FASEB Washington Update - March 26, 2010

FASEB Urges Appropriators to Increase Funding for Energy and Agriculture Research
As part of its fiscal year (FY) 2011 research funding advocacy efforts, FASEB submitted testimony to the House Energy and Water and Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees urging Congress to increase the budgets for the Department of Energy (DoE) Office of Science and the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). More Details >

Inside (The Beltway) Scoop - Jennifer Zeitzer
The long debate over health care reform ended this week as the House passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law No. 111 -148) by a vote of 219 - 212 on the evening of March 21st. House approval of the bill, which was approved by the Senate on December 24th, 2009, sent the measure to President Obama who signed it on March 23rd. Both chambers also passed companion legislation (known as the “reconciliation bill”) that contains technical changes to the health reform measure. More Details >

NIGMS Director Emphasizes Importance of Investing in Discovery
On March 5th, FASEB co-sponsored a Capitol Hill briefing featuring Jeremy Berg, Ph.D., Director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). This event was the latest installment in a series of congressional briefings organized by the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research, in conjunction with the Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus, on how the nation’s investment in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is fostering scientific discoveries to enhance the health and well-being of the American people. More Details >

FASEB Advocates for Higher Stipends for Postdoctoral Researchers
In a recent letter to NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins, FASEB urged the agency to incorporate into its budget requests an increase in stipends for postdoctoral researchers supported by Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSAs). The NRSA is a $782 million program that supports over 16,000 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in the biomedical and behavioral sciences on individual fellowships and institutional training grants. In 2001, responding to a National Academy of Sciences report stating that NRSA stipend levels are “unduly low,” NIH recommended a $45,000 stipend for postdocs and noted that it would incorporate 10 to 12 percent annual increases in its budget requests until that level is reached. More Details >

Secretary Chu Testifies in Support of FY 2011 Budget Request

Last week, Energy Secretary Steven Chu testified before the House Science and Technology Committee and the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee about the Department of Energy’s (DoE) budget request for fiscal year 2011. The written testimony was the same at the two hearings and emphasized clean energy alternatives. Mention was also made of workforce education and the DoE’s approaches to innovation. During the question period at the House hearing, Representative David Wu (D-OR) asked for more information about the DoE’s "innovation hubs." More Details >

Funding for NSF Highlighted at House Science Committee Hearing

On March 10th, the House Science and Technology Committee’s Research and Science Education Subcommittee heard testimony from Dr. Arden Bement (Director, National Science Foundation) and Dr. Steven Beering (Chair, National Science Board) on the NSF fiscal year 2011 budget request. Also discussed was the status of the NSF programs authorized (and due to be reauthorized) under the American COMPETES Act. In his opening statement, Chairman Dan Lipinski (D-IL) stated he was pleased with the President’s budget overall, but concerned that the request for NSF’s Education Directorate “barely keeps pace with inflation.” Chairman Lipinski also mentioned a topic that continues to be of particular interest to him, the maintenance and modernization of academic research infrastructure. More Details >

Senate Science Committee Focuses on Advancing American Innovation
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee recently heard testimony on the topic of “Advancing American Innovation and Competitiveness.” Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX) both presented opening statements that focused on maintaining American’s position as a world leader in science and technology through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. The panel of witnesses included, Dr. John Holdren (Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy, OSTP), Dr. Arden Bement (Director, National Science Foundation), Dr. Patrick Gallagher (Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology), and Dr. Robert Braun (Chief Technologist, National Aeronautics and Space Administration). The witnesses were asked to submit their testimony in writing, due to time constraints. 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/