CONTENTS:
- House FY19 Appropriations Bills, NDAA on the Move
- NSF and the U.S. Air Force Announce Research Partnership
- National Academies Releases Report on Ihttps://www.nsf.gov/nsb/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=245368&org=NSB&from=news
- Net Neutrality Update
- NSF's National Science Board Announces 2018-2020 Leadership
HOUSE FY19 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS, NDAA ON THE MOVE
The House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee approved its FY19 spending bill Monday. The funding bill would provide $6.6 billion for the DOE Office of Science, an increase of $340 million above FY18, and fund ARPA-E at $325 million, reflecting a $21 million cut below FY18.
The House Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its FY19 funding bill Wednesday. According to a Committee press release, the FY19 CJS bill would provide $8.2 billion for the National Science Foundation, a $408 million increase above FY18. The FY19 bill would fund NASA at $21.5 billion, $810 million above FY18. This funding includes: $6.7 billion for NASA Science programs ($459 million above FY18), $715 million for the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate ($30 million above FY18), and $90 million for the Office of Education ($10 million below FY18), including $40 million for the Space Grant program.
The House Armed Services Committee Thursday morning advanced its FY19 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA, H.R. 5515). Initial analysis of the authorization bill shows that RDT&E would receive a 4% increase over FY18, however S&T would be cut 7% to $13.83 billion. DOD 6.1 Basic Research would receive a 2.3% cut to $2.3 billion. DOD 6.2 Applied Research and 6.3 Advanced Technology Development would both receive significant cuts, decreasing 8.2% to $5.24 billion and 7.5% to $6.3 billion, respectively.
NSF AND THE U.S. AIR FORCE ANNOUNCE RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP
On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson and National Science Foundation (NSF) Director France Cordova signed a letter of intent to forge a new partnership on scientific and engineering research to bolster national security. The partnership will focus on four areas of common interest: space operations and geosciences; advanced material sciences; information and data sciences; and workforce and processes. During the signing ceremony, both leaders stressed the benefits of this new partnership and Secretary Wilson underscored the importance of NSF's relationship with research universities and how that relationship can benefit the new collaboration. The letter of intent says, "The Air Force will benefit from greater access to NSF's considerably larger basic research program and community of researchers. The NSF will benefit with a direct pathway for the technical maturation of many of its research efforts and products, with increased relevance afforded by its direct support of the Nation's defense posture."
NATIONAL ACADEMIES RELEASES REPORT ON INTEGRATION OF HUMANITIES AND ARTS WITH SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE IN HIGHER EDUCATION
The National Academies this week released a new report, Branches from the Same Tree: The Integration of the Humanities and Arts with Sciences, Engineering and Medicine in Higher Education, analyzing the benefits of undergraduate and graduate experiences that effectively integrate STEM, arts, and the humanities. The report makes 16 recommendations on the integration ranging from implementation at the institutional level to calling for more research on effective teaching practices for interdisciplinary learning. A report compendium highlights 200 examples of ongoing integrative projects and programs, including many at AAU universities.
NET NEUTRALITY UPDATE
Led by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), Senate Democrats took a procedural step Wednesday under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to force a vote on overturning the FCC's rollback of net neutrality rules. Under the CRA process, the petition can compel a Senate vote on the resolution (S.J. Res. 52), which leaders expect to happen next week. However, to successfully overturn the FCC decision the resolution needs a bare majority in both congressional chambers, as well as President Trump's approval. Should the president veto the resolution, it would return to Congress for a two-thirds veto override in both the House and Senate.
FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai earlier this week announced Obama-administration rules will end June 11. Reuters has more.
NSF'S NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD ANNOUNCES 2018-2020 LEADERSHIP
The National Science Board (NSB) recently announced the election of elected Diane Souvaine from Tufts University to serve as chair for the 2018-2020 term. Ellen Ochoa, the director of the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center was elected vice chair and will serve for the two-year term. Dr. Souvaine is replacing former chair Maria Zuber from MIT, who officially rotated off May 8.
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