What you can do

  • Check out the RISE Stronger Guide to the August Recess, which will arm you with information on key issues so you can ask challenging, hard-hitting questions of your members of Congress at town halls, meetings, or other events during the recess.
  • The Department of Labor is asking for information on the impact of its 2016 overtime rule, which would increase postdoc salaries, among other benefits. You can read more about the rule here and submit your comments at Regulations.gov before September 25.
  • The FCC has extended its deadline for public comments on its move to eliminate net neutrality rules. Learn more here, and submit comments directly here. Comments must be submitted by August 30.
  • Want to show your opposition to organized hate groups? Check out Indivisible's Stand in Solidarity with Charlottesville page to find an event near you.

Executives resign from Trump council in wake of Charlottesville response

As of Tuesday, August 15, six executives have resigned from President Trump's American Manufacturing Council as a protest against the President's response to last weekend's violence by white nationalists in Charlottesville, Virginia. Merck & Co. CEO, Kenneth Frazier, was the first to resign. Directly citing the President's first weak response to the Charlottesville violence, where a white nationalist killed one counter-protester and injured many more, Frazier stated "America's leaders must honor our fundamental views by clearly rejecting expressions of hatred, bigotry and group supremacy, which run counter to the American ideal that all people are created equal." (Frazier, who is African American, had been the only person of color on the manufacturing council.)

Many executives have been unwilling to oppose Trump on the record, citing fear of retaliation against their businesses. However, after Trump's continued inability to forcefully denounce bigotry, racism, and white supremacy, and his insistence on blaming "both sides", executives from Intel, Under Armour, the Alliance for American Manufacturing, and the AFL-CIO also resigned their council positions. These were not the first business advisors to leave because of opposition to Trump's actions. In June, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Disney CEO Bob Iger both resigned from Trump's advisory councils in protest of Trump's decision to leave the Paris accords on climate change; Uber's former CEO Travis Kalanick resigned his advisory role in February because of Trump's immigration orders. However, many CEOs remain on Trump's councils, making one wonder: what would it take to actually make them leave? (Update: On Wednesday, August 16, the President's Strategic and Policy Forum decided to disband, and Trump followed later that day with an announcement that he would end his executive councils.)

Two more weeks to comment on net neutrality

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has extended by two weeks the deadline to comment on its proposal to eliminate net neutrality rules. The public now has until August 30 to submit comments (technically responding to comments made during the original commenting period, which ended in July). The proposal to eliminate net neutrality rules has already garnered over 20 million public comments, making it by far the most commented upon item in FCC history.

FDA restricts hiring of foreign nationals

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will no longer hire foreign nationals who have not lived in the US for three of the last five years. This change in policy, first reported by STAT, would apply to any new hires beginning October 1 or later. This policy is related to eligibility for government ID cards ("PIV cards"), but is stricter than general Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or government-wide policies. The new policy will significantly decrease the ability of the FDA to attract and recruit the world's top scientific talent.

NOAA climate report confirms 2016 was hottest year on record

Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its 2016 State of the Climate report, which confirmed that 2016 was the world's hottest year on record. Providing additional evidence for the well-established trend of global warming, this report further emphasizes the need for the US to address risks from climate change and build a greener energy economy. This new report, while not a surprise to climate experts, puts additional pressure on the Trump administration to take meaningful steps in the face of global climate change.

Trump calls opioid epidemic a "national emergency"

In July, President Trump's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis released a series of recommendations, including that the opioid epidemic should be declared a national emergency. A few weeks later, on Thursday, August 10, Trump finally called the crisis a "national emergency" during a press briefing at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. However, it is unclear whether Trump has formally declared a national emergency in this instance, and it remains to be seen whether his words will translate in substantive policy action.

Congress moves to defund IPCC

Beginning in 2017, the US has stopped contributing to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This action will make it harder for US scientists to participate in the working groups which prepare major reports on climate change and its impacts every five to seven years. Typically, the Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) select scientists to participate and pay for their travel expenses out of the US's $2 million per year contribution. In its FY17 budget, Congress failed to appropriate funds for the IPCC. The House version of the FY18 budget would take this a step further, prohibiting funding from going to the IPCC. The IPCC was established in 1988 by the UN to provide an independent assessment of research on climate change and make recommendations to policy makers. The next IPCC assessment, the sixth, is due in 2022.

Congress on Recess

The House and Senate have adjourned for their August recess, and members will return to work on September 5.

Highlights from partner organizations

  • The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) wants to support the next generation of science advocacy leaders through its Science for Public Good Fund. Proposals are due September 1. Learn more here.
  • The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has set up the Science Protection Project to help individuals report situations where science is being inappropriately subjected to political influence. Individuals who call the hotline will receive free legal advice and will be protected by attorney-client confidentiality privilege.

Have comments or something to add? Contact the RISE Stronger Science & Technology Policy Working Group at [email protected].

Want to learn more? Check us out online at risestronger.org/groups/rise-science-technology, and sign up for the RISE S&T Newsletter at tinyletter.com/rise-science-tech.