FASEB Washington Update - September 17, 2010
NIH Resumes Funding for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) resumed funding for human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research on September 10, 2010. The action by NIH came after a flurry of judicial activity that had parties on each side of the case filing a complicated series of procedural and substantive motions in both the Federal District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals. More Details >
FASEB Comments on Proposed Changes to HIPAA Privacy Rule
FASEB recently urged the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to exempt research from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. Responding to a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) devised to amend HIPAA, FASEB expressed concern that implementation of the Privacy Rule has had an adverse impact on medical research aimed at improving human health. More Details >
Inside (The Beltway) Scoop - Jennifer Zeitzer
Members of Congress returned to Washington on September 13th facing a long list of legislative items needing attention and a short window of opportunity in which to address them. The number of issues that are resolved will depend largely on a combination of efficient use of floor time in both chambers and the willingness of Senate Republicans to cooperate with the majority party. Given that both parties are increasingly focused on the mid-term elections in November, political considerations are likely to trump policy decisions over the next few weeks. Extending the expiring tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003, passing the annual defense authorization bill, renewing operating authority at the Federal Aviation Administration, approving legislation to improve food safety, reaching consensus on a bill to increase lending to small-businesses, and potentially voting on a measure to ensure continued funding for human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research are among the issues that lawmakers could address prior to adjourning in early October to return to the campaign trail. More Details >
Senate Committee Explores Advances in Embryonic and Adult Stem Cell Research
The ongoing battle over federal funding for stem cell research shifted to Capitol Hill this week as the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing entitled "The Promise of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research." In his opening statement, subcommittee chairman Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) noted it was the 21st time the panel had discussed stem cell research since the first hearing was held in December 1998 and thanked Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) for his early and consistent leadership on the issue. More Details >
Scientific Management Review Board Discusses Clinical and Translational Research
The NIH Scientific Management and Review Board (SMRB) met on September 14th and 15th spending the majority of its time discussing issues related to clinical and translational research. The first item on the agenda was a report from the Intramural Research Program (IRP) Working Group that focused on the NIH Clinical Center. As a result of the rapidly rising cost of health care, the annual inflationary costs of the Clinical Center were exceeding those of the rest of the intramural budget, and future increases in funding for the Clinical Center could only come at the expense of the intramural program as a whole, including basic research. This IRP Working Group, chaired by Arthur Rubenstein of the University of Pennsylvania, was asked to look at the utilization and fiscal sustainability of the Clinical Center. More Details >
Nominee for OMB Director Appears Before Senate Committees
Jacob Lew, President Obama’s nominee to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget, appeared before two Senate Committees on September 16th to answer questions about his budget philosophy and explain his key priorities for the agency should he be confirmed. In front of the Senate Budget Committee, Lew said, "…we must put our nation back on a sustainable fiscal course in the medium-term while making investments critical to long-term economic growth." During questioning, the nominee discussed the challenge of reaching sustainable levels of debt and deficit, support for the bipartisan deficit reduction commission, the need to reduce healthcare costs, and the potential benefits of a biennial budget process. In response to an inquiry regarding the Obama administration’s request to move Pell Grant funding from discretionary to mandatory spending, Lew stressed the importance of the program and indicated he would accept the proposal as long as the costs are offset. At the conclusion of the generally positive hearing, Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) said he intends to act expeditiously, planning a committee vote early next week. More Details >
National Science Board Makes Recommendations for Developing Science and Engineering Talent
On September 15, 2010, the National Science Board (NSB) released a set of recommendations aimed at fostering the development of the next generation of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professionals, entrepreneurs, and inventors. Preparing the Next Generation of Stem Innovators: Identifying and Developing Our Nation’s Human Capital draws on findings from a two-year examination of the issue conducted by NSB in conjunction with the National Science Foundation Directorate for Education and Human Resources and the U.S. Department of Education. More Details >
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 Jennifer Zeitzer 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/