CONTENTS:
- Budget and Appropriations Update
- CNSF Urges Appropriators to Provide NSF $8 Billion in FY18
- CNSR Requests Increased Investment in DOD S&T, Basic Research
- AAU Submits HEA Reauthorization Comments to Senate HELP Committee
- NIST Launches Technology Transfer Return on Investment Initiative
- AAU Releases 2017 Annual Report
BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE
House appropriators are working quickly to finalize a $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill before the current continuing resolution (CR) expires March 23. As appropriators work to wrap up FY18, they are also beginning the FY19 process. The House Appropriations Committee recently released FY19 member submission instructions and deadlines for each subcommittee. The Senate Appropriations Committee has not yet posted deadlines for its subcommittees.
In the coming weeks, AAU will update its funding priorities tables to include FY19 recommendations. AAU on February 12 updated each table to include the administration's FY19 budget proposal, "Efficient, Effective, Accountable: An American Budget." AAU also prepared a summary of the proposed funding levels for AAU priority higher education and research programs.
CNSF URGES APPROPRIATORS TO PROVIDE NSF $8 BILLION IN FY18
The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF), of which AAU is a member, today wrote to House and Senate Commerce-Justice-Science appropriators to request $8 billion for NSF in FY18 to reflect 4 percent real growth over FY16. "This requested increase of 4% real growth," the letter says, "is consistent with the first recommendation in the clarion call-to-action, Innovation: An American Imperative, which more than 500 organizations from all 50 states representing industry, academia, and scientific and engineering societies have endorsed."
CNSR REQUESTS INCREASED INVESTMENT IN DOD S&T, BASIC RESEARCH
The Coalition for National Security Research (CNSR), a broad-based alliance of research universities and organizations that includes AAU, yesterday wrote to House and Senate Armed Services Committee leader urging they provide robust funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) science and technology program and basic research. The letter says, "Without sustained investment in these programs, we risk losing the progress we have made to address current threat and develop the military technologies of the future."
AAU SUBMITS HEA REAUTHORIZATION COMMENTS TO SENATE HELP COMMITTEE
In response to a February 13 open request, AAU President Mary Sue Coleman today submitted comments to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee to provide input on the pending Higher Education Act (HEA) reauthorization process. She notes that AAU is committed to working with the Committee to promote policies that lead to greater levels of student access and success.
President Coleman also wrote previously to Chairman Lamar Alexander in response to a February 1 higher education accountability white paper.
NIST LAUNCHES TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER RETURN ON INVESTMENT INITIATIVE
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently announced a plan to assess federal technology transfer return on investment (ROI), with the goal of streamlining the transfer of technology from federal laboratories and federally-funded R&D at universities. As part of the initiative, NIST will publish an RFI in late February/early March, host three public forums in March/April, and later publish a white paper with recommendations to significantly increase technology transfer outcomes from the federal sector, universities, and research organizations.
AAU RELEASES 2017 ANNUAL REPORT
On Tuesday, AAU released our annual report to highlight key actions and achievements from the prior year.
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