FASEB Washington Update - May 14, 2010

FASEB President-Elect Testifies on Behalf of Increased NSF Funding
William Talman, M.D., President-Elect of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) was one of a select group of individuals invited to testify during the House Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee public witness hearing on the fiscal year (FY) 2011 budget. Dr. Talman spoke in support of increased funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) noting that it “is the only federal agency supporting research and education in all disciplines of science, engineering, and mathematics.” More Details >

Inside (The Beltway) Scoop - Jennifer Zeitzer
The mystery of when Congress would begin working on the fiscal year (FY) 2011 Budget Resolution, the measure that determines overall federal spending levels, was solved this week when the Senate Budget Committee debated a draft plan authored by Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND). Senator Conrad’s plan is $4 billion below the $1.1 trillion request President Obama sent to Congress in February and freezes non-security discretionary spending through 2013. The cuts proposed by Chairman Conrad are targeted to the State Department, international relations, and foreign aid. However, the Appropriations Committees could decide to cut the $4 billion from other programs. More Details >

FASEB Releases Compilation of Resources Aimed at Enhancing Diversity of Scientific Workforce
FASEB has launched a web-based portal that brings together information on a wide range of programs aimed at increasing the diversity of the biomedical workforce. The FASEB and FASEB Society Resources for Underrepresented Minority Students and Scientists webpage highlights over 50 unique initiatives offered by FASEB and its member societies. In addition, it includes information on research and scholarship opportunities, travel awards, and educational materials available to trainees and scientists at all levels. More Details >

FASEB Urges Congress to Increase NIH Funding to $37 Billion
As the Appropriations Committees prepare to begin work on the fiscal year (FY) 2011 funding bills, FASEB is continuing its efforts on behalf of increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In addition to meeting with staff from the House and Senate Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee last month, FASEB also submitted testimony to be included in the official record. More Details >

Secretary Sebelius Outlines HHS FY 2011 Budget
On April 21st, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), testified about the FY 2011 budget before the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services Subcommittee. Chairman David Obey (D-WI) gave an opening statement that highlighted several of the Committee’s priorities which had received funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, including basic and applied research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and applauded the further increase for the agency in the President’s 2011 budget request. More Details >

House Science Committee Continues Effort to Reauthorize America COMPETES Act
On April 14th the Research and Science Education Subcommittee of the House Science and Technology Committee approved the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2010 (draft, no bill number), the second part of the panel’s efforts to renew the 2007 America COMPETES Act. The draft bill authorizes $47.5 billion for NSF over five years (fiscal years 2011 through 2015) and was written by subcommittee Chairman Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) and Representatives Harry Mitchell (D-AZ), Baron Hill (D-IN), Suzanne Kosmas (D-FL), and Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ). More Details >

Biosecurity Legislation Introduced in the House, Homeland Security Committee Holds Hearing

The House Homeland Security Committee held a hearing this week on the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Commission’s report on biosecurity, in anticipation of a bipartisan piece of legislation being written by Representatives Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Peter King (R-NY). The bill, which will deal with WMD generally and biological threats in particular, is expected to be introduced in the next couple of weeks, according to Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS). It is intended to be a companion bill to S 1649, the Weapons of Mass Destruction Prevention and Preparedness Act, which was introduced by Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME). 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 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/