Update on Research Funding via Federal Agencies August 11, 2021
Research Development's Strategic Intelligence team monitors the federal budget and funding landscape and produces this memo on a bi-weekly basis to share information that may impact ASU research.
Science Policy News
House Passes Funding Bills for Labor-HHS-Education, Agriculture
https://www.cossa.org/2021/08/03/house-passes-funding-bills-for-labor-hhs-education-agriculture/
On 7/29/21, the House of Representatives passed a six-bill package of spending legislation for the FY 2022. The package (H.R. 4502) included both the Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education and Agriculture appropriations bills. As it breaks for August recess, the House has passed nine of its 13 annual spending bills. Among the bills left to pass are the Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill (which funds the National Science Foundation) and the Department of Defense appropriations bill. The Senate Appropriations Committee, meanwhile, has started marking up its bills the week of August 2. However, they are not expected to get to the bills of most interest to the research community before leaving for August recess this week (week of August 9).
House Hearing Airs Cases For and Against Semiconductor Funding Surge
https://www.aip.org/fyi/2021/house-hearing-airs-cases-and-against-semiconductor-funding-surge
Two witnesses, Georgetown University analyst Will Hunt and Semiconductor Industry Association executive David Isaacs, stressed that leading foreign semiconductor companies are backed by their governments. To rebalance the U.S. position, they said the House should adopt a proposal the Senate passed in June to provide $52 billion for the manufacturing subsidy programs and R&D initiatives authorized in the CHIPS for America Act. However, former DOD official Lisa Porter argued the sprawl of the microelectronics supply chain makes subsidies difficult to target and said the U.S. should prioritize other means of mitigating threats.
It's now Pelosi's Move on Bipartisan Roads Bill
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/567269-its-now-pelosis-move-on-bipartisan-roads-bill?rl=1
The Senate’s approval of a massive infrastructure bill on Tuesday sends the proposal to the House — and confronts Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) with some tricky questions over how to proceed. Already, Pelosi is facing competing pressure from moderate Democrats, who want a quick vote to notch a big bipartisan win, and liberals, who want to sit on the bill until the Senate passes an even larger social benefits package, a tactic that Pelosi has enthusiastically endorsed.
Major UK science funder unveils strict open-access policy
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02148-8
From April 2022, scientists must make papers supported by Britain’s national research-funding agency free to read immediately on publication, the funder UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) announced today in a keenly awaited revision to its open-access (OA) policy.
Social Determinants of Health Caucus – Request for Information
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJ4gzL1q3gTIDg1CXa477k2TO6GkpQg35d36BMYf-vqtN7ig/viewform
A newly-formed Congressional Social Determinants of Health Caucus is seeking the public’s input on challenges and opportunities related to social determinants of health. The request for information asks stakeholders to respond to a list of questions relating to how to "improve health outcomes, and to maximize existing and future federal investments in health, food, housing, transportation, and other important drivers of health." Submissions are requested by September 21, 2021.
National Institutes of Health
NIH Strategic Wide Plan for 2021-2025 is now available
https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/about-nih/strategic-plan-fy2021-2025-508.pdf
The plan is organized around three key objectives: (1) Advancing Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences, (2) Developing, Maintaining, and Renewing Scientific Research Capacity, and (3) Exemplifying and Promoting the Highest Level of Scientific Integrity, Public Accountability, and Social Responsibility in the Conduct of Science. The plan also includes five cross-cutting themes centered on minority health and health disparities, women's health, public health challenges across the lifespan, collaborative science, and data science.
Proposed Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Listening Session
https://www.nih.gov/arpa-h/events
The National Institutes of Health and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy are organizing a series of listening sessions to get feedback from patient advocacy groups, industry, scientific professional organizations, and other stakeholders.
National Science Foundation
NSF AD/SBE Search - Dear Colleague Letter
https://www.nsf.gov/od/searches/sbe-210722/nsf_ad_sbe_search_letter.jsp
The National Science Foundation is beginning a national search for the Assistant Director for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE). The Assistant Director, SBE, leads a Directorate containing the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS), the Division of Social and Economic Sciences (SES), the SBE Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (SMA), and the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES). Together, the Directorate's portfolio encompasses a broad range of the social, behavioral, and economic sciences with a total budget of nearly $283 million. Nominations will be accepted through September 13, 2021.
Advising NSF on its Efforts to Achieve the Nations Vision for the Materials Genome Initiative DMREF
A National Academies Committee will examine the impact of the National Science Foundation’s program 'Designing Materials to Revolutionize and Engineer Our Future' is having. The goal is to further the Nation's vision for the Materials Genome Initiative. This committee will also evaluate the goals, progress, and scientific accomplishments of the program within the context of similar efforts both within the United States and abroad. High-level, strategic recommendations will be provided for aligning the program to take full advantage of existing and future opportunities for accelerating the progression of materials research.
Department of Commerce
NIST Prioritizes External Input in Development of AI Risk Management Framework
National Institute of Standards and Technology officials are gleaning insights from a range of players as they work to draft Congressionally-directed guidance promoting the responsible use of artificial intelligence technologies. That in-the-making document—the Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework, or AI RMF—is aimed at building the public’s trust in the increasingly adopted technology, according to a recent request for information. Responses to the RFI are due Aug. 19 and will inform the framework’s early days of production.
Department of Energy
House committee advances $7 billion regional tech hubs legislation
https://ssti.org/blog/house-committee-advances-7-billion-regional-tech-hubs-legislation
The regional clean energy innovation program would provide long-term funding to consortia focused on relevant technology research, development and implementation in a region. The Department of Energy would be able to make awards of up to five years that could be renewed for up to another five years, although the consortium would need to provide a 50 percent match for years three and beyond. Activities allowed by the program include facilitating the application of clean energy technology, planning, and stakeholder engagement.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA Renews Support of Vertical Lift Research Centers of Excellence
NASA is continuing its support of university research into technologies for future helicopters and other vertical lift aircraft in partnership with the U.S. Army and Navy. With their unique ability to take off and land from any spot, as well as hover in place, vertical lift vehicles are increasingly being contemplated for use in providing the public with new air travel options. To that end, the agency has designated academic teams – led by colleges in Georgia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania – as Vertical Lift Research Centers of Excellence (VLRCOE).
NASA is Recruiting for Yearlong Simulated Mars Mission
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-is-recruiting-for-yearlong-simulated-mars-mission
NASA is seeking applicants for participation as a crew member during the first one-year analog mission in a habitat to simulate life on a distant world, set to begin in Fall 2022. In preparation for the real-life challenges of future missions to Mars, NASA will study how highly motivated individuals respond under the rigor of a long-duration, ground-based simulation. The series of missions - known as Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog - includes three one-year Mars surface simulations based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Big boost for USDA in Senate budget proposal
https://www.agriculture.com/news/business/big-boost-for-usda-in-senate-budget-proposal
The budget plan unveiled by Senate Democrats on 8/9/2021 would increase USDA spending by $135 billion over a decade, equal to a 9% increase from pre-pandemic levels. The money would be directed to projects ranging from child nutrition to clean energy and climate mitigation.