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.
• Only one week remains to submit a comment to the FCC on its move to eliminate net neutrality rules. Learn more here, and submit comments directly here. Comments must be submitted by August 30.

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.

Trump's CEO advisory councils disband after post-Charlottesville mass resignations

After eight executives resigned from the President's Manufacturing Council in response to Trump's remarks about white nationalist violence in Charlottesville, both this council and the President's Strategic and Policy Forum were disbanded on Wednesday, August 16. The members of the Strategic and Policy Forum released a statement on their decision to disband: "Intolerance, racism and violence have absolutely no place in this country and are an affront to core American values…. We believe the debate over forum participation has become a distraction from our well-intentioned and sincere desire to aid vital policy discussions on how to improve the lives of everyday Americans. As such, the president and we are disbanding the forum." A day later, it was announced that the Presidential Advisory Council on Infrastructure, which was still being formed, will also be cancelled. Although CEOs have historically been reluctant to make political statements, the actions of President Trump have made association with him increasingly untenable. (A few CEOs had previously resigned from Trump's councils earlier this year in response to Trump's climate and immigration policies.

Trump administration dismisses federal advisory committee for the National Climate Assessment

In its latest move to slow down action on climate change, the Trump administration has dismissed the federal advisory committee for the National Climate Assessment, which is slated to release a report in 2018 summarizing the latest science on climate change and its impacts. On Friday, August 18, the acting administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notified the committee chair, Richard Moss, that the committee's charter would not be renewed. Moss told the Washington Post that members of the committee would continue working on the report in an unofficial capacity, but that it would not have the same weight. He said that disbanding the committee would have serious consequences for state and local governments, given key decisions they must make on a range of issues dealing with climate change impacts. However, NOAA communications director Julie Roberts has claimed that the move would "not impact the completion of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, which remains a key priority."

US launches investigation into Chinese intellectual property practices

On Friday, August 18, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced that the US has begun a formal investigation into China's intellectual property practices. The investigation, under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, will focus on "whether acts, policies, and practices of the Government of China related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict US commerce." The announcement follows a memo from President Trump on Monday, August 14, calling for such an investigation. Despite being a focal point of his campaign, this is the first significant move by the Trump administration on China's trade practices.

NSF reminds universities of research conduct training requirements

On Thursday, August 17, the National Science Foundation (NSF) issued a notice reminding universities that responsible conduct of research (RCR) training is required for all NSF grantee institutions. The America COMPETES Act of 2007, a strategic plan approved by Congress, requires students to receive RCR training before working on NSF-funded research. The latest notice comes after reports in recent years have noted low levels of compliance and raised questions about the the scope of the NSF training.

Vernon J. Ehlers, 1934-2017

Vernon J. Ehlers, 83, the first research physicist elected to Congress, died in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on August 15. Ehlers, a Republican, represented his Grand Rapids-based district in the House from 1993 through 2010. Ehlers was well-known for his bipartisan work as an advocate for STEM research and education, and eventually became part of the House informal "three-person physics caucus" after the election of two other physicists to the House: Bill Foster (D-IL, in office since 2008) and Rush Holt (D-NJ, in office 1999-2015; currently CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, AAAS).

Congress on Recess

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

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