After wrestling with appropriations, authorization bills, and other measures over the past couple of weeks, Congress has adjourned for its Memorial Day recess. Both the House and the Senate will reconvene on June 1.
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NSF, DOE Authorization Bill Splits House
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The full House of Representatives considered a contentious bill to reauthorize the America COMPETES Act. Originally passed in 2007 and renewed in 2010, the legislation authorizes the National Science Foundation (NSF) and some research programs at the Department of Energy (DOE), including the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E).
From the beginning, the academic and scientific community has voiced its concerns about the House's two-year reauthorization bill—H.R. 1806. One overarching concern is that the legislation cuts funding in Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 for various science programs important to universities, including ARPA-E and the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) and Geosciences (GEO) accounts at NSF. The bill also funds NSF research by scientific directorate, which opens the door for Congress to target certain areas of science for reductions.
Seven amendments were adopted, but none of which significantly changed the substance of the legislation. Although the University of Illinois opposed the underlying bill, our Chicago campus supported one particular amendment that would require NSF to establish a STEM grant program for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI). The amendment was easily adopted.
The legislation passed, but by a narrow margin—217 – 205. No Democrats supported the bill. Two Illinois Republicans—Rep. Rodney Davis and Rep. Bob Dold—broke from their party and opposed the bill, along with 21 other Republicans. OGR Federal Relations thanked these members for rejecting this harmful legislation.
The Senate is moving at a much slower pace. Reauthorization legislation was just filed in that chamber this week, but it only addresses the energy portion of the bill. The legislation is expected to be wrapped up into a broader energy package.
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Appropriations Process Gains Steam
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On the House side, the appropriations committee cleared a FY2016 Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill, which provides funding for NSF, NASA, and the Department of Commerce. Specifically, it includes a $50 million increase for NSF over the FY2015 enacted level. The bill report language contains a concerning requirement for NSF to devote 70 percent of its funding to four research directorates, while holding other offices at their current FY2015 funding levels. As noted in a letter sent by the Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF), this could "force NSF to cut over $250 million, 16 percent of the combined budget, from the remaining two research directorates: Geosciences and the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences." Additionally, the House defense appropriations subcommittee passed its respective spending bill, which will be taken up by the full committee after the recess. That bill contains a $4 billion increase for research and development over the FY2015 level.
Over on the Senate side, the appropriations committee approved its FY2016 302(b) allocations, which are the discretionary spending caps set for each of the twelve appropriations subcommittees. The allocations adhere to the sequester-level budget caps. The full committee also charged ahead with approving an energy and water spending bill. Compared to FY2015 levels, the bill includes small increases for the DOE Office of Science and ARPA-E (1.4 percent for DOE-Science and 3.9 percent for ARPA-E).
For breakdowns of specific funding lines within these bills, please contact the OGR Federal Relations office.
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21st Century Cures Bill Enjoys Across-the-Board Support
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The House Energy & Commerce Committee marked up and unanimously approved its 21st Century Cures bill, which aims to spur innovation and streamline processes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to foster the delivery of faster and better treatments and cures. Universities are especially excited about a provision in the bill that calls for the establishment of an "NIH Innovation Fund," a mandatory NIH funding stream of $10 billion over the next five years. UIC recently signed onto a letter in support of the Innovation Fund. The bill is expected to receive floor time in June.
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Senate Forms Working Groups to Prep for HEA Reauthorization
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To gear up for reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA), Senate education committee leadershipannounced the creation of four working groups. Composed of committee staff from both sides of the aisle, the working groups will examine the following major topics: accountability, accreditation, college affordability and financial aid, and campus sexual assault and safety.
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Thank you,
Melissa Haas | Acting Director | OGR Federal Relations
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