FY 2008 appropriations bills still to be approved

Although fiscal year 2008 started Oct. 1, as of Sept. 28, lawmakers still had not approved any of the 12 appropriations measures set to go into effect at the beginning of October. The House has passed all 12 bills, while the Senate has approved only four — State and Foreign Operations, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Department of Homeland Security appropriations.

On Sept. 26, the House passed a Continuing Resolution to continue to fund the government at FY 2007 levels until Nov. 16, and then the Senate passed the bill the next day. There is a split in philosophy between the administration, which insists on holding to its spending cap for FY 2008, and the Congress, which is holding to its spending target that is 2.5 percent higher than the administration's number. So how the FY 2008 appropriations will be resolved is still unclear. As of Sept. 28, the following are the proposed increases contained in the House and Senate bills:

Department of Defense: The House bill contains an 8.5 percent decrease in funding for basic research, applied research and advanced technology development compared to the current year. The research programs would decrease from $13.33 billion to $12.19 billion. The administration requested $10.77 billion. The House bill also would limit university basic research indirect cost rates to a maximum of 20 percent. The Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee has not taken final action on its bill.

Department of Education: Both the House and Senate bills would keep funding flat for the Math-Science Partnership Program. The House bill provides $182.2 million, only $100,000 more than the administration's request. The Senate would provide $184 million.

Department of Energy Office of Science: The House bill would increase the fiscal year 2008 budget by 18.9 percent, while the Senate bill would provide an increase of 18.4 percent. The House bill would provide $4.51 billion, compared to the Senate bill, which would provide $4.5 billion, both higher than the administration's request of $4.4 billion. The office was funded at $3.8 billion for fiscal 2007.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration: The House bill increases NASA's budget by 8.2 percent to $17.6 billion, which is a $313 million increase over the administration's request. The Senate bill provides a 7.2 percent overall increase, with a 5.4 percent increase for the science budget.

National Science Foundation: NSF would see a 10 percent increase under the House bill and a 10.8 percent increase under the measure approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The House bill calls for $6.51 billion, while the Senate bill calls for $6.55 billion, both higher than the administration's request of $6.43 billion.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): The House bill increases funding for NIST by 15 percent to $831 million, which is $190 million above the administration's request. The Senate bill provides a 27.5 percent increase or $86.3 million.

It is important to note that the 110th Congress completed the fiscal year 2007 appropriations bills left over by the 109th Congress in February of this year.

For additional information, please visit http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app08.html.

 

Administration announces FY 2009 R&D budget priorities

As Congress continued to consider funding levels for the fiscal year 2008 budget, the Bush administration announced its research and development priorities for fiscal 2009. The seven-page memorandum, issued jointly by the Office of Science and Technology Policy Director John Marburger and Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Stephen McMillin, calls for "improving management and performance to maintain excellence and leadership in science and technology."

"In general, the administration favors federal agency R&D investments that:

• Advance fundamental scientific discovery to improve future quality of life;

• Support high-leverage basic research to spur technological innovation, economic competitiveness and new job growth;

• Strengthen science, mathematics and engineering education based on the recommendations of the Academic Competitiveness Council and the National Math Panel, to ensure a scientifically literate population and a supply of qualified technical personnel commensurate with national need;

• Enable potentially high-payoff activities that require a federal presence to attain long-term national goals, especially national security, energy independence, and a next-generation air transportation system;

• Sustain specifically authorized agency missions (e.g., scientific discovery in NASA) and user facilities that support the authorized missions of other agencies;

• Enhance the health of our nation's people to reduce the burden of illness and increase productivity while respecting the inherent dignity and value of every human life;

• Improve our ability to understand and respond to climate change and other global environmental issues and natural disasters through better observation, data, analysis, models, and basic and social science research;

• Maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the science and technology (S&T) enterprise through expansion of competitive, merit-based peer-review processes;

• Phase out programs that are only marginally productive or are not important to an agency's mission; and,

• Encourage interdisciplinary research efforts on complex scientific frontiers and strengthen international partnerships to accelerate the progress of science across borders."

The entire memorandum may be found at www.ostp.gov/html/FY2009FINALOMB-OSTPRDPriorityMemo.pdf.

 

Department of Commerce convenes American Competitiveness Summit

The Department of Commerce recently convened an inaugural "Summit on American Competitiveness" to discuss American competitiveness and innovation efforts. The summit, held at the Reagan Center Amphitheater in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 18, was composed primarily of four panels: The Competitive Challenge for America in the 21st Century; Education & Workforce: Skill Sets in the 21st Century; Innovation Partnerships: Best Practices; and Energy: The Technology Path Forward.

In the panel on Innovation Partnerships, John Marburger, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, spoke with Intel Chairman Craig Barrett, Netgear Chairman and CEO Patrick Lo, and NSF Director Arden Bement on ways that the United States could improve early career interest in the fields of science and engineering.

Citing several statistics on the global competitiveness of Intel, Barrett stated that the company's ties to the U.S. may no longer be required to continue achieving success. "Quite frankly, (Intel) could probably be successful if we never hired another U.S. employee," he said. He followed up his statement, however, with a call for increased funding for U.S. STEM research and education.

Although the panel categorized the situation as dire, it was not all negative. Lo of Netgear spoke of the numerous partnerships his company has fostered between venture capitalists and engineers, who working together have developed new technologies, and how lucrative these partnerships have been for all parties involved. Bement agreed that these linkages of scientists and entrepreneurs were important, and were what he believed to be a key point in easing the transition from ideas in the university research laboratory to marketable ideas that stimulate industry.

The panel cited the "America COMPETES Act," recently signed into law, as a step in the right direction toward focusing more resources on research and STEM education activities. More information on the "America COMPETES Act" can be found at http://science.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1945.

Other panel moderators and speakers throughout the day included CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, Georgia Tech President Wayne Clough, DuPont Chairman and CEO Charles Holliday, President's Council on Advisors of Science and Technology Chairman Floyd Kvamme, Walmart Vice Chairman John Menzer, Harvard University professor Michael Porter, and Carl Schramm of the Ewing and Marion Kauffman Foundation.

For more information on the National Summit on American Competitiveness, visit http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=7a553b1f-a93e-4f99-bba1-1790d2dce2f9.

 

DOE launches online patent search tool

The Department of Energy has launched a new Web site, DOepatents, a database of more than 20,000 patent records resulting from research and development supported by DOE funding. The database also includes inventions of Nobel Laureates associated with DOE.

"From helping the blind to see again to identifying hidden weapons through holographic computerized imaging technology, the U.S. Department of Energy has supported and will continue to support research addressing some of the world's most pressing scientific challenges," Undersecretary for Science Raymond L. Orbach said. "Content within DOepatents represents a truly impressive demonstration of DOE research and development and technological innovation."

DOepatents consists of bibliographic records via PDF files or links to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and is updated quarterly. This new Web site is located at www.osti.gov/doepatents, and additional information about the Web site can be found at www.doe.gov/news/5502.htm.

 

U.S. governors unveil 'Securing a Clean Energy Future' initiative

The National Governors Association (NGA) has unveiled its "Securing a Clean Energy Future" initiative, aimed at promoting clean energy policies across the United States. The initiative will enlist the efforts of all 50 governors to enact meaningful clean energy policies at the state level.

"Our nation has enjoyed more than a hundred years of inexpensive energy, seemingly inexhaustible oil and a relatively forgiving environment," said Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who is also chairman of the NGA. "But America can no longer rely on business as usual to meet its energy needs, and the nation's governors are prepared to lead the way in crafting a sensible, sustainable clean energy future."

Through the initiative, states will promote comprehensive energy policies that:

• Use existing energy resources more wisely through efficiency and conservation;

• Promote non-petroleum-based fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel;

• Take reasonable steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and,

• Accelerate the research and development of advanced, clean energy technologies.

NGA will develop and distribute guides and reports, as well as sponsor workshops and summits, to help governors understand the specific energy challenges in their states and the solutions to address those challenges. The initiative will emphasize public-private partnerships to promote increased use of clean energy and advanced energy technologies. For more information, visit www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.6c9a8a9ebc6ae07eee28aca9501010a0/
?vgnextoid=d950239df46f4110VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Energy will provide $610,000 to support NGA's efforts. More information about DOE's support for this initiative can be found at www.doe.gov/news/5489.htm.

Contact ASME Government Relations for more information:

Kathryn Holmes, director, ASME Government Relations: Board on Government Relations, Inter-Sector Committee on Federal R&D, Engineering R&D Symposium, Public Policy Agenda, ASME Federal Government Fellowship Program, Congressional R&D Caucus, Open Access, and broader R&D issues. (202) 785-7390; e-mail holmesk@asme.org.

Melissa Carl, government relations representative: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education, Society of Women Engineers, National Science Foundation R&D, and the Washington Internships for Students of Engineering. (202) 785-7380; e-mail carlm@asme.org.

Anthony Quinn, government relations representative: Standards, Aerospace, Defense, and Bioengineering. (202) 785-7392; e-mail quinna@asme.org.

Robert Rains, government relations associate: Energy and Environment, including Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and Water. (202) 785-7483; e-mail rainsr@asme.org.

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