What you can do

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.

Foreign election hacking affected 21 states; Democrats urge FEC to crack down on foreign political ad buys

Earlier this summer, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) informed 21 states and six territories that their voting systems may have been targeted by foreign actors. Information about tampering had previously been verified in Illinois and Arizona, and, in June, a leaked National Security Agency report detailed the efforts of Russian military intelligence to infiltrate computerized voting systems by sending malware-containing email to 122 local election offices. Working in concert with state officials, the DHS has begun to implement new policies to share tactics for combatting cyber attacks. Recently, Virginia took action to replace electronic voting machines, which have been found to be particularly vulnerable to hackers.

Congressional Democrats have also asked the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) to issue new guidelines to keep foreign powers from buying online political ads. These purchases violate federal law, but can easily evade it through social media and advertising networks. The office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, along with three Congressional committees, are now investigating this issue. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who had been warned last year by President Obama about foreign disinformation campaigns, agreed on September 21 to hand over 3,000 ads – apparently purchased by Russian companies – to Congressional investigators. Meanwhile, time is running out to prevent "weaponization" of social media during the 2018 midterm elections.

Voter suppression may also have affected 2016 turnout in Wisconsin

According to a study released on September 25, stringent new ID laws in Wisconsin may have deterred between 9,000 and 23,000 registered voters in heavily Democratic districts from voting in the 2016 election. A statewide extrapolation estimates that up to 45,000 eligible voters were deterred from casting ballots. Wisconsin is also one of the 21 states targeted by foreign hackers; Trump won the state by only 22,748 votes, which could have turned out differently in the absence of hacking or voter suppression.

FCC Commissioner: Chairman Pai's plans lower broadband standards "crazy"

On September 20, Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel tweeted her dismay at a move by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to lower American broadband standards. Said Rosenworcel, "This is crazy. Lowering standards doesn't solve our broadband problems." The current standard holds that all Americans should have access to home Internet service with speeds of at least 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream in addition to access to mobile broadband. The FCC has proposed that Americans might not need fast home Internet connections, only mobile Internet service at 10 Mbps downstream and 1 Mbps upstream. Such a reduction would have a significant, negative on impact rural and low income communities where the cost of broadband services is often beyond the means of consumers, schools, and community organizations. Rosenworcel and other Democratic Commissioners have long advocated raising broadband standards to a minimum of 100 Mbps with goals of gigabit speeds nationwide. The final vote to slash standards is likely to fall along party lines, with the FCC's Republican majority approving the cut. Comments on the proposal are open until October 6 and can be filed online with the FCC.

Quick takes

  • President Trump has filled USDA positions with former campaign volunteers, many of them lacking normally required professional or academic credentials.
  • The EPA has deleted more mentions of climate change from its website.
  • The White House and the Department of Education are committing $200 million in grants to improve STEM education in schools.
  • The House Science Committee will be holding a hearing on Thursday, September 28, at 9:30 am, on The Great American Eclipse: To Totality and Beyond, exploring scientific knowledge gained from the eclipse and lessons for STEM education.

Highlight from a partner organization

  • Engineers & Scientists Acting Locally (ESAL) is conducting a survey of scientists, engineers, and other STEM-trained professionals to assess current levels of and interest in local government engagement. If you work or have a background in a STEM field, please fill out the survey here.

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

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