NIH Nominee; Research Security; Science Communication
BU IN DC
The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee advanced the nomination of Stephen Miran (CAS ’05) to be Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors on March 6th.
TRANSITION UPDATES: NOMINEES AND ANTISEMITISM TASK FORCE
- The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing on Wednesday to consider the nomination of Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Bhattacharya said he wants NIH to fund bolder research that makes “big advances” and to “vigorously regulate risky research that has the possibility of causing a pandemic.” He did not state his position on the Administration’s proposal to cut NIH funding for facilities and administrative costs, but said the public distrusts where the money goes because “trust in the public health establishment has collapsed in the pandemic.” The Committee has scheduled a vote on his nomination next week.
- The Trump Administration’s Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism announced it will visit ten college campuses that experienced “antisemitic incidents.” The task force also announced its plans to review Columbia University’s federal grants and contracts “to ensure the university is in compliance with federal regulations, including its civil rights responsibilities.”
- The U.S. Senate confirmed Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education by a vote of 51-45 on Monday. Upon assuming office, McMahon stated, “Postsecondary education should be a path to a well-paying career aligned with workforce needs.”
CONGRESS FOCUSES ON RESEARCH SECURITY, CAMPUS CIVIL RIGHTS, AND CITY OF BOSTON
Congressional committees held several hearings of interest to research universities this week and the Senate considered legislation related to college sports.
- The House Science Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee held a hearing on “Assessing the Threat to U.S. Funded Research” on Wednesday. Chairman Rich McCormick (R-GA) shared his concerns that the “nation’s premier research institutions have been all-you-can-eat buffets which our adversaries are using to consume untold numbers of innovative ideas.” Dr. Maria Zuber of MIT testified about how universities approach research security and the value of international scientific collaboration.
- On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing entitled “Never To Be Silent: Stemming the Tide of Antisemitism in America.” Several Republican senators advocated for rescinding federal funding from colleges that are found to have allowed civil rights violations. Meanwhile some Democratic senators and witnesses, including a Tufts University student, lamented the lack of sufficient funding for the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights to conduct investigations into antisemitism.
- Boston Mayor Michelle Wu testified at “A Hearing with Sanctuary City Mayors” held by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday. Wu touted immigrants’ contributions to the City of Boston; in her opening remarks she stated, “Of all the faculty at Boston University to have earned the Nobel Prize, all but one were immigrants.”
- On Monday, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (S. 9), which sought to ban transgender athletes from competing on women’s and girls’ sports teams, did not pass a procedural vote in the U.S. Senate. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a similar measure in January.
EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
The College of Arts & Sciences is hosting a workshop featuring expert Sunshine Menezes on “Science Communication for Purpose and Impact: How to Move Forward” on Monday, March 24th at 4:30 pm in CAS 313. The event aims to catalyze discussions and inspire new ideas on how the BU research community can share knowledge and impact in today’s dynamic world. Space is limited for this in-person event and registration is required.