FASEB Washington Update - March 6, 2009
President Obama Provides First Look at 2010 BudgetCongress, the American public and policymakers got a peek at one of the most anticipated documents of the year on February 26th, when the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Budget Overview. The overview provides a “topline” description of the Obama Administration's fiscal policies and major budgetary initiatives within federal departments and agencies, although it does not include information about specific programs. Short factsheets summarizing the broad funding requests for each agency are available on the White House website.
More Details >FASEB Comments on Improving Core Facilities
This week, FASEB responded to a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR). The RFI solicited recommendations from the community on how to improve core facilities funded by NIH and included questions about access to core facilities, NIH policies, consolidation and other topics. NCRR will consider responses to the RFI as it prepares to spend a large influx of funds provided by the economic recovery legislation. In the response, FASEB President Richard B. Marchase, Ph.D., called core facilities “essential to biomedical research” and recommended “appropriate and sustained support” through initial and ongoing funding for equipment, maintenance and personnel costs.
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Inside (The Beltway) Scoop
The fate of the long overdue Fiscal Year 2009 omnibus appropriations bill (HR 1105) appeared to be in jeopardy as the Senate failed to complete action on the legislation by March 6th – the date the ”continuing resolution” (CR) currently funding government agencies expires. To avoid shutting down the government, both the House and Senate passed another temporary CR to keep agencies funded through March 11th. The Senate is hoping to finally pass the omnibus appropriations bill before the latest CR expires next week and it is expected to be a very close vote.
House Subcommittee Holds Hearings on Science
This week, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, held several hearings on issues relating to science and science funding. Tuesday’s agenda included a “Science Overview” hearing with testimony by Ralph Ciccerone, Ph.D., President of the National Academy of Sciences, and a separate hearing on the role of NASA and NSF in the science enterprise. At the first hearing, self-proclaimed fiscal conservative Rep. John Culberson voiced support for spending on science programs, saying, “We should find a way to wall off [the National Science Foundation] and other agencies in a way that will protect” their budgets.
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There has been a frenzy of activity related to peer review in the last several months as NIH’s Center for Scientific Review (CSR) began implementing the recommendations of the “NIH 2007-2008 Peer Review Self Study Final Draft.” FASEB has been following the developments closely and this week sent a letter commenting on the changes to CSR Director Antonio Scarpa, M.D., Ph.D.
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FASEB Releases Statement on Dual Use Research and Biosecurity Education
This week, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, held several hearings on issues relating to science and science funding. Tuesday’s agenda included a “Science Overview” hearing with testimony by Ralph Ciccerone, Ph.D., President of the National Academy of Sciences, and a separate hearing on the role of NASA and NSF in the science enterprise. At the first hearing, self-proclaimed fiscal conservative Rep. John Culberson voiced support for spending on science programs, saying, “We should find a way to wall off [the National Science Foundation] and other agencies in a way that will protect” their budgets.
FASEB’s Washington Update is brought to you bi-monthly by the FASEB Office of Public Affairs. We welcome your questions and comments – please contact Carrie Wolinetz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 301-634-7650. For more information about how to get involved in research advocacy, visit: http://capwiz.com/faseb/home/