[Nhcoll-l] FW: Science Policy News from AIBS

Mon Mar 21 13:43:04 EDT 2016

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AIBS Public Policy Report

AIBS Public Policy Report, Volume 17, Issue 6, March 21, 2016

  *   Appropriators Consider NSF's Budget Request for FY 2017
  *   House Budget Would Slash Discretionary Funding in Out Years
  *   AIBS Seeks Temporary/Interim Editor-in-Chief for BioScience
  *   Submit Your Question for a Presidential Science Debate
  *   Government Watchdog Recommends More Actions to Protect Native Bees
  *   NSF, USDA Announce Joint Funding Opportunity on Animal and Plant Phenomics and Microbiomes
  *   From the Federal Register
  *   Become an Advocate for Science: Join the AIBS Legislative Action Center

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The AIBS Public Policy Report is distributed broadly by email every two weeks to the AIBS membership. Any interested party may self-subscribe to receive these free reports by email or RSS news feed, by going to www.aibs.org/public-policy-reports<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__aibs.us1.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3Da2886d199362c2554974f78af-26id-3D9f71b4bf77-26e-3D6708ed45cf&d=AwIFAg&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=QAdVHQ1m7B6LTC61WQBlddVEJzn1q33PlFrxtPW1lMQ&s=LMeZWQTcH2Ar-3f5c95mu6ITmPA_3dAlty-a8QGKBbQ&e= >.

With proper attribution to AIBS, all material from these reports may be reproduced or forwarded. AIBS staff appreciates receiving copies of materials used. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please contact the AIBS Director of Public Policy, Robert Gropp, at 202-628-1500 x 250.

________________________________

Appropriators Consider NSF's Budget Request for FY 2017

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is unlikely to see a proposed $536.5 million increase next year, if comments during a recent hearing are any indication. The House Appropriations Committee began consideration of NSF's budget request for fiscal year 2017 on 16 March 2016.

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman John Culberson (R-TX) said, "unfortunately the president's budget request includes about $400 million in new, unauthorized mandatory funding from a variety of sources that are not going to happen. It is a difficulty that every agency that is presenting their budget this year to the Appropriations Committee face."

President Obama's budget request for FY 2017 included $100.5 million in new discretionary funding, and $400.0 million in new, one time mandatory spending. The mandatory spending would require Congress to first pass authorizing legislation establishing a one-year mandatory spending program.

Dr. France Cordova, Director of the NSF, defended the request as a way to enhance the funding success rate for early career researchers.

Ranking Member Mike Honda (D-CA) pointed out that if one ignores the mandatory spending, the president's budget request would only provide a 1.3 percent increase for NSF.

Honda also highlighted an ongoing topic of concern to the scientific community: Congress attempting to specify funding for NSF's directorates instead of leaving such funding decisions to the agency.

Notably, Chairman Culberson stated: "I want also to avoid directorate level funding. I think that it's important that we not insert political agendas from either end of the political spectrum-from any part of the political spectrum-in the work the scientific community does."

This is a major shift in Culberson's position. Last year, he included language in the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill that would have boosted funding for four NSF directorates (biology, computing, engineering, and math and physical sciences) at the expense of social science and geosciences directorates.

House Budget Would Slash Discretionary Funding in Out Years

The budget resolution approved by the House Budget Committee last week would cut $887 billion over the next decade from non-defense programs. Although the spending plan adheres to the $1.07 trillion discretionary funding level lawmakers previously agreed to for 2017, it does so at the expense of future discretionary spending.

Overall, this plan would result in an 18.6 percent cut to non-defense programs over a decade. In fiscal year 2018, these programs would lose $44 billion. In the subsequent nine years, funding for non-defense programs would be frozen at $472 billion. By fiscal year (FY) 2026, non-defense spending would be $156 billion below the amount provided for under budget sequestration.

Even though Congress reached a deal in the fall of 2015 regarding top line spending for FY 2017, members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus are seeking further cuts. Leaders of the group are pushing for $30 billion in additional reductions in FY 2017. This hardline stance forced House Republican leadership to propose deeper cuts in the out years in the budget resolution.

AIBS Seeks Temporary/Interim Editor-in-Chief for BioScience

The American Institute of Biological Sciences seeks applicants for a temporary/interim Editor-in-Chief of its scientific journal, BioScience. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will work as either a contractor or for a stipend that augments an existing academic or research position at a recognized university or other research center. This position has the potential to become a long-term/permanent position.

Published monthly, BioScience presents readers with timely and authoritative peer-reviewed scientific Overview and Forum articles, as well as news and analysis, Feature articles, Editorials, Viewpoints, and other non-peer-reviewed content. A highly cited monthly journal, BioScience content is written and edited for accessibility to researchers, educators, and students. A growing national and international institutional subscriber base is augmented by AIBS's individual members, all of whom receive a subscription to the journal.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Learn more at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.aibs.org_classifieds_aibs-5Fpositions-5Favailable.html-2340314&d=AwIFAg&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=QAdVHQ1m7B6LTC61WQBlddVEJzn1q33PlFrxtPW1lMQ&s=f089CoEOFpp0VzlJM5F7FcsZGaAgpP_uya2MYpMf6sE&e= <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__aibs.us1.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3Da2886d199362c2554974f78af-26id-3D2fdc7d645e-26e-3D6708ed45cf&d=AwIFAg&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=QAdVHQ1m7B6LTC61WQBlddVEJzn1q33PlFrxtPW1lMQ&s=jJe1jXPbwhh4Wa9F7HEwAthilSiNXBUMOcP1kngl-G0&e= >.

Submit Your Question for a Presidential Science Debate

What would you like to know about the U.S. presidential candidates' views on science? A coalition of scientific organizations, which includes AIBS, is soliciting questions to ask the Democratic and Republican nominees. Submit your question about science, technology, health, or environment to the 2016 science debate. You can also vote on submitted questions. Learn more at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__questions.sciencedebate.org_forums_283644-2D2016-2Dpresidential-2Dscience-2Dtech-2Dhealth-2Dand-2Denvir&d=AwIFAg&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=QAdVHQ1m7B6LTC61WQBlddVEJzn1q33PlFrxtPW1lMQ&s=xwygZCLWZMzDbFhqk5jyIkXM-KeD9RjvD9K_Iw_pvnU&e= <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__aibs.us1.list-2Dmanage1.com_track_click-3Fu-3Da2886d199362c2554974f78af-26id-3Df9add7b434-26e-3D6708ed45cf&d=AwIFAg&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=QAdVHQ1m7B6LTC61WQBlddVEJzn1q33PlFrxtPW1lMQ&s=ciRPftWthVuNwu-m3vlnOHuIDvKKF-P0jooDoh0G58U&e= >.

Government Watchdog Recommends More Actions to Protect Native Bees

The federal government has taken steps to enhance the health of native bees, but more should be done, according to the Government Accountability Office. The overseer recommended additional actions by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to combat declines in some populations of bee species.

USDA should monitor population trends of wild, native bees. The department currently monitors honey bee colonies that are cared for by beekeepers. Additionally, USDA should evaluate the effectiveness of conservation efforts on private lands to restore bee habitat.

The report recommends that EPA develop assessment tools for the risks posed by mixtures of pesticides to pollinators. The agency already evaluates the potential risks of individual pesticides to bees.

Read the report at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.gao.gov_products_GAO-2D16-2D220-3Futm-5Fmedium-3Demail-26utm-5Fsource-3Dgovdelivery&d=AwIFAg&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=QAdVHQ1m7B6LTC61WQBlddVEJzn1q33PlFrxtPW1lMQ&s=YRPMtX-cM1Ue_wN1MrzAYUQf7EftX3j95ZIIRuFfHnY&e= <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__aibs.us1.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3Da2886d199362c2554974f78af-26id-3D95846a3ffe-26e-3D6708ed45cf&d=AwIFAg&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=QAdVHQ1m7B6LTC61WQBlddVEJzn1q33PlFrxtPW1lMQ&s=_7UZIuKcFoOtr5sGlRUaBb1puxe-EOFACFZ9nF10Obc&e= >.

NSF, USDA Announce Joint Funding Opportunity on Animal and Plant Phenomics and Microbiomes

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have established a $6 million joint funding opportunity to support the development of transformative plant and animal phenomics and microbiome technologies. The new grant opportunity seeks to advance our understanding of basic biological mechanisms and principles.

Grant proposals for high-risk, high-reward research are sought. Proposals must be compatible within a two-year, $300,000 budget. Learn more at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.nsf.gov_pubs_2016_nsf16058_nsf16058.jsp&d=AwIFAg&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=QAdVHQ1m7B6LTC61WQBlddVEJzn1q33PlFrxtPW1lMQ&s=dOaOZViyCpnXg6rQTLlUU_y_SZdMV9F7wOCKb7HMN1g&e= <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__aibs.us1.list-2Dmanage1.com_track_click-3Fu-3Da2886d199362c2554974f78af-26id-3D95021b6cdb-26e-3D6708ed45cf&d=AwIFAg&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=QAdVHQ1m7B6LTC61WQBlddVEJzn1q33PlFrxtPW1lMQ&s=d2t4TO9bzMruUa8JPRJvyLOlt4j6je_zjvnPRHCy_Go&e= >.

>From the Federal Register

The following items appeared in the Federal Register from 7 to 18 March 2016. For more information on these or other recent items, please visit the AIBS Federal Register Resource at www.aibs.org/federal-register-resource/index.html<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__aibs.us1.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3Da2886d199362c2554974f78af-26id-3Df954242f02-26e-3D6708ed45cf&d=AwIFAg&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=QAdVHQ1m7B6LTC61WQBlddVEJzn1q33PlFrxtPW1lMQ&s=yXoZFRupVnpI0WfvkyCKcy4-vesk0LGKS0oOqAE71rs&e= >.

Week Ending 18 March 2016

Artic Research Commission

  *   Notice of 105th Commission Meeting
Commerce

  *   U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Advisory Committee Meeting
Environmental Protection Agency

  *   Notification of a Public Teleconference of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee Particulate Matter Panel
  *   Request for Nominations of Experts To Augment the Science Advisory Board Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee for the Review of the EPA's Draft Toxicological Review of Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5- triazine
Health and Human Services

  *   Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  *   Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods; Notice of Public Meeting; Request for Public Input
  *   National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; Notice of Meeting
  *   Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health; Notice of Meeting
  *   Request for Comments on National Bioethics Advisory Bodies
Interior

  *   Announcement of National Geospatial Advisory Committee Meeting
National Science Foundation

  *   Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request
Office of Science and Technology Policy

  *   Notice of Public Meetings: National Nanotechnology Initiative Public Meetings
Week Ending 11 March 2016

Environmental Protection Agency

  *   FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel; Notice of Public Meeting
  *   National Environmental Education Advisory Council; Solicitation of Applications
Health and Human Services

  *   Board of Scientific Counselors, Office of Infectious Diseases (BSC, OID)
  *   National Cancer Institute; Amended Notice of Meeting
  *   National Cancer Institute; Notice of Meeting
  *   Proposed Collection; 60-Day Comment Request; The Clinical Trials Reporting Program (CTRP) Database (NCI)
Interior

  *   Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council; Public Meeting
National Science Foundation

  *   Sunshine Act Meetings; National Science Board

Become an Advocate for Science: Join the AIBS Legislative Action Center

Quick, free, easy, effective, impactful! Join the AIBS Legislative Action Center<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__aibs.us1.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3Da2886d199362c2554974f78af-26id-3D23a292ad70-26e-3D6708ed45cf&d=AwIFAg&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=QAdVHQ1m7B6LTC61WQBlddVEJzn1q33PlFrxtPW1lMQ&s=2ts22V33B8QBmR1cvlVsobcRuRG7-AqS1K1bIDj2qIE&e= >.  The Legislative Action Center is a one-stop shop for learning about and influencing science policy. Through the website, users can contact elected officials and sign-up to interact with lawmakers.  The website offers tools and resources to inform researchers about recent policy developments. The site also announces opportunities to serve on federal advisory boards and to comment on federal regulations.

This new tool is made possible through contributions from the Society for the Study of Evolution, Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography, and the Botanical Society of America.  AIBS and our partner organizations invite scientists and science educators to become policy advocates today. Simply go to policy.aibs.org<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__aibs.us1.list-2Dmanage1.com_track_click-3Fu-3Da2886d199362c2554974f78af-26id-3Ddc3ca81c05-26e-3D6708ed45cf&d=AwIFAg&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=QAdVHQ1m7B6LTC61WQBlddVEJzn1q33PlFrxtPW1lMQ&s=RwhfVGLBzavZBJbETYTAA3pcgZmZEDsvyjMgGAWgUOo&e= > to get started.

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  *   Become an AIBS Individual Member and lend your voice to a national effort to advance the biological sciences through public policy, education, and science programs. Visit https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.access.aibs.org_-3Fpage-3DIndMem&d=AwIFAg&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=QAdVHQ1m7B6LTC61WQBlddVEJzn1q33PlFrxtPW1lMQ&s=_F3nFZTQa53Mp_ba0tFMLy-Dfq9DGy8inXZZK8riyZY&e= <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__aibs.us1.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3Da2886d199362c2554974f78af-26id-3De31b9c4ec2-26e-3D6708ed45cf&d=AwIFAg&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=QAdVHQ1m7B6LTC61WQBlddVEJzn1q33PlFrxtPW1lMQ&s=IYYpQljuP85ub618Aw-rPZVLDTvQBSic3iepUaEs7aI&e= > to join AIBS.

  *   Become an advocate for science, visit the AIBS Legislative Action Center at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__policy.aibs.org&d=AwIFAg&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=QAdVHQ1m7B6LTC61WQBlddVEJzn1q33PlFrxtPW1lMQ&s=fEpqE52TOYIMIYrWoUMwITKvAQ8sTpEve9DBQX8AAAk&e= <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__aibs.us1.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3Da2886d199362c2554974f78af-26id-3D3943bd10ef-26e-3D6708ed45cf&d=AwIFAg&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=QAdVHQ1m7B6LTC61WQBlddVEJzn1q33PlFrxtPW1lMQ&s=_IpkOiyP8PBDVMN-YcvLKpa8UTZ-NpcV5vUvz8FGw0U&e= >.

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The American Institute of Biological Sciences is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) scientific association dedicated to advancing biological research and education for the welfare of society. AIBS works to ensure that the public, legislators, funders, and the community of biologists have access to and use information that will guide them in making informed decisions about matters that require biological knowledge. The organization does this through informing decisions by providing peer-reviewed or vetted information about the biology field and profession and by catalyzing action through building the capacity and the leadership of the community to address matters of common concern.

Founded in 1947 as a part of the National Academy of Sciences, AIBS became an independent, member-governed organization in the 1950s. Today, AIBS has over 140 member organizations and is headquartered in Reston, VA, with a Public Policy Office in Washington, DC. Its staff members work to achieve its mission by publishing the peer-reviewed journal BioScience and the education Web site ActionBioscience.org, by providing scientific peer-review and advisory services to government agencies and other clients, and by collaborating with scientific organizations to advance public policy, education, and the public understanding of science.

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