House Appropriators Complete Markup of FY 2025 Spending Bills
The House Appropriations Committee has advanced all twelve appropriations bills for fiscal year (FY) 2025, four of which have now been passed by the full chamber. Science relevant spending bills, including the ones for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS); Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS); Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration; and Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies, were all marked up by the panel last week. While some science agencies and programs are slated for minor increases, others are facing sizable cuts. (A summary of each of these bills can be found here and here.)
The panel approved the Interior-Environment bill on a 29-25 vote over strong objections from the Democrats. The bill includes steep funding cuts, notably a 20% cut for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a nearly 6% reduction for the U.S. Geological Survey, and a 12% cut for the Smithsonian Institution. It also includes policy riders to block Clean Air Act regulation of methane emissions, limit new vehicle emission standards, restrict the Endangered Species Act, reverse Minnesota mining restrictions, and prevent funding to block drilling leases in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
The House Appropriations Committee also approved the CJS spending bill providing a roughly 2% funding cut overall relative to FY 2024. While the National Science Foundation (+2%) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (+1%) are slated for small funding increases, the measure includes cuts for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (-3%) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, -10%).
Ranking Member of the CJS Subcommittee Matt Cartwright (D-PA) voiced his disappointment with the $600 million funding cut to NOAA. "This is where the best climate science research on this planet is accomplished. It's the wrong thing to cut," he stated. Notably, the bill includes riders that would restrict NOAA's efforts to protect endangered whale species in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions.
The agriculture spending bill was approved by the committee on a 29-26 vote. It includes a total discretionary allocation of $25.9 billion, which is roughly 1.4% below FY 2024 and 9% below the President's budget request. The bill would provide $1.8 billion (-1%) for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and flat funding for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, while terminating funding for urban farming and the Climate Hubs program.
The panel also passed the LHHS spending bill, which includes flat funding and structural changes for the National Institutes of Health, significant cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), and no funding for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
The $59.2 billion Energy-Water appropriations bill was approved along party lines with deep cuts to clean energy programs. The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy would see its budget slashed by $1.5 billion to $2 billion, whereas the DOE Office of Science would receive a nearly 2% increase.
Meanwhile, the Senate Appropriations Committee marked up its first three spending bills for FY 2025 last week and plans to review its LHHS and CJS funding bills by the end of the month. The panel unanimously approved a $27 billion agriculture spending bill. In contrast with the cuts proposed by the House, the Senate bill includes an $821 million increase in discretionary spending. Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Martin Heinrich (D-NM) praised the bill as bipartisan, highlighting a $68 million boost in conservation funding. Subcommittee Ranking Member John Hoeven (R-ND) touted a $50 million increase proposed for agricultural research.
White House Releases Update on Financing Mechanisms for Open Access Policy
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has released an updated financial analysis on the impacts of the August 2022 public access memorandum (the so-called Nelson Memo) on federal research investments, research integrity, and the peer review process.
The latest analysis from OSTP is the third report requested by Congress to explore funding mechanisms for the public access requirement, which aims to eliminate paywalls for federally funded research. It highlights the difficulties in estimating open access fees, such as article processing charges (APCs), due to limited transparency about production costs from authors and publishers. Most publishers do not disclose their costs associated with peer review and publication, complicating the projection of future APC trends. OSTP's analysis estimates that APC costs for federally funded research in 2022 ranged from $318 million to $399 million, representing 0.09% to 0.25% of total federal R&D expenditures.
A previous report from OSTP estimated that annual government spending on open access publishing ranged from $390 million to $789 million and found an increase in APC costs from $272 million in 2016 to $379 million in 2021. The latest report revises these figures to $281 million in 2016 and $408 million in 2021, and acknowledges ongoing data limitations.
Despite initial opposition from House Republicans, who labeled the public access policy an "unfunded mandate," the final appropriations legislation for fiscal year 2024 directed OSTP to produce an in-depth financial analysis. Federal agencies are continuing to develop their public access plans, with mandatory implementation scheduled for 2026.
Republicans Unveil Draft Bill to Update ESA
Republican lawmakers in the House have released draft legislation to update the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. The 38-page discussion draft, developed by a working group led by House Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Western Caucus Chair Dan Newhouse (R-WA), aims to "incentivize the recovery of listed species, promote species conservation on private and public lands and create greater transparency and accountability in the ESA regulatory process."
"The ESA is a well-meaning bill. We don't want to do away with ESA; we want to make it something that actually works for endangered species," noted Westerman.
Key provisions include requiring economic and national security impact analyses for species listing decisions and limiting critical habitat designations on certain private lands. The draft also suggests allowing states to develop their own recovery strategies for threatened species. A less controversial provision in the draft bill would require the online publication of the reasons for an ESA listing decision.
While some bipartisan engagement was involved during the working group deliberations, significant opposition is expected from Democrats, including from Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Subcommittee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-CA).
OSTP Factsheet Highlights Administration's Efforts to Advance the Bioeconomy
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has shared a factsheet describing the Biden Administration's progress so far in strengthening the nation's bioeconomy, as well as discussing future actions to ensure its long-term success.
The factsheet outlines various actions taken across the government to support biotechnology research, innovation, and workforce development, spurred by the Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy. It also highlights the Administration's investments in biotechnology and biomanufacturing, totaling $3.5 billion, to advance clean energy, create jobs, and strengthen supply chains.
Key initiatives mentioned include efforts to streamline regulations for modified microbes, the establishment of the National Bioeconomy Board, updates to industry classification systems, a $30 million investment in the National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center for Quantitative Cell Biology, as well as investments in biomanufacturing capacity, such as the Department of Defense's $1 billion investment in biomanufacturing for defense supply chains, and various Department of Energy projects totaling hundreds of millions to support clean energy and bioeconomy technologies. Internationally, the Administration has formed the Biopharma Coalition (Bio-5) with EU, India, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to enhance biopharmaceutical supply chains, and launched the Global Biofuels Alliance to promote sustainable fuels.
Input Requested on NIH Reform Proposal
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) recently unveiled a major restructuring plan for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that would consolidate its 27 institutes and centers into 15 institutes. The proposed reorganization aims to streamline operations and improve efficiency, though it has raised concerns within the scientific community about the potential loss of specialized research focus.
The framework also proposes implementing a five-year term limit for institute directors, allowing them to serve a maximum of two terms. Additionally, it would introduce new oversight measures for grant recipients and give the NIH's parent agency the authority to suspend grants that pose national security risks, among various other proposals. The recently created Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), which currently operates as an independent agency within NIH, would be absorbed into a newly formed NIH institute along with other institutes. Read this one-pager for a quick summary of the proposal.
The committee is currently soliciting feedback on the NIH reform framework, which can be submitted via email to NIHReform@mail.house.gov by August 16, 2024.
Last Day to Register: 2024 Biological Sciences Congressional District Visits
Registration will close soon for the 2024 Biological Sciences Congressional District Visits event, organized by the American Institute of Biological Sciences.
Now in its 15th year, this national initiative is an opportunity for biologists across the country to meet with their federal or state elected officials to showcase the people, facilities, and equipment that are required to support and conduct scientific research. This initiative helps to put a face on science and to remind lawmakers that science is happening in their district and state.
The Biological Sciences Congressional District Visits event enables scientists, graduate students, representatives of research facilities, and people affiliated with scientific collections to meet with their federal or state elected officials without traveling to Washington, DC. Participating scientists can meet with their elected officials at the local district office or may invite them to visit their research facility.
"I am grateful for the experience, which has enriched my professional development. I am particularly pleased to think that we started a conversation with Rep. Joyce Beatty's office that will continue in the future. I encourage everyone to reach out beyond their scientific community, which includes explaining your science to your district offices."
- Coralie Farinas, Graduate Student, Ohio State University
AIBS will schedule participants' meetings with lawmakers and will prepare participants through online training and one-on-one support. Meetings will take place mid-July through October, depending on the participant's schedule and their lawmaker's availability. Read the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
This event is made possible by the American Institute of Biological Sciences, with the support of event sponsors American Society of Primatologists, American Society of Plant Taxonomists, Botanical Society of America, Florida International University Institute of Environment, Natural Science Collections Alliance, Organization of Biological Field Stations, Society for Preservation of Natural History Collections, and Society for the Study of Evolution.
Registration for participation is free, but required and closes on July 15, 2024. To learn more and register, visit io.aibs.org/cdv.
Short Takes
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The Department of State is holding a virtual public meeting on the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) at 2:00 PM EDT on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Interested individuals and entities are invited to share their views about the BBNJ Agreement. State officials will provide information regarding ratifications by other countries, an update on domestic processes, and a read-out from the BBNJ Preparatory Commission's Organizational Meeting. The information obtained from this session will help the U.S. government in its preparations for the next steps related to the agreement, including engagement in the Preparatory Commission. If you plan to join, please send your name, email, and affiliation to Samantha Emmert at emmertsa@state.gov by COB July 16.
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Join the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Biological Sciences (BIO) Directorate on Tuesday, July 16 at 3:00-4:00 pm ET for the Division of Biological Infrastructure's (DBI) Virtual Office Hour where Program Directors will present information on "Inside the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)." Learn more about the goals, structure, eligibility requirements, and application process for the GRFP, as well as insights into the review process and how to serve as a reviewer. Register now.
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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 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). Photographs entered into the competition must depict a person, such as a scientist, technician, or student, engaging in biological research. Submissions must be received by 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on September 30, 2024. Learn more.
From the Federal Register
The following items appeared in the Federal Register from July 1 to 12, 2024.
Agriculture
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