Update on Research Funding via Federal Agencies February 09, 2022
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 Legislation
House Passes COMPETES Act, Setting Up Negotiations with Senate
https://www.aip.org/fyi/2022/house-passes-competes-act-setting-negotiations-senate
The House passed the America COMPETES Act of 2022 on 2/4/2022. The legislative package is the House’s response to the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), which the Senate passed last year. Lawmakers will soon form a conference committee to negotiate a compromise bill that can garner enough support to pass both chambers. In contrast to the Senate’s approach with USICA, Democrats on the House Science Committee have been deliberate in not casting the legislation exclusively as a response to China’s growing technological capabilities, framing it instead as improving the ability of the U.S. both to compete globally and address challenges at home. House Republicans have sought to portray the new COMPETES Act as a weak response to challenges posed by the Chinese government and have complained that, except for the science provisions, much of the bill was not developed through a bipartisan process.
Short-term stopgap funding bill could go to House floor Tuesday
https://rollcall.com/2022/02/04/short-term-stopgap-funding-bill-could-go-to-house-floor-tuesday/
The House could take up a three-week stopgap funding extension through March 11 as soon as Tuesday (2/8) to buy more time for appropriators to write final fiscal 2022 spending bills. The temporary spending bill under discussion would only move to the floor if an agreement on topline funding allocations for defense and nondefense programs is reached first. But there was enough apparent progress behind the scenes to warrant talk of a short-term extension rather than a longer continuing resolution that could delay needed funds for the Pentagon, infrastructure programs and more. The current stopgap was enacted in December and extends through Feb. 18, but Democrats and Republicans are still working toward a framework on overarching federal spending levels and, once they reach one, will need additional time to finalize agency-level spending.
Request for Information to the Update of the National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan
The National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Office is accepting comments as it works on updating the National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan. They seek input from the public, including academic, State, and industry groups; those directly performing Artificial Intelligence (AI) research and development (R&D); and those directly affected by such R&D, on the ways in which the strategic plan should be revised and improved, regarding subjects such as “equity, climate change, healthcare, and job opportunities, especially in communities that have been traditionally underserved,” among other areas. Submissions are due March 4.
Biden's Top Science Adviser, Eric Lander, Resigns Amid Reports of Bullying
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/07/eric-lander-resigns-00006545
President Joe Biden’s top science adviser, Eric Lander, resigned on Monday evening following reports of his bullying and mistreatment of subordinates. The resignation came despite initial insistence from the White House that Lander would remain in his post while corrective actions and remediations were applied to assure a better workplace environment at the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Key lawmaker: ARPA-H won’t be part of NIH
A new research agency aimed at developing breakthrough medical technologies won’t be housed within the National Institutes of Health, a key lawmaker said on Wednesday. Instead, the agency, known as ARPA-H, will exist as a distinct unit within the Department of Health and Human Services, said Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.).
In a brief interview, Eshoo said that two House lawmakers who had pushed to create the new agency as a unit within NIH — Reps. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Fred Upton (R-Mich.) — had backed off their positions.
NOT-OD-22-061: Request for Information (RFI): Inviting Comments and Suggestions on a Framework for the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-22-061.html
Request for Information (RFI) inviting feedback on the Framework for the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA). The Strategic Plan will capture activities that NIH will undertake to meet the vision of the Strategic Plan, and will be organized around accomplishments, needs, opportunities, and challenges in addressing DEIA in the NIH workforce, its structure and culture, and the research it supports. Responses must be received by 11:59:59 pm (ET) on April 3, 2022.
National Science Foundation (NSF)
OSTP and NSF host “Quantum Workforce: Q-12 Actions for Community Growth” Event, Release Quantum Workforce Development Plan
https://nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=304343&org=NSF&from=news
On 2/1/2022, the White House OSTP's National Quantum Coordination Office (NQCO) and NSF – in coordination with the National Q-12 Education Partnership – convened educators and leaders in quantum information science and technology (QIST) to explore training and education opportunities for America’s future QIST workforce. During the event, NQCO and NSF released the National Strategic Plan for Quantum Information Science and Technology Workforce Development; the plan recommends steps for the federal government, academia, industry, and others to take to expand and strengthen the U.S. pool of quantum-ready workers. It focuses on actions needed to identify and address QIST-specific education and workforce needs, and to make careers in the field more accessible and equitable.
Department of Defense (DoD)
DOD Technology Chief Outlines R&D Strategy
https://www.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/usdre_strategic_vision_critical_tech_areas.pdf
Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Development Heidi Shyu released a memorandum on February 1 which identifies 14 critical technology areas for DoD. This builds on the 11 developed during the Trump administration, with advanced materials, renewable energy generation and storage, and advanced computing and software included as new areas. Other areas have been substantially redesigned.
6th-Gen Military Tech Panel at Potomac Officers Club’s Annual Defense R&D Summit Focused on AI, Machine Learning
The Potomac Officers Club on Wednesday hosted its 8th Annual Defense Research & Development Summit, where government and industry leaders discussed the projects and ideas that are keeping the U.S. military and Pentagon officials at the forefront of modern strategy as well as technological discoveries that prepare for new threats abroad. After a keynote address by Heidi Shyu, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Director Dr. Stefanie Tompkins presented an additional keynote. A panel followed with speeches focused on the pipeline from plan to execution of defense operations, after which came a discussion where participants looked at sixth-generation military technology.
Department of Energy (DoE)
Full Committee Hearing on Clean Hydrogen
https://www.energy.senate.gov/hearings/2022/2/full-committee-hearing-on-clean-hydrogen
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is holding a hearing to “to examine the opportunities and challenges in using clean hydrogen in the transportation, utility, industrial, commercial, and residential sectors." Note: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act providing DOE with almost $10 billion over five years to establish four regional clean hydrogen hubs, a clean hydrogen electrolysis demonstration program, and a clean hydrogen manufacturing and recycling program. The hearing will be held on Thursday, February 10, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC.
Department of Energy Seeks Input on Technology Pathways to Decarbonize America’s Industrial Sector
DOE released a request for information (RFI) seeking input on the opportunities and challenges for decarbonizing the U.S. industrial sector. The goal of the RFI is to help the Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) better understand how America’s manufacturing sector can reduce emissions while making technologies that will power the clean economy and increase competitiveness on the global stage. Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically to Industrial-Decarb-RFI@ee.doe.gov by 5:00 p.m. ET on February 28, 2022. For more information, visit the AMO website.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
NASA Plans a Fiery End for the International Space Station by 2031
NASA’s agreements with Blue Origin, Nanoracks, Northrop Grumman and Axiom represent the first phase of a planned two-phase effort to spur the development of commercial low-Earth orbit destinations (CLD) during the 2020s, according to the new “International Space Station Transition Report.” “The first phase is expected to continue through 2025,” the report states. “For the second phase of NASA’s approach to a transition toward CLDs, the agency intends to certify for NASA crewmember use CLDs from these and potential other entrants, and ultimately, purchase services from destination providers for crew to use when available.” The switch from the ISS to commercial outposts will end up saving NASA considerable amounts of money, which the agency can put toward deep-space exploration projects, the report notes. “This savings is estimated to be approximately $1.3 billion in 2031, ramping up to $1.8 billion by 2033,” the report states.