AAAS Policy Alert -- October 7, 2009
Budget News
On October 1 the Legislative Branch (H.R.2918) appropriations bill became the first FY 2010 spending bill to be signed into law. Attached to it was a Continuing Resolution (CR)
that will keep agencies funded at their FY 2009 levels until October 31
or until their respective appropriations bills become law. House-Senate
conference committees continue to try to reconcile those spending bills
that have been passed by both chambers. The Energy and Water Development (H.R.3183) and Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies (H.R.2997)
appropriation bills both made it through conference negotiations on
September 30, and the Energy and Water Development conference bill was
agreed to by the full House on October 1. The Energy and Water
conference report includes a total of $10.6 billion in R&D funding
for the Department of Energy, $477 million (4.7%) more than in FY 2009.
The DOE Office of Science would receive a total budget of $4.9 billion,
a $131 million (2.7%) increase over FY 2009. Additionally, three of the
eight proposed Energy Innovation Hubs would receive funding, and ARPA-E
would receive an additional $15 million through a transfer of funds
from the Office of Science. The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food
and Drug Administration and Related Agencies bill includes $1.25
billion for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), an increase of $44
million (3.6%) over FY 2009; and $1.36 million for the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture (formerly CSREES), an increase of
$129 million (10.5%). Earmarks total $115 million for ARS and $122
million for NIFA. No conferences are currently scheduled for this week.
On October 5 the full Senate considers its Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (H.R.2847)
appropriations bill. No further amendments will be accepted so a
same-day vote on the bill is likely. On October 6 the full Senate
resumes consideration of the Defense appropriations bill (H.R.3326). For update on the current status of appropriations, see the AAAS R&D Budget Web site.
Other Congressional News
Senate Climate Change Bill Introduced. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Foreign Relations Chair John Kerry (D-MA) released their long-awaited climate change bill. The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act
includes a more ambitious target for short-term reduction of "carbon
pollution" than does its House counterpart -- 20% below 2005 levels by
2020, rather than the 17% target in the Waxman-Markey bill. The draft
does not specify how emissions allowances will be distributed.
Committee consideration of the bill is expected to begin in late
October.
Confirmation Hearing. This week the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a confirmation hearing
for Marcia McNutt to be the director of the US Geological Survey at the
Department of Interior, and for Arun Majumdar to be the director of the
new Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) at the Department
of Energy.
Executive Branch
Biosafety Reports Issued. The Trans-Federal Task Force on Optimizing Biosafety and Bio-containment Oversight
released its report on improving oversight of biosafety and
biocontainment at biosafety level (BSL) 3 or 4 laboratories. Specific
recommendations include, among others, identifying or establishing a
single federal agency to oversee biosafety and biocontainment
activities; developing a registry of all BSL 3 and 4 labs; mandating
compliance with existing federal biosafety and biocontainment
guidelines; and establishing national, duty-specific training standards
for core competencies in biosafety.
On September 30 the National Research Council's Committee
on Laboratory Security and Personnel Reliability Assurance Systems for
Laboratories Conducting Research on Biological Select Agents and Toxins
released a report evaluating both the physical security of such labs
and "personnel reliability measures for those with access to biological
select agents and toxins." The report recommends that existing
procedures for vetting personnel be enhanced and that a new tiered
system of biological agents be created to designate those select agents
and pathogens in high-containment labs that pose the greatest threat
for a biological attack, with those posing the greatest risk being
subject to an additional level of security regulation.
FDA Releases Risk Communication Plan. The Food and Drug Administration last week released a strategic plan for risk communication,
identifying more than 70 actions the agency plans to take over the next
five years. The FDA also set November 3 as the date for the next public
comment meeting of its Transparency Task Force.
EPA Issues Draft Regulations for Greenhouse Gases. On September 30 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced draft rules
that would require large industrial facilities that emit at least
25,000 tons of greenhouse gases (GHGs) a year to obtain construction
and operating permits. These permits must demonstrate the use of
best-available control technologies and energy efficiency measures to
minimize GHG emissions when facilities are constructed or significantly
modified. EPA will accept comment on these proposals for 60 days after
publication in the Federal Register.
EPA Issues Nanomaterials Research Plan. The EPA has released
the long-awaited final version of its plan for research on the
potential health and environmental risks of nanomaterials. The research
will focus on nanomaterials in wide use, such as carbon nanotubes,
which are used in sports equipment and electronics, and titanium
dioxide, used in paints, cosmetics, and sunscreen.
DOE to Award New Graduate Fellowships. Last week Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced
that the Department of Energy will be awarding a total of $12.5 million
to support graduate fellowships to U.S. students studying in fields of
science, mathematics, and engineering. The fellowship awards will be
$50,500 per year for three years. Eligible students must be U.S.
citizens and be currently enrolled as a graduate student or as an
undergraduate senior who will be enrolled as a graduate student in
2010. This new program should support at least 80 students. The deadline for applications is November 20, 2009.
New Park Service Director Names Agency's First Science Advisor.
Jon Jarvis, a 30-year veteran of the National Park Service (NPS), was
sworn in as NPS Director by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on October
2. Jarvis, previously regional director of the Pacific West Region, has
named Dr. Gary Machlis as science advisor to the Director, the first
such position in the NPS at that level. The Park Service relies upon
natural and social science research for park policies, planning, and
management. In a system-wide e-mail
to all NPS staff within 24 hours after being sworn in, Jarvis
emphasized, among other things, the need to have access to "the very
best science and scholarly research" and announced he was creating the
new science advisor position.
Elsewhere
CGIAR Proposes Plan for Improving Global Food Security. Even as the world celebrates the achievements of Norman Borlaug, the agronomist who developed the Green Revolution and who died September 13, there is growing awareness of the need for still greater measures to combat ever-rising pressures on food resources by a global population expected to reach 7 billion by 2010. The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the "backbone of food security research for the poor," is proposing a controversial reorganization plan built around a new consortium approach, a central fund to be held by the World Bank, and "mega-programmes" of R&D around development-oriented themes.
Publisher: Alan I. Leshner
Editor: Steve Nelson
Contributors: Kavita Berger, Joanne Carney, Patrick
Clemins, Erin Heath, Barbara Jasny, Earl Lane, Shirley Malcom, Al
Teich, Ric Weibl, Jamie Wheeler, Kasey White, Brad Wible
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