (which was included in response to the budget deal signed on February 9) restored $300 million to the NASA budget and designated funds for commercial cargo operations, planetary science, facilities upgrades, and the new exploration initiative, it did not specifically mention the ISS.... READ MORE

The Week in Science & Technology: Congress Reaches Budget Deal; President Proposes FY19 Budget

Budget deal raises spending caps, but FY18 appropriations still to be determined. On February 9, President Trump signed the Bipartisan Budget Act, which ended an overnight government shutdown, raised the debt ceiling,increased spending caps, and includes a continuing resolution to fund the government through March 23. The bill ends sequestration for FY18 and FY19 by raising the spending caps by a combined $165 billion for defense programs and $131 billion for non-defense programs. However specific appropriations, including funding for scientific research, will be voted on later (despite the passage of this bill, the Republican Congress has still not passed a federal budget for FY18, which began on October 1). The budget deal has been controversial among both Senate Democrats, who advocated increasing non-defense and defense spending by the same amounts, and Republicans, who are divided over increasing the federal deficit in the wake of the recently passed tax cuts.... READ MORE

The Week in Science & Technology: Congress Reaches Budget Deal; President Proposes FY19 Budget

Budget deal raises spending caps, but FY18 appropriations still to be determined. On February 9, President Trump signed the Bipartisan Budget Act, which ended an overnight government shutdown, raised the debt ceiling,increased spending caps, and includes a continuing resolution to fund the government through March 23. The bill ends sequestration for FY18 and FY19 by raising the spending caps by a combined $165 billion for defense programs and $131 billion for non-defense programs. However specific appropriations, including funding for scientific research, will be voted on later (despite the passage of this bill, the Republican Congress has still not passed a federal budget for FY18, which began on October 1). The budget deal has been controversial among both Senate Democrats, who advocated increasing non-defense and defense spending by the same amounts, and Republicans, who are divided over increasing the federal deficit in the wake of the recently passed tax cuts.... READ MORE

POLICY The Week in Science & Technology: Government Reopens After Shutdown, but Feb. 8 Deadline Looms; Senate Moves Nominations Forward; Republicans Target NIEHS Director

Shutdown ends with government funded through February 8, but more interruptions possible. For the fourth time this year, the Republican-controlled Congress failed to pass a budget for FY18. The three previous times, a temporary continuing resolution was passed before the deadline to continue funding the government at current levels. However, no such deal was reached before January 19, causing a federal government shutdown, which ended three days later, with a deal that funded the Children's Health Insurance program for six years but postponed any action on immigration policy. However, the newest continuing resolution to fund the government runs out on February 8, risking another shutdown. An estimate of worker furloughs and office closures, based on the effects of the 2013 shutdown, shows their potential effects on science agencies: 95% of Environmental Protection Agency staff could be furloughed during a government shutdown, as well as 87% of the Commerce Department (which includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). The actual effects of the January 19-22 shutdown were relatively minor because of its brevity, but a longer shutdown would impact all major federal research funding agencies and many others -- including the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which would furlough more than half its workers during a severe flu season.... READ MORE

The Week in Science & Technology: Funding Showdown May Lead to Government Shutdown; GOP Tax Plan Passes; Net Neutrality Push Continues in Senate; Political Interference at Interior and CDC

Time running out on government funding resolution; shutdown possible. On December 21, Congress passed a continuing resolution to fund the government through January 19, but a longer-term spending bill remained out of reach -- risking a government shutdown -- after an angry outburst by President Trump imperiled a bipartisan immigration reform plan. A shutdown, such as the one in 2013, would temporarily suspend most government-funded research services, and would impact NASA, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and other federal agencies that award and manage research grants and informational websites.... READ MORE

The Week in Science & Technology: FCC Ends Net Neutrality; Temporary Spending Deal Reached; GOP Tax Plan Nears Vote

FCC repeals net neutrality rules. On December 14, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to repeal the net neutrality rules that currently regulate high-speed Internet as a utility and forbid providers from charging extra for some content. The three Republican FCC members, including chair Ajit Pai, voted for repeal, but the commission's two Democratic members, Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel, issued strongly worded dissents. The repeal plan drew the ire of consumers and technology companies, spurred in-person and online protests, and flooded the FCC's website with millions of comments by individuals as well as by automated bots; half a million comments supporting repeal were later traced to Russian email accounts. Though the repeal could take effect once entered into the federal register (possibly within a few weeks), consumer and business groups opposed to the repeal have promised to file lawsuits, which could delay implementation of the new rules, and attorneys general from 18 states plan to file a claim to block implementation of the repeal. Democrats have called for legislation that would put net neutrality rules back in place.... READ MORE

The Week in Science & Technology: Senate Passes Tax Bill; Appropriations Vote Approaches Shutdown Deadline; FCC Threatens Net Neutrality

Senate passes tax bill in post-midnight party-line vote; Democrats decry rushed process. The Senate passed its version of the Republican tax reform bill in the early morning hours on December 2, with all Democrats voting against it, joined by only one Republican, Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN). A blistering New York Times editorial called the bill a "historic tax heist" that would raise the federal deficit by $1.4 million over the next decade, make health insurance unaffordable for 13 million people, funnel permanent corporate tax savings directly to executives and shareholders, disproportionately burden poor and middle-class taxpayers, and be unlikely to create new jobs. The differences between the Senate bill and the recently passed House bill may be resolved in conference by a joint House-Senate committee before the final vote.... READ MORE

The Week in Science & Technology: Republican Tax Bill Advances in House; USDA Cancels Regulation Plan; HHS Secretary Nominated

GOP tax bill advances; would impose large tax burden on graduate students. The Republicans' Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has advanced from the House Ways and Means Committe, and it is scheduled to be considered by the full House of Representatives this Thursday, November 16. The bill includes massive tax cuts for the wealthy, while substantially increasing the deficit and, and increasing the tax burden for many middle-income earners. In an attempt to reduce the deficits created by the tax cuts proposed by House Republicans, the tax bill also makes tuition payments by colleges and universities taxable as federal income. As tuitions at research institutions are generally higher than typical graduate student stipends, this would dramatically increase the student tax bill, by up to $10,000, potentially quadrupling tax bills for students at private universities. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has opposed this measure on the grounds that the tax would discourage enrollment in graduate programs, shrinking and weakening the STEM workforce in the United States.... READ MORE

The Week in Science & Technology: Pruitt Bars Scientists From EPA Boards; Clovis Withdraws From USDA Nomination; GOP Tax Bill Targets Tuition Waivers

Pruitt removes scientists from EPA advisory boards. On October 31, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) head Scott Pruitt announced that scientists currently receiving grant money from the EPA would be immediately barred from its advisory boards. Many of the scientists were removed without warning, some learning of their ouster via text messages or news reports. Pruitt also named new heads of the EPA's three advisory panels: industry consultant Tony Cox replaced University of Iowa professor Deborah Swackhamer; waste-disposal executive Paul Gilman replaced Drexel University epidemiologist Ana Diez Roux; and Michael Honeycutt, a state toxicologist from Texas who has opposed stronger EPA clean-air standards, replaced University of Iowa environmental scientist Peter Thorne. On November 3, five House Democrats, including ranking members of two committees, sent a letter to Pruitt, challenging his decision and writing "[Your] directive suggests a motive less about independent science and more about stacking these boards with representatives of regulated industries." Pruitt's announcement drew additional scrutiny as he paraphrased the Bible to explain his rationale for the policy shift.... READ MORE

The Week in Science & Technology: Tech Companies in Hot Seat; Opioid Emergency Declared; Interior Department Ignores Climate Science

Tech companies face hearings on Russian election interference. Representatives of Facebook, Google, and Twitter are appearing before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on Tuesday, October 31, and the House and Senate Intelligence Committees on Wednesday, November 1. They are facing questioning about both paid advertisements and unpaid content from Russian sources during the 2016 presidential campaign. Facebook and Twitter have already announced new internal advertising and transparency policies designed to prevent disinformation campaigns by foreign operatives. While some Internet industry representatives advocate for self-regulation alone, there is bipartisan support for government involvement. The Honest Ads Act, introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mark Warner (D-VA), and John McCain (R-AZ), would require any digital platform serving more than 50 million users to report on any campaign that pays it $500 or more per year to run political ads. Klobuchar described foreign election influence via social media as a national-security issue, saying "Russia attacked us and will continue to use different tactics to undermine our democracy and divide our country, including by purchasing disruptive online political ads."... READ MORE

Op-Ed Project: Building a Better Society Through Science (October Update)

In July of this year, RISE Stronger, 500 Women Scientists, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), and the Engaging Scientists and Engineers in Policy (ESEP) Coalition joined together to launch our Op-Ed Project: Building a Better Society Through Science. We called on individuals to speak up for science by writing an op-ed in support of government funding for science, technology, and the programs that help build our society, support our local communities, and make the world a better place. You can view the original announcement and op-ed prompt here. Many concerned citizens answered the call, and they helped get the word out about the importance of non-defense discretionary spending for their local communities. To date, 11 op-eds from this project have been published in local papers across the U.S.... READ MORE

The Week in Science & Technology: Senate Passes Budget Resolution; Republicans Attack Scientific Review; Gun Research in Limbo

Senate passes budget resolution. On Thursday, October 19, the Senate narrowly passed its budget resolution. The House passed its own version earlier in October, and will now consider the changes in the Senate's version. In principle, the budget resolution serves as the first part of Congress' budget process, setting the spending limits for the appropriations bills that lay out the federal budget in more detail. However, because it is happening so late in the process, this year's budget resolution is seen as not being about the actual federal budget, but is being pursued only because it would provide Republicans with a vehicle to pass tax reform by a simple majority through the reconciliation process, bypassing Senate Democrats, who object to the massive tax cuts for the wealthy proposed by Republicans.... READ MORE

The Week in Science & Technology: NOAA and CEQ Nominees Spur Controversy; Trump Threatens TV Broadcast Licenses

Trump's NOAA and CEQ nominees draw pushback from senators, former officials. On October 12, President Trump nominated AccuWeather CEO Barry Myers to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). If confirmed by the Senate, Myers would be the first NOAA administrator since 1981 to hold no science degrees. AccuWeather, which relies heavily on National Weather Service (NWS) data, has previously lobbied for restrictions on public distribution of NWS weather data to increase profits for private companies using these data, and Myers supported then-Senator Rick Santorum's (R-PA) 2005 efforts to partially privatize NWS services. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) expressed concern about Myers' possible conflict of interest if confirmed for this position.... READ MORE

The Week in Science & Technology: House Passes Budget Resolution; Interior Policy Expert Resigns, Slams Zinke; Pence Announces NASA Priority Shift

House passes FY18 budget resolution. On October 5, the House narrowly passed a budget resolution that would increase defense spending by $72 billion and reduce non-defense spending by $5 billion. The budget includes cuts to education, healthcare, and nutritional assistance, and also contains reconciliation rules that would protect an upcoming tax-reform bill from filibuster. House Democrats—joined by 18 Republicans—voted as a bloc against the resolution and warned that the planned tax cuts would benefit only the wealthiest Americans. The Senate's version of the bill was approved by the Senate Budget Committee on September 29 and will move to the Senate floor later this month. The Senate may not accept the House's proposed mandatory cuts, and the House and Senate will have to resolve their disagreements before reconciliation rules can take effect.... READ MORE

RISE Science & Technology Group has added the call to action DHS Planning to Collect Social Media Info on All Immigrants.

The Week in Science & Technology: FCC Chairman Confirmed; Trump Administration Seeks Protester Data; Puerto Rico Gets New EPA Administrator

FCC Chairman confirmed; legislators, tech community object. On October 2, acting Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai was confirmed by the Senate, in a 52-41 vote, for a four-year term. The confirmation was expected, given Republican support for Pai; four Democratic Senators (Claire McCaskill, D-MO; Gary Peters, D-MI; Joe Manchin, D-WV; and Jon Tester, D-MT) also voted for confirmation. However, other Senate Democrats strongly opposed the confirmation. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) issued a scathing press release condemning Pai's efforts to roll back net neutrality. Many tech companies and Internet activists have also opposed Pai's confirmation, citing the possibility that if net neutrality is weakened or ended, price gouging by carriers could have chilling effects on content providers and consumers.... READ MORE

RISE Science & Technology Group has added the call to action Defend Net Neutrality. Contact Congress and the FCC and tell them you support a free and open Internet..

The Week in Science & Technology: Latest ACA Repeal Effort Falters; Tackling Foreign Interference in Elections; Last Chance for EPA Science Advisory Board Comments; Defending Net Neutrality

Graham-Cassidy vote cancelled; ACA enrollees still face obstacles. After Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), John McCain (R-AZ), and Rand Paul (R-KY) announced that they would oppose the Graham-Cassidy bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Republican Senate leadership has decided not to bring it to a vote. This effectively kills the bill, though a vote is still technically possible until September 30. However, prospective ACA enrollees for 2018 will face challenges. On September 22, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that the ACA enrollment site will be closed for maintenance from midnight to noon on most Sundays during the enrollment period. HHS describes this as a routine maintenance schedule, but Obama administration sources have called the shutdowns an unnecessary impediment to enrollment. Enrollment for 2018 will run for only 45 days -- November 1 through December 15, 2017 -- half the length of previous years' open enrollment period -- and shutdowns will affect every Sunday except the last (December 10). The Trump administration announced in August that this year's ACA promotional budget would be cut from $100 million to $10 million, including a 41% cut to the navigators who assist applicants with the signup process.... READ MORE

The Week in Science & Technology: House Passes Appropriations Package; New Driverless Car Policies; Trump Inaction on Energy Appointments

House passes appropriations package, but final budget will depend on Senate. On Thursday, September 14, the House of Representatives passed a package of 12 appropriations bills along a largely party-line vote (almost all Republicans in favor, almost all Democrats opposed). The package covers all federal discretionary spending for FY18, including scientific research funding. The bill largely rejects the draconian cuts proposed by President Trump, though it would eliminate the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), among a few other anti-science provisions. This budget passed by the House stands very little chance of being enacted, however. Differences would need to be ironed out with the Senate, which has not yet completed its appropriations bills. Democrats will be needed to reach 60 votes in the Senate, and the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Patrick Leahy (D-VT), has already said that it will not pass because it violates the Budget Control Act's cap on defense spending, among other reasons. Although FY18 begins in October, Congress has until December to pass a budget because of the continuing resolution passed earlier this month.... READ MORE

The Week in Science & Technology: Temporary Spending Deal Passed; Appropriations Continue in Congress; Controversy Over Hurricanes, Climate Change, and Chemical Plants

Trump and Congress reach temporary spending deal; appropriations continue in Congress. Ahead of the October 1 deadline to fund the federal government in FY18, President Trump and Congress agreed to a deal to extend spending for three months, raise the debt ceiling, and provide emergency hurricane relief funding. Trump signed the measure on Friday, September 8. The deal averts a government shutdown and gives Congress until the end of December to finalize FY18 spending.... READ MORE

The Week in Science & Technology: NASA Head Nominated; EPA Awards Undergoing Political Review; Congress Back in Session

Trump nominates Rep. Bridenstine to head NASA. On Friday, September 1, the Trump administration announced that, as expected, it would be nominating Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK) to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The position requires confirmation from the Senate, and Bridenstine will likely face opposition from Senate Democrats due to statements he made in 2013 downplaying climate change. However a University of Oklahoma official insists that Bridenstine does believe the climate is warming and carbon dioxide is a contributing factor. Both Senators from Florida, Bill Nelson (D) and Marco Rubio (R), oppose the nomination on the grounds that the agency should be led by a "space professional, not a politician." Bridenstine has worked closely with NASA during his time in Congress, focusing on space matters and seeking a role for the government that emphasizes being a pioneer in technology. He has previously written about the potential for commercializing moon missions, and there is speculation he may seek to shift the agency towards the moon rather than Mars.... READ MORE

Week 31 in Science & Technology: Science Envoy and Cybersecurity Council Members Resign; Congress Prepares for Budget Fight

State Department science envoy resigns; Tillerson to eliminate other special envoys. On August 21, Daniel Kammen, an energy expert and professor at the University of California, Berkeley, resigned from his position as a science envoy for the State Department. Kammen was appointed to this position in 2010 by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and in this role has been an adviser to international renewable energy projects. In his resignation letter, Kammen cited the President's "attacks on core values of the United States," including Trump's response to Charlottesville and his rejection of the Paris climate accords. A more subtle message in the letter accompanied Kammen's blunt repudiation of the President's policies: the first letters of each paragraph spelled out the word I-M-P-E-A-C-H. On Monday, August 28, CNN reported that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is planning to eliminate, downgrade, or reassign the majority of the State Department's special envoys, including the special envoy for climate change. Tillerson detailed his plans in a letter to Bob Corker (R-TN), chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.... READ MORE

Week 30 in Science & Technology: Administration Announces S&T Priorities; Trump Councils Disband

Trump's new priorities for science policy conflict with his own proposed budget cuts. On Thursday, August 17, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released a memo that provides the first outline of the Trump administration's priorities for science and technology. The memo focuses on five priorities for the FY19 budget: military superiority, national security, prosperity, energy dominance, and health. The statement does not mention key Obama administration S&T priorities, including climate science, advanced manufacturing, space science, brain science, or precision medicine. The memo contradicts Trump's FY18 budget proposal in some ways. For example, the memo calls for agencies to "invest in early-stage, innovative technologies that show promise in harnessing American energy resources safely and efficiently." However, Trump's budget proposal called for the elimination of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), the agency tasked with accomplishing that. This memo comes as OSTP remains critically understaffed and without a director.... READ MORE