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| About the Newsletter |
Editors |
Science and Technology in Congress is a newsletter produced by the Center to provide timely, objective information to Congress on current science and technology issues.
 To Subscribe: Please send an e-mail with your name and address to congress_center@aaas.org.
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- Albert H. Teich, Director, Science and Policy
Programs
- Joanne Padron Carney, Director, CSTC
- Kasey White, Senior Program Associate, CSTC
- Laura Pomerance, Program Associate, CSTC
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After several years of false starts, the Nation finally has a new energy policy,
which was signed into law on August 8. The House passed the Energy Policy Act
of 2005 by a vote of 275-176 on July 28 and the Senate followed the next day
with a vote of 74-26. Two sticking points of previous bills - drilling in the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the liability of manufacturers of the gasoline
additive MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether) - were absent from the bill. The
1725 page bill contains provisions on topics ranging from greenhouse gas research
credits to daylight savings time to nuclear reactors. Many have said, however,
that the bill will not make a significant impact on the use of oil and gas in
the near future.
Many of the provisions supporting climate change mitigation included in the
Senate bill were not part of the final bill. The act does not contain Senate
language calling for a mandatory global warming strategy, requiring utilities
to use more renewable energy to generate electricity, or directing the president
to find ways to cut the nation's use of oil by one million barrels a day. It
does, however, contain language from the Senate bill by Sen. Hagel (R-NE) that
encourages voluntary efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The bill mandates the annual use of 7.5 billion gallons of ethanol, a corn
derivative, by 2012. Ethanol is a gasoline additive that helps gasoline burn
more completely and reduces air pollution. The bill also contains a provision
to extend daylight savings time by one month in 2007.
The tax provisions of the bill included $14.6 billion in tax credits, with
a net cost of $11.5 billion when offsets are considered. This figure includes
$2.8 billion in tax credits for investment in clean coal technology, $3.2 billion
for energy production with renewable sources, $2.6 billion for oil and gas production,
and $2.7 billion for conservation and energy efficiency.
Provisions contained in the Research and Development title would authorize
more than $31 billion for basic science and applied energy technology research
over three years. DOE's Office of Science is authorized for $14.5 billion (FY07-09).
These authorization levels, if fully funded, would put the Office of Science
on a path to double its R&D budget over five years. (The fiscal year 2005 enacted
level is $3.6 billion.) Authorizations include funds for construction of the
Rare Isotope Accelerator, U.S. participation in ITER, and upgrades to the Spallation
Neutron Source. Other sections include provisions for R&D on vehicles and fuels,
nuclear matters, energy efficiency hydrogen, and clean coal. More detailed analysis
of the authorization provisions are available on AAAS's
R&D analysis website.
In recognition of the fundamental role that science plays in fulfilling the
DOE's missions, this bill elevates science within the Department by creating
an Under Secretary of Science. In addition, the bill creates a new Assistant
Secretary, which will allow the Department to raise management of the nuclear
energy programs to the Assistant Secretary level.
The bill weakens nuclear nonproliferation policies by allowing U.S.-supplied
nuclear reactors to continue using highly enriched uranium fuel if they produce
medical isotopes. This overturns portions of the 1992 Schumer Amendment requiring
all recipients of U.S. uranium fuel to convert to low-enriched uranium as soon
as technically feasible. The major beneficiary of the new feature is Nordion,
a Canadian company that supplies most of the medical isotopes used in the U.S.
The energy bill also requires the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to monitor
more closely the movement of large radioactive sources and to increase export
controls on such items, in an effort to reduce the chance of a dirty bomb attack.
- Kasey White
BACK TO TOP
Legislation to reauthorize NASA passed the House of Representatives by an overwhelming
majority on July 22. During markup of the bill, members of the Science Committee
had expressed concern that NASA is neglecting its basic scientific missions.
In response, the bill was amended to require that appropriators allocate money
to four separate accounts: Science, Aeronautics and Education; Exploration Systems;
Space Operations; and the Office of the Inspector General. Funds for administration
and the construction of facilities must be included in each of the four appropriations.
However, NASA may transfer funds between these accounts after giving 30 days
notice to Congress, and there is no mechanism for Congress to forbid the transfer
of funds.
For fiscal year 2006, the total authorization of $16.471 billion includes $6.870
billion for Science, Aeronautics and Education; $3.181 billion for Exploration
Systems; $6.387 billion for Space Operations and $32.4 million for the Office
of the Inspector General. Within the Science, Aeronautics and Education, $962
million is allocated for Aeronautics, $150 million for a Hubble Space Telescope
servicing mission and $24 million for the National Space Grant College and Fellowship
Program.
In addition, the amended bill requires that NASA place greater emphasis on
education, technology transfer, safety and microgravity science research unrelated
to human space exploration. Specifically, the NASA must report to Congress on
the Administration's safety management culture and compliance with the recommendations
of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board and NASA's plan for identifying
and sharing best practices.
The amendment also removes the requirement that the space shuttle be retired
by 2010.
The House bill must now go to conference with the Senate-passed version, which
does not mandate a return to the moon and recommends that use of the shuttle
continue until the Crew Exploration Vehicle is ready for flight.
At this point, neither chamber has addressed the Iran Nonproliferation Act
of 2000, which currently forbids the US from using the international space station
after April of 2006 unless the US space shuttle is docked with the space station.
This is because the space station includes equipment provided by countries,
particularly Russia, that trade with Iran.
-Laura Pomerance
BACK TO TOP
After a three-day-long markup session, Higher Education Act reauthorization
legislation passed the House Education and Workforce Committee on Friday, July
22. The committee sent H.R. 609 to the floor of the House with a 27-20 straight
party line vote.
Although the bill focuses on the funding of higher education, a few provisions
of the bill are of particular interest to the science community. The bill includes
a "sense of Congress" statement about student free speech rights. (Title I,
Section 103) This says that students cannot be sanctioned or discriminated against
by a university on the basis of speech or association that would be protected
by the First Amendment. Students must be graded on their knowledge of the subject
that they are studying, and not on their political, ideological, or religious
beliefs. Funds for speakers and student programs must be distributed in a way
that will support diverse viewpoints. The bill also establishes an International
Higher Education Advisory Board to make recommendations that will encourage
international studies programs to represent "the full range of views."
Opposition to these sections of the bill has centered on their potential use
to force universities or individual professors to present theories of politics,
history or international affairs that are not supported by substantial scholarship.
However, these provisions could be applied to any controversial topic. For example,
the language about grading could be interpreted to say that students cannot
be required to answer questions about evolution on a test.
The academic community has responded to this language with a statement
on academic rights and responsibilities that was released on June 23. Republican
leaders of the House Education and the Workforce Committee said that they would
include some of the language of the statement in the final form of the reauthorization
legislation. The final form of the legislation through committee was unchanged,
although lively debate followed the introduction of an amendment by Rep. John
Tierney (D-MA) that would have deleted the "Sense of Congress" section.
The bill is expected to be sent to the House floor shortly after Members return
for the fall session. No corresponding legislation has been introduced in the
Senate. - Laura Pomerance
BACK TO TOP
On the last day of Congress before the summer recess, Senate Majority Leader
Bill Frist (R-TN) shocked the research community and his colleagues by taking
to the floor and stating his support for the Stem Cell Research Enhancement
Act (S. 417/H.R. 810). In his well-publicized speech,
Sen. Frist said that "the limitations put in place in 2001 will, over time,
slow our ability to bring potential new treatments for certain diseases. Therefore,
I believe the President's policy should be modified."
His remarks could provide a safe haven for Senators who may have been on the
fence due to the complexity of the subject, and in fact, Senate champions of
the bill now anticipate the possibility of obtaining a "veto-proof" majority
within their chamber, although that is far less likely in the House.
The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act would expand the number of embryonic
stem cell lines available to federally funded researchers. The current policy
established in August 2001 originally anticipated that 78 cell lines would be
available, but today only 22 lines are eligible for federal funding under the
current rules. Embryonic stem cells are derived from donated human embryos created
through in vitro fertilization.
H.R. 810 passed the House in late May by a vote of 238-194 but then lost momentum
in the Senate chamber over disagreements on the procedures for bringing that
bill and other related legislation to the floor for a vote.
While much has been made in press accounts over Frist's break with the President
on the issue and the political heat he has drawn from social conservatives for
his change in position, it is not clear what his strategy will be for the Senate's
taking up the various measures after Congress reconvenes in September.
Adding to the political mix is the fact that Frist said he intends to seek
revisions to ensure "a strong ethical and oversight mechanism," and he also
said he could support some of the alternative bills that had threatened to drain
off support from the House-passed bill. Thus, considerable uncertainty still
remains.
The alternative bills include legislation introduced by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett
(R-MD) titled the Respect for Life Pluripotent Stem Cell Act of 2005 (H.R. 3144).
His bill, introduced at the end of June would authorize $15 million through
NIH to support research that does not destroy or harm a human embryo.
It is important to note that the research authorized by the Bartlett bill is
currently allowable by law for NIH funding and thus technically does not require
separate legislation for NIH to support grants utilizing such techniques. Current
restrictions fall under the Dickey amendment that is included annually as part
of the NIH appropriations bill. The language stipulates that none of the funds
may be used for research involving the creation or destruction of a human embryo.
Another bill that is part of the slate of legislative vehicles being negotiated
in the Senate is the Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2005 (S. 658) introduced
by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) in March. This legislation is similar to other
bills introduced in previous years that would establish a comprehensive ban
on both reproductive and research cloning, including criminal and civil penalties.
That bill would also make it illegal to import any byproduct from research cloning
into the United States, including therapies, which has angered the patient communities.
A House companion bill (H.R. 1357) introduced by Rep. Dave Weldon (R-FL) has
passed that chamber successfully in previous congressional sessions though not
yet this year, and it has never successfully reached the Senate floor.
Given the growing prospect that the Brownback bill could come to a floor vote
this session, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Ted Kennedy
(D-MA), Arlen Specter (R-PA), and Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced S. 1520, the
Human Cloning Ban Act of 2005 shortly before the recess. That bill would make
it a federal crime to clone or attempt to clone a human being for reproductive
purposes only and does not address the more complex subject of research cloning.
Since the majority of Members of Congress agree that reproductive cloning should
be outlawed the Hatch/Feinstein bill could attract sufficient support.
A fifth bill that may be included in the package is the Bone Marrow and Cord
Blood Therapy and Research Act of 2005 (S. 1317) introduced by Sens. Hatch and
Brownback. The bill would create a cord blood bank and for a standardized method
for collecting cord blood in order to increase the availability for research
and treatments. A similar bill was introduced and passed in the House in the
hopes of siphoning votes away from H.R. 810.
Regardless of Sen. Frist's remarkable statement or what package of bills comes
to the floor for a vote if the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act does pass,
President Bush stated that he stands firm on his pledge to veto such a bill.
- Joanne P. Carney
Note: AAAS has a policy brief
with background information and links to its statements on stem cell research.
BACK TO TOP
NIH Reauthorization
The House Energy and Commerce Committee held its first hearing to reauthorize
the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on July19, providing the first public
unveiling of a draft proposal to reorganize the federal agency for the first
time in twelve years and establish greater power within the NIH Office of the
Director.
The plan would consolidate the existing 27 institutes and centers that comprise
the NIH into two divisions-Mission-Specific Research Institutes and Science-Enabling
Institutes-in addition to the Office of the Director (OD). The Mission-Specific
Research Institutes would house the existing disease-related institutes, while
the Science-Enabling division would accommodate the institutes and centers that
conduct research that underpins the entire NIH medical research portfolio, for
example, biomedical imaging and human genome research.
The draft bill would also create a new Division of Program Coordination, Planning,
and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI) within OD that would have responsibility
for coordinating research between institutions and have the power to finance
research directly. The mission-specific and science-enabling institutes and
centers would be required to set aside a yet to be determined percentage of
its funds to create a "common fund for the common good" within DPCPSI.
The new coordinating division within OD would use the funds to support multidisciplinary
research that intersects institutional missions, a priority for NIH Director
Elias Zerhouni. According to the draft language in the bill, the NIH director
would be responsible for establishing an advisory council that would provide
recommendations on how to "conduct and support" trans-institutional
research.
Finally, the House Energy and Commerce Committee proposal stipulates that the
director must submit a biennial report to Congress that is to include an assessment
of the "state of biomedical research," a description of all activities
"conducted or supported by the agencies," a justification for the
"priorities established by the agencies," and a catalogue of all research
activities, in addition to other information.
While this new reporting requirement comes with very comprehensive instructions,
other details of the bill still remain to be fleshed out. For example, the bill
does not specify what percentage of institutional funds needs to be directed
to DPCPSI, although 5 percent is a number that has been informally discussed.
The language is vague as to how much autonomy the DPCPSI will have over the
granting of research or if it will coordinate with the institutes and centers.
Furthermore, it is not clear how the membership of the advisory council would
be established, nor the expected scientific expertise of its members, nor the
scope of its authority, or the length of time an advisory council member would
serve.
The draft authorization bill has been met with mixed and somewhat subdued reactions.
Patient organizations have expressed concern over the mission-specific institutions
loosing authority to fund research. Research organizations have expressed concern
over the vaguely defined roles of the new coordinating office and the advisory
council.
Even some Members of Congress, who understand the desire to give the NIH Director
more power of spending decisions, have expressed some hesitation in embracing
the new plan prematurely. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) noted that if the "agency
is not broken" use caution before initiating any organizational changes.
Zerhouni, meanwhile, diplomatically stated that he agrees that the Committee
"should first and foremost carefully reconsider how the organizations of
NIH can collectively and effectively support the core missions of the agencies.
The challenge is to accomplish this goal through enhanced coordination and partnerships
across the NIH Institutes and Centers while avoiding the pitfalls of centralization
or top-down research. Achieving the right balance the necessary autonomy and
diversity of approaches represented….is the central question." - Joanne
P. Carney
Global Climate Change Policy and Budget Review
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee
on Global Climate Change and Impacts held its inaugural hearing on July 20 on
"Global Climate Change Policy and Budget Review."
James Mahoney, Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, U.S. Department
of Commerce, spoke on the progress of the Climate Change Science Program (CCSP)
and the NOAA Climate Program's contributions to CCSP. He said that CCSP continues
its research on global climate change by investigating the relationship between
natural and human-induced changes in the global environment, monitoring climate
parameters, and predicting global change. With a $2 billion annual expenditure,
the CCSP has achieved numerous scientific advances that have provided domestic
and international decision-makers with a sound scientific basis. Mr. Mahoney
noted that the NOAA's goals are aligned with those set out in the CCSP Strategic
Plan and additional funding will ensure that NOAA can continue critical research
projects.
David Conover, Director, U.S. Climate Change Technology Program, Department
of Energy, spoke on the Administration's comprehensive strategy on climate change
and commitment to the UNFCCC. He described U.S. efforts as advancing climate
science and accelerating the development of advanced technologies. Mr. Conover
recognized the considerable scientific and technological challenges to the climate
change, yet he noted the importance of U.S. involvement in major multilateral
and bilateral initiatives.
Daniel Reifsnyder, Director, Office of Global Climate Change, Department of
State, spoke about two key documents that were the product of the 2005 G-8 Summit:
the Leaders' Statement on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development,
and the Gleneagles Program of Action. Mr. Reifsnyder noted that both documents
support the strategy set forth by the Administration by promoting clean energy
and achieving sustainable development. Mr. Reifsnyder described several multilateral
and bilateral initiatives in order to convey the vast extent to which the U.S.
is working to reduce greenhouse gas intensity and promote energy efficient technologies.
Dr. Ralph Cicerone, President, National Academy of Sciences, spoke on the current
understanding of the science of climate change, noting that the Earth is indeed
warming and that humans have an impact on climate. He said that although many
of the future effects of global warming on the environment remain uncertain,
they are far from unknown. He commented on the 2004 National Academies review
of the Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) 10 year strategic plan, which recommended
that the CCSP implement the plan as soon as possible. While the strategic plan
identifies a broader scope of activities than has been implemented in the past,
the CCSP budget could not support immediate implementation. Dr. Cicerone called
upon worldwide collaboration of a wide range of experts to address the remaining
uncertainties associated with global climate change.
During the question and answer period, Chairman David Vitter (R-LA) asked whether
numerous climate models are necessary for research and whether taxpayers' dollars
should be funding the models. Mr. Mahoney replied that the many different climate
models allow researchers to investigate climate change using the best available
resources and that this is an effective and necessary use of tax money.
Chairman Vitter asked Dr. Cicerone to comment on the congressional investigation
of three climate scientists: Drs. Mann, Bradley, and Hughes. Dr. Cicerone replied
that Rep. Joe Barton's (R-Texas) request for information has stirred concerns
within the science community and that it was an intimidating request. When Chairman
Vitter asked Dr. Cicerone for examples of valid congressional oversight, Dr.
Cicerone replied that he was not challenging Rep. Barton's request for information.
Rather, Dr. Cicerone said that he believed that convening a group of scientists
and informed persons to answer questions and provide information for Congress
might be a more effective means of investigating a particular subject.
Chairman Vitter asked what the goals of upcoming UN climate change conference
in Montreal are. Mahoney responded that the conference will largely concentrate
on the Kyoto Protocol while also highlighting various domestic programs. - Puja
Murgai
BACK TO TOP
Climate Change: "The question is not if there
is a problem, but how do we solve it?"
A standing-room-only Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing
on climate change science and economics was held on July 21. Although all witnesses
came to the conclusion that climate change from human activity is occurring,
the testimony and discussions on the science took more than 2 hours, causing
the second panel on economics to be rescheduled.
The hearing was notable for remarks supporting the science of climate change
from many Members. Chairman Domenici (R-NM) stated that he "has come to accept
that something is happening to our climate" but also noted that he would hold
additional hearings to hear from those with different views than the ones expressed
at the hearing. Senator Bingaman (D-NM) added that this was "as significant
an issue we will deal with in Congress." Senator Craig (R-ID) said that he had
"grown to believe that there is a substantial human effect on the environment"
while Senator Murkowski (R-AK) told the witnesses, "I don't need to be converted
. . . I see [climate change] in my own state" of Alaska.
The witnesses were:
- Ralph J. Cicerone, President, National Academy of Sciences
- Mario Molina, University of California, San Diego
- James W. Hurrell, Director, Climate and Global Dynamics Division, National
Center for Atmospheric Research
- Sir John Houghton, Chair, IPCC assessments 1988-2002
The witnesses all presented very similar testimony focusing on the scientific
consensus that the Earth is warming due to increased emissions of greenhouse
gases. While some uncertainties exist about exact regional changes in climate
and the timing of some warming, Molina stated that "not knowing the exact Earth
response is not an excuse to not act."
The question and answer portion mainly addressed policies to mitigate climate
change, particularly the use of nuclear power. When pushed by calls to action
from Sir John Houghton, Sen. Thomas (R-WY) asked rhetorically that because the
US spends $6 billion a year on climate change research - more than the rest
of the world combined -what more could the US do? Sen. Alexander (R-TN) took
the opposite approach, chastising the panel for not pushing for mandatory controls
to address this major issue. He noted there is no way to slow climate change
in the short term without an aggressive strategy on energy conservation and
nuclear power. Scientists would be much more persuasive, he said, if they could
get behind a single approach.
Sen. Thomas asked the witnesses about the Michael Mann's "hockey stick" research.
Houghton replied that the finding was "not an issue." He added that while there
is always scientific debate about any finding, that there was "no question"
there had been warming since 1860 when temperature records are studied, and
that proxy data from various sources since the year 1000 revealed warming.
Chairman Domenici concluded the hearing by stating, "The question is not if
there is a problem, but how do we solve it." Domenici added that a solution
will not be easy and that a Kyoto approach would not work. In his final statement,
Houghton said that the world was looking to the United States to provide leadership
on global climate change.
The full testimony of all of the witnesses is available on-line.
-Kasey White
BACK TO TOP
Improving Information Quality in the Federal Government
This July 20 hearing by the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight Subcommittee
on Regulatory Affairs appeared to be an effort by Chair Candice Miller (R-MI),
who was the only Member present for most of the hearing, to learn more about
the implementation of the Information Quality Act (IQA). Miller noted she was
not yet elected to Congress when legislation creating the Act was passed. Witnesses
included several agency representatives, groups that want to strengthen the
IQA, and others who want to eliminate it.
The three agency witnesses - Kimberly Nelson, Environmental Protection Agency,
Tom Melius, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Jim Scanlon, Health and Human Services
- were in broad agreement that the IQA has not been as burdensome as some had
predicted and is beneficial to their use of scientific information. Rep. Miller
noted that less than 100 requests for correction have been filed since the Act
took effect. The agencies have similar processes for addressing these issues,
creating multiple layers for review and appeal. All have taken corrective actions
in response to some of the filed requests. In response to questions from Rep.
Miller, all witnesses stated that the IQA should not be changed, as the guidelines
for the rule developed by the Office of Management and Budget give them freedom
to implement effective procedures for their agencies.
The second panel provided various perspectives on the use of the IQA and suggestions
to change it. Mark Greenwood, Council for the Coalition for Effective Environmental
Information, stated that he agreed with the aims of the IQA, but had noticed
several problems with its implementation, mainly in its scope and remedy. He
noted that IQA addresses the quality of information and therefore "the remedy
for an IQA problem is an 'informational' remedy… not the withdrawal of a regulation."
He also suggested that permitting judicial review would be an effective tool
to ensure agency compliance, an idea also proposed by William Kovacs, U.S. Chamber
of Commerce.
Jeff Ruch, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, minced no words
in saying that there is a "disinformation syndrome" in the government where
"truth is a firing offense." He believes the act is "better than nothing, but
only slightly." He noted how the act requires the violator (i.e. the agency)
to discipline itself and that there is no outside mechanism to force the agency
to comply. He testified that using stronger mechanisms such as the Administrative
Procedures Act would be more beneficial than the IQA.
Sidney Shapiro testified on behalf of the Center for Progressive Reform that
the "IQA does more harm than good" and should be repealed. He stated, "The use
of the IQA has very little to do with correcting government information and
very much to do with creating new opportunities to oppose and weaken existing
and new regulatory controls." During the Q&A, he pointed out that challenges
to regulations can occur through the Administrative Procedures Act, and challenges
made through the IQA are therefore duplicative.
The full statements of all the witnesses and the Chairwoman are available on-line.
- Kasey White
BACK TO TOP
Bioshield: Slow Progress
Several recent hearings have drawn attention to the slow progress of the Federal
Bioshield program and to Congress's difficulties in finding a remedy.
Both industry and Congress agree that the Bioshield program, designed to produce
and stockpile new remedies for potential bioweapons attacks, is not providing
results quickly enough. Although Department of Homeland Security and Health
and Human Services officials testified that the program was succeeding, Members
of Congress were sharply critical of Bioshield at a House Homeland Security
Committee hearing on July 12. Lawmakers were angered by the lack of a stockpile
of anti-viral drugs and by how long it has taken to identify Bioshield's priority
diseases. A House Government Reform Committee hearing on July 14 revealed that,
a year after Bioshield began, the government has entered into only three contracts
for countermeasures.
Industry representatives at the second hearing said that the current Bioshield
program does not give their companies enough incentive to develop new countermeasures.
Under the current program, companies can not determine if they will earn a profit
on a new countermeasure because they do not know in advance how many doses of
their products the government will buy.
In response, two bills to revamp Bioshield by guaranteeing the profitability
of countermeasures have been introduced in the Senate. S. 3, known as the Biopreparedness
Act of 2005, was introduced by Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) and is supported by
the Republican leadership. S. 975, the Project BioShield II Act of 2005, was
introduced by Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and cosponsored by Senators Hatch
(R-UT) and Brownback (R-KS).
Both bills extend the term of the patent for a countermeasure by the amount
of time between when the patent was issued and the countermeasure was approved
by the FDA. They also permit the secretary of Health and Human Services to grant
an extension of 6 months to 2 years of the term of an unrelated patent owned
by a company that is developing a countermeasure. Both create tax credits for
conducting research or building factories for countermeasures or vaccines.
Each bill also contains a number of other measures intended to improve Bioshield.
These include accelerated approval of countermeasures, partial immunity for
harm caused by a remedy for a pandemic or epidemic, new NIH and DHS offices
to coordinate responses to bioterrorism, grants and scholarships for bioterrorism
research, new procurement procedures and limits on the ability of states to
require drug safety or warning label information not mandated by federal law.
Both bills have been criticized by consumer advocates and generic drug manufacturers
for being too generous to the pharmaceutical industry.
Although Senator Burr (R-NC), chairman of the Bioterrorism Preparedness and
Public Health Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor
and Pensions, has not endorsed either bill, he has committed to passing new
legislation to improve the Bioshield program. However, the subcommittee did
not approve a bill before the August recess, as Burr originally planned. It
is now unclear whether this legislation will proceed. - Laura Pomerance
BACK TO TOP
CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
- Military Base Closures: Role and Costs of Environmental Cleanup (RS22065)
This report examines the need for environmental remediation to successfully
redevelop military bases that will be affected by the upcoming round of military
base closings. Potentially affected communities are interested in how the
bases might be economically redeveloped to replace lost jobs. Environmental
contamination can present a challenge to economic redevelopment, if funding
or technological constraints would limit cleanup of the land to a degree that
would be safe for its intended use, as has happened in some bases previously.
Most of the lands on bases closed under the previous four rounds, however,
have been cleaned up for their intended reuse, and have been transferred for
redevelopment.
- National Park Management (IB10145) This report examines efforts
by Congress and the Administration to change aspects if management of the
National Park Service. Specifically, the report addresses complying with the
Bush Administration's Competitive Sourcing Initiative, retaining the Historic
Preservation Fund (HPF), which provides grants to states and other entities
to protect cultural resources, funding to clear the maintenance backlog, regional
haze issues, and managing Wild and Scenic Rivers.
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE
- Federal Research: Observations on the Small Business Innovation Research
Program (GAO-05-861T) This report finds that the Small Business Innovation
Research (SBIR) program has been successful in benefiting small, innovative
companies, strengthening their role in federal research and development, stimulating
commercialization of research results, and supporting the participation of
small businesses owned by women and/or disadvantaged persons. However, this
report notes challenges in assessing the long-term results of the program
exist.
- Nuclear Security: Actions Needed by DOE to Improve Security of Weapons-Grade
Nuclear Material at Its Energy, Science and Environment Sites (GAO-05-934T)
DOE's Office of the Under Secretary for Energy, Science and Environment (ESE),
which is responsible for DOE operations in areas such as energy research,
manages five sites that contain weapons-grade nuclear material. A heavily
armed security force equipped with such items as automatic weapons protects
ESE sites. This report finds that ESE protective forces are generally meeting
DOE's existing readiness requirements but actions needed to successfully defend
against the larger, revised terrorist threat identified in the October 2004
design basis threat.
- Critical Infrastructure Protection: Challenges in Addressing Cybersecurity
(GAO-05-827T) This report examines the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS)'s current and future ability to address cybersecurity risks. The report
finds that while DHS has initiated multiple efforts to fulfill its responsibilities,
much work remains ahead. Key challenges that have impeded its ability to fulfill
its cybersecurity-related responsibilities include achieving organizational
stability, increasing awareness about cybersecurity roles and capabilities,
establishing effective partnerships with stakeholders, and achieving two-way
information sharing with these stakeholders. DHS has identified key steps
it can take to address these challenges, but has not yet begun to implement
them.
NATIONAL ACADEMIES
These reports are currently only available on the NAS website, but hard copies
will be available later this summer.
- Review of the FreedomCAR and Fuel Research and Development Program, Phase
1
This report reviews the goals and research activities of the FreedomCAR (Cooperative
Automotive Research) and Fuel Partnership, a collaboration among the U.S.
government, American automakers, and major energy companies, that seeks to
develop emissions-free and petroleum-free vehicles. The program includes the
President's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative and is a successor to the Clinton-era
Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles. The report finds that this effort
to develop more fuel-efficient automobiles and eventually introduce hydrogen
as a transportation fuel is well planned and has made an excellent start in
its first three years, though many technical barriers must be overcome.
- Preventing the Forward Contamination of Mars This report recommends
that NASA develop and implement new methods and requirements to detect and
eliminate microorganisms on robotic spacecraft sent to Mars to prevent possible
contamination of the planet. Existing techniques for cleaning spacecraft are
outdated and typically eliminate only a fraction of microorganisms, notes
the report. If microbes aboard a spacecraft were to survive the trip to Mars
and grow there, they could interfere with scientific investigations to detect
any life that might be native to Mars.
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- AAAS will host a Washington Science Policy Alliance seminar on September
14 from 8:30 - 10 a.m. featuring Sir David King, science advisor to U.K. Prime
Minister Tony Blair, discussing the outcomes of the recent G8 Summit held
in Gleneagles, Scotland. Details will be available soon on-line
and RSVPs are required.
- The seventh annual Robert C. Barnard Environmental Lecture will take place
on Tuesday, September 13 from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Andrew Revkin, Environment
Reporter from The New York Times, will give a talk entitled "The Daily Planet:
A journalist's search for sustainability, from the Amazon to the Arctic" at
the AAAS headquarters in Washington D.C., followed by a book signing and reception.
R.S.V.P. by Friday, 9 September 202-326-6700 or via e-mail: cgoodyear@aaas.org
AAAS Statements
- AAAS sent a letter to Rep.
Joe Barton (R-TX), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on July
13 expressing concern about the impact of letters recently sent by Barton
to several scientists, including Drs. Michael S. Mann, Malcom K. Hughes, and
Raymond S. Bradley, regarding their research in climate science.
- AAAS sent a letter to
all Senators on July 18 stating support for greater access to new embryonic
stem cell lines and noting that research into alternative methods of generating
stem cells without the destruction of human embryos is still in its very early
stages.
- AAAS sent a letter to Sen.
Frist on July 29, thanking him for his stand in support of expanding stem
cell research.
- AAAS joined 23 other institutions to support an amendment to the Energy
Bill by Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL) that would change the title of the head of
the DOE Office of Science from "Director" to "Assistant Secretary," a small
but important change to recognize the significance of science within DOE.
The final bill reflected these changes.
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Scientific Definitions: Biosecurity
Agent: Any physical, chemical, or biological entity that can be harmful
to an organism.
Autoclave: A self-locking chamber that uses high pressure steam heat
to sterilize. The original autoclave was essentially a pressure cooker.
Bioweapon: Biological warfare, also known as germ warfare, is the use
of any organism (bacteria, virus or other disease-causing organism) or toxin
found in nature, as a weapon of war. It is meant to incapacitate or kill an
adversary.
Bioterrorism: the deliberate use of microorganisms or toxins from living
organisms to induce death or disease.
In vitro: In an experimental situation outside the organism.
Biological or chemical work is done in the test tube rather than in living systems.
In vivo: In a living cell or organism.
Nucleic Acid: An organic compound made up of a phosphoric acid, a carbohydrate
and a base of purine or pyrimidine; formed in helical chains.
Pathogenicity: A genetic element's capacity to cause disease.
Synthetic Biology: The process of creating novel biological functions
and tools by modifying or integrating well-characterized biological components
into higher order genetic networks using mathematical modeling to direct the
construction towards the desired end product.
Toxicity: The degree to which a substance can harm humans or animals.
Toxicity can be acute, subchronic, or chronic. Acute toxicity involves harmful
effects in an organism through a single or short-term exposure. Subchronic toxicity
is the ability of a toxic substance to cause effects for more than one year
but less than the lifetime of the exposed organism. Chronic toxicity is the
ability of a substance or mixture of substances to cause harmful effects over
an extended period, usually upon repeated or continuous exposure, sometimes
lasting for the entire life of the exposed organism.
Toxin: A poisonous substance produced by a living organism that is harmful
to other organisms.
Viral Vector: Viral DNA that has been modified for use as a vector for
recombinant DNA.
Virus: A particle consisting of a nucleic acid (RNA or DNA) genome surrounded
by a protein coat (capsid) and sometimes also a membrane, which can replicate
only after infecting a host cell. A virus particle may exist free of its host
cell but is incapable of replicating on its own.
Definitions from http://en.wikipedia.org,
http://www.sciencecoalition.org,
http://helios.bto.ed.ac.uk/bto/glossary/ab.htm,
and http://www.virology.net/ATVGlossary.html.
Starvation Increases Schizophrenia Risk
According to a new study of people conceived during the Chinese famine of 1959
to 1961, prenatal nutritional deficiency raises the likelihood of schizophrenia.
Children born to starving mothers may suffer from harmful brain development
which has been linked to the development of schizophrenia. Researchers at the
Fourth People's Hospital in the Wuhu region of eastern China analyzed three
decades of records during the famine. They found that 2% of people conceived
in 1960 and 1961 contracted schizophrenia, as opposed to 0.9% of people conceived
in the years before or after the famine. These findings are bolstered by a study
conducted in the early 1990s which concluded that people conceived in the Netherlands
during the blockade of food supplies by Hitler's army in winter of 1944-1945
were twice as likely to develop schizophrenia later in life. These findings
could have important implications for reducing the risk of schizophrenia in
the future if animal studies can identify exactly which nutrients are required
to lower risk of the disease with adequate prenatal nutrition. - Dan Ferber,
Science Now, Science Magazine, August 2, 2005
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