Senate Appropriators Consider FY 2025 Spending
Lawmakers are making progress on spending legislation for fiscal year (FY) 2025 but the two chambers of Congress have adopted markedly different approaches. The House has advanced appropriations bills along party lines, whereas the Senate has pursued a more bipartisan strategy.
The House Appropriations Committee has advanced all twelve appropriations bills, five of which have been passed by the full chamber. The House adjourned for the August recess a week earlier than scheduled after canceling this week's session. House leadership had previously announced plans to complete work on appropriations before adjourning, but the chamber has yet to pass seven spending bills, including the ones for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS); Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies; and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS). The chamber will resume their appropriations work after returning in early September.
The Senate Appropriations Committee has reached a bipartisan agreement to use emergency funding to bypass the Fiscal Responsibility Act's 1% increase cap on defense and nondefense spending. Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) argued that adhering to these caps would hinder U.S. innovation, noting China's planned 10% increase in R&D spending. However, the Republican-led House is likely to oppose this use of emergency funds, as it did in the previous budget cycle.
After approving their first three FY 2025 spending bills earlier this month, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved four more bills last week, including the ones for CJS and Interior-Environment. Science related highlights from the Senate bills so far include:
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The National Science Foundation (NSF) would receive a 5.4% boost relative to FY 2024 to $9.6 billion, which is still below the FY 2023 enacted level of $9.9 billion. NSF's research account would see a 5.2% increase and its education account would grow by $53 million (or 4.5%). In comparison, the House has proposed a 2 percent increase in funding for the science agency, a comparable 5% increase for its research account, and a 15% cut for its education account.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would see its budget grow by 6% in the Senate measure, while the House has proposed a 10% cut.
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) would receive a 2% increase overall, with its science account growing by roughly 3% and funding for earth science seeing an 8% boost. The House has proposed a 1% increase for NASA and a 9% cut for earth science.
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The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is slated for a 5% boost in the Senate and a 3% cut in the House.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) would receive a nearly 2% increase in the Senate proposal, with its Ecosystems Mission Area getting a 2.4% bump. The House has proposed to cut funding for the USGS by 5.6%.
- The National Park Service would see a 5% boost in the Senate bill and a 6% cut in the House bill.
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would receive a 2% bump in the Senate and an 8.4% cut in the House.
- The Bureau of Land Management is slated for a nearly 4% increase in the Senate bill, while the House has proposed an 8% cut.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would be funded at $9.3 billion in the Senate proposal, a 1.4% increase from FY 2024. Its science and technology account would see a 3.4% bump. The House has proposed slashing EPA's budget by 20% and its science account by 31%.
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Within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) would see a 1.6% increase in the Senate bill, while the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) are looking at flat funding. The House has proposed slightly lower funding levels for all three: -1.3% for ARS, -0.3% for NIFA, and -0.5% for AFRI.
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The Senate would provide a 1.8% increase to the Smithsonian Institution, while the House has proposed a 12% cut.
The Senate appropriations panel is expected to mark up the LHHS bill, which funds the National Institutes of Health, on August 1.
NSB Calls for New U.S. Strategies to Address Changed Science & Engineering Landscape
The National Science Board (NSB)--the governing body of the National Science Foundation (NSF)--has released a new policy brief arguing for new models, investments, partnerships, and approaches to adapt to a "dramatically changed" science and technology (S&T) landscape to ensure U.S. leadership and a robust STEM workforce.
The policy brief describes three foundational trends that have changed the U.S. S&T landscape:
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Shift in R&D funding: Business investment now drives the majority of U.S. research and development (R&D), accounting for 3.5% of GDP in 2021. While business R&D growth is positive, it must complement federal R&D, which alone can invest broadly and long-term across all fields.
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China as competitor and collaborator: China's S&T advancements challenge U.S. leadership. China has surpassed the U.S. in research publications, patents, and STEM PhDs. Although China is a significant competitor in critical technology areas, it is also the U.S.' largest collaborator in published research, including in AI.
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Rising demand for STEM skills: The U.S. faces challenges in adequately educating its domestic workforce for STEM jobs. While foreign talent remains crucial, dependence on it is risky, highlighting the need for better retention strategies for international experts in critical and emerging technologies.
Darío Gil, NSB's newly appointed Chair and IBM's Senior Vice President and Director of Research, has noted that the policy brief is intended as a "conversation starter" to "explore and advance ideas for new and necessary models," stressing that S&T is now as crucial to economic and national security as trade or military alliances. Last week, NSB convened a panel of leaders from government, philanthropy, and academia to explore the changes in their respective sectors and to identify areas that will require new cross-sector collaborations.
White House Issues Research Security Guidelines for Institutions
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has issued new guidance on maintaining research security programs at major universities, as mandated by the CHIPS and Science Act.
The guidance establishes minimum standards for universities on cybersecurity, foreign travel reporting, and staff training on research security risks. It also allows agencies to impose additional requirements, such as in response to risks concerning the illegal transfer of U.S. government-supported research and development to countries of concern, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
Agencies are now required to submit their implementation plans to the White House within six months, with final policies taking effect six months later. Universities will need to comply with these policies within 18 months after the effective date.
NOAA Invests in Community-Driven Marine Debris Solutions
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced $27 million in funding for projects to prevent and remove marine debris in coastal and Great Lakes communities. The funded projects were selected through two competitive opportunities: The Marine Debris Challenge Competition and the Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions.
The goal of the Marine Debris Challenge Competition is to "push the boundaries of existing marine debris prevention and removal technologies and approaches, and turn innovative research into tangible results." This effort awarded $24 million in funding for eleven projects across the United States.
The Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions is part of President Biden's Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that at least 40% of the overall benefits from certain climate, clean energy, and other federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities which bear the brunt of intensifying climate impacts. These projects will engage historically underserved communities in translating research into collaborative marine debris removal and prevention efforts. Overall $2.9 million in funding was awarded to ten projects across the country.
Science Coalition Urges House Appropriators to Provide Additional FY 2025 Funding to NSF
The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF), of which AIBS is a member, has issued a statement urging House appropriators to strengthen support for the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the final fiscal year (FY) 2025 appropriations legislation. CNSF is an alliance of over 140 professional organizations, universities, and businesses that advocates for the National Science Foundation.
"While CNSF appreciates the fact that, despite a challenging budget environment House appropriators have approved a 2% increase for the agency in fiscal year (FY) 2025 appropriations, we are concerned that this increase fails to restore NSF funding to levels provided in FY 2023," the statement reads. "That means that at the proposed FY 2025 level the agency would still be operating at more than 7% below the levels of two years ago."
CNSF also calls on the House to consider providing additional funding for NSF as part of a supplemental or emergency funding vehicle. Read the statement.
Attend an NSF CASA-Bio Workshop to Advance the U.S. Bioeconomy
Catalyzing Across Sectors to Advance the Bioeconomy (CASA-Bio) is a collaborative initiative from the NSF inspired by the Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy.
Stakeholders from federal agencies, industry, and non-profits have identified a group of subtheme challenges that span the five Bioeconomy Themes of climate change, food and agriculture, supply chain resilience, human health, and cross-cutting advances.
The research community is invited to provide input on the next steps of CASA-Bio. Six virtual, interactive Advancement Workshops will focus on specific research and development challenges and opportunities for the bioeconomy, bringing together experts from academia, industry, and government. The workshops will take place over July and August. Apply here to participate.
Enter the 14th Annual Faces of Biology Photo Contest
Enter the Faces of Biology Photo Contest for a chance to win $250 and to have your photo appear on the cover of the journal BioScience.
The competition showcases, in a personal way, biological research in its many forms and settings. The images help the public and policymakers better understand the value of biological research and education. The competition is sponsored by the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology in addition to the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS).
"Photography is an effective tool to help communicate the process of scientific research," said Scott Glisson, CEO of AIBS. "This contest provides a visual forum for expression, inspiration, and technical skill that can have a positive impact on how the public views research and science."
The theme of the contest is "Faces of Biology." Photographs entered into the competition must depict a person, such as a scientist, technician, or student, engaging in biological research. The depicted research may occur outside, in a lab, with a natural history collection, on a computer, in a classroom, or elsewhere.
The winning photos from the 2023 contest were featured in the April 2024 issue of BioScience.
Submissions must be received by 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 30, 2024. For more information or to enter the contest, visit our website.
Short Takes
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NSF is searching for a new Director for the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS). The IOS Division Director serves as a member of the senior leadership team in the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) and works cooperatively with other BIO Division and Deputy Division Directors to advise and aid the Assistant Director, Deputy Assistant Director, and senior staff in BIO. Applications close on September 16, 2024.
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Since 2023, a group of Ukrainian researchers at the State Museum of Natural History (Lviv, Ukraine) have been working on developing simplified protocols for the fast and cheap digitization of natural history collection in Ukraine threatened by war. An initial draft of the book, Digitization of Vulnerable Natural History Collections, is now available, and an updated version is in progress. The team has also put together a survey for employees of natural history institutions and organizations asking about their experiences with digitization of collections. This survey will take about 15-20 minutes to complete. Please share the survey with pertinent individuals.
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The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) committee on Assessing and Navigating Biosecurity Concerns and Benefits of Artificial Intelligence Use in the Life Sciences is hosting a public information gathering session. The event will feature panels discussing the benefits and biosecurity concerns of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled biological design tools and biological data. This event is available to attend either in-person or online on August 13-14, 2024 from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET. This meeting will include initial briefings containing information relevant to study issues. Please register to receive updates.
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NSF is seeking nominations for the Alan T. Waterman Award, which recognizes an outstanding early career researcher in any field of science or engineering supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The annual award is the nation's highest honor for early-career scientists and engineers. In addition to a medal, the awardee receives a grant of $1,000,000 over a five-year period for scientific research or advanced study in the science and engineering disciplines supported NSF at the institution of their choice. Nominations for the award will be accepted from July 22 to September 20, 2024. An informational webinar is scheduled for August 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time.
From the Federal Register
The following items appeared in the Federal Register from July 15 to 26, 2024.
Commerce
Environmental Protection Agency
Health and Human Services
Interior
