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Congress Debates the Future of NSF

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Kevin Outterson of CARB-X and the School of Law addressed a webinar on combating microbial resistance, featuring Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), on May 12th.

CONGRESS DEBATES THE FUTURE OF NSF

On Wednesday, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee passed the Endless Frontier Act (S. 1260), a bill that would create a new National Science Foundation (NSF) directorate for commercializing technologies and dramatically increase the portion of NSF funds reserved for institutions in states without significant research capacity. Senators advanced the bill, which would pair the NSF changes with new rules governing the security of research, as part of a package designed to improve American competition with China. On the other side of Capitol Hill, a subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee approved the NSF for the Future Act (H.R. 2225) on Thursday. The House bill would be the first comprehensive renewal of the agency in over a decade; it would create a scientific solutions directorate at NSF, increase support for trainees, and direct specific funding to Minority Serving Institutions. Both bills are expected to advance in their respective chambers this summer, and Congress will need to resolve their considerable differences before a final measure could be sent to the President.

BUZZ BITS...

• On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced the availability of funds for colleges and students impacted by COVID-19 via the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III). In a change from previous HEERF distributions, the Biden Administration has determined that undocumented and international students with significant financial need are eligible for the funds.
• Yesterday, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Catherine Lhamon to lead the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Right (OCR), which oversees colleges' compliance with federal anti-discrimination and anti-harassment rules. Ms. Lhamon previously led OCR between 2013 and 2016, and was known for her strict enforcement of the Obama Administration's rules on campus sexual misconduct.
• The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) at the National Institutes of Health has released its strategic plan for 2021-2025. The strategic plan outlines the research goals and priorities that NIGMS plans to pursue over the next five years, and includes cross-cutting themes of equity and inclusion, optimizing programs through data, and transparent communication with stakeholders.
• CORRECTION: Last week, Beltway BUzz erroneously stated that National Aeronautics and Space Administration Administrator Bill Nelson had flown to the moon, but he did not. He flew on the Space Shuttle while he was a U.S. Senator. We apologize for our error.

GRANTS NEWS YOU CAN USE

The Department of Defense released a new funding opportunity announcement for its signature university-led social science research program, the Minerva Research Initiative. The agency is interested in research touching upon the following nine topics:

• Social Implications of Environmental Change
• Resource Competition, Social Cohesion, and Strategic Climate Resilience
• Security Risks in Ungoverned, Semi-Governed, and Differently-Governed Spaces
• Analysis of Foreign Influence Operations in Cross-Cultural Perspective
• Community Studies on Online and Offline Influence
• Computational Social Science Research on Difficult-to-Access Environments
• Social and Cultural Implications of Artificial Intelligence
• Humans and Outer Space
• Management and Information in the Defense Environment

White papers are strongly encouraged and must be submitted no later than June 23rd.

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BUzz Bits

BU IN DC

Thea James of the School of Medicine testified at a Congressional hearing on ending hunger in America on April 28th.

Associate Provost for Computing & Data Sciences Azer Bestavros attended a virtual meeting of the National Science Foundation’s Computer & Information Science & Engineering Advisory Committee, of which he is a member, on May 5th and 6th.

BUZZ BITS...

• President Robert A. Brown urged Congress to support the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the Future Act (H.R. 2225) in a letter sent to Capitol Hill yesterday. The bill would be the first comprehensive reauthorization of the NSF in more than a decade, expanding support for graduate education and creating a new directorate focused on bringing scientific and engineering solutions to the public.
• The U.S. Department of Education announced on Monday that Richard Cordray would be the next chief operating officer of Federal Student Aid. Cordray led the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau during the Obama Administration, and is expected to enact strict oversight of both the student lending industry and for-profit colleges.
• Former Senator Bill Nelson was sworn in as administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Monday. Nelson represented the state of Florida in the U.S. Senate for 17 years and traveled to the moon during his tenure in Congress.

NIH RELEASES MINORITY HEALTH RESEARCH PLAN

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently released its Minority Health and Health Disparities Strategic Plan for 2021-2025, in conjunction with the NIH UNITE diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative. It will drive many of the new research opportunities NIH plans to release on health disparities, minority health, and health equity. The plan contains several future initiatives that the NIH describes as its “Leap Forward” priorities, including reducing new HIV infections in minority communities by 75 percent and increasing the number of underrepresented biomedical scientists by 25 percent by 2030.
 
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GRANTS NEWS YOU CAN USE

Are you struggling with the Broader Impacts statement in your National Science Foundation (NSF) grant applications? NSF recently shared advice for applicants who need help navigating this crucial section of the agency's merit review process. The post details the difference between "broadening participation" in science and "broader impacts," points to online resources for advancing research in society, explains the five criteria grant reviewers will measure your Broader Impacts statement against, and shares a recent Dear Colleague from the agency's social science directorate on how to use a structured framework as you develop your Broader Impacts statement.

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Biden Sends Higher Ed Priorities to Congress

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Nazli Kibria and Deborah Carr of the College of Arts & Sciences spoke with Congressional staff about the importance of social science research as part of the Consortium of Social Science Associations Advocacy Day on April 27th.

Gina Ortiz Jones (CAS’03, GRS’03) was nominated by President Joe Biden as undersecretary for the U.S. Air Force on April 27th.

BIDEN SENDS HIGHER ED PRIORITIES TO CONGRESS

On Wednesday evening, President Joe Biden addressed a joint session of Congress for the first time in his presidency. He touted the details of his American Families Plan, a $1.8 trillion proposal to increase access to medical care and education. The proposal includes:

• Making two years of community college free for all Americans, including Dreamer students who were brought to the United States without documentation as children.
• Increasing the maximum Pell Grant award for low-income students by $1,400 and expanding eligibility to Dreamers.
• Directing significant funds to Minority Serving Institutions, including for students pursuing health and teaching careers.
• Doubling the TEACH Grant financial aid award to students pursuing teaching degrees.

Biden also touted his previously-released American Jobs Plan, saying he proposed "the biggest increase in non-defense research and development on record." The spending proposals face an uphill climb in a closely-divided Congress.

Read the speech

SENATORS QUESTION OSTP NOMINEE LANDER

On Thursday, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing on the nomination of Dr. Eric Lander as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Presidential Science Adviser. Massachusetts Senators Elizabeth Warren (D) and Edward Markey (D) enthusiastically introduced Dr. Lander, the founder of the Broad Institute in Cambridge, and emphasized his commitment to broadening participation in science. Members of the Committee praised Lander's scientific accomplishments, while expressing concern about his previous interactions with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his perceived downplaying of the role of women scientists in developing gene-editing technology. They also asked about the Biden Administration's proposal for an Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health, building public trust in science, and pandemic preparedness. Lander is the final Biden Cabinet nominee awaiting confirmation by the Senate.

Watch the hearing

BUZZ BITS...

• Dr. Geraldine Richmond as undersecretary for science at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Dr. Richmond is a chemist at the University of Oregon, and will be in charge of all science and research programs at DOE.
• Roberto Rodriguez as assistant secretary of planning, evaluation and policy development at the U.S. Department of Education. Mr. Rodriguez held education policy positions in the Obama Administration and for the late Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA).
• Heidi Shyu as undersecretary for research and engineering at the U.S. Department of Defense. Ms. Shyu, who has had an extensive career in the defense public and private sectors, will oversee extramural research funding at the Department if confirmed.
• Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon as assistant secretary for mental health and substance use at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, overseeing the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Dr. Delphin-Rittmon is currently the commissioner of the Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
• Dr. Robert Hampshire as the chief science officer at the Department of Transportation. Dr. Hampshire is currently acting as the agency's assistant Secretary for research and technology, and was previously an associate professor of public policy at the University of Michigan.

Biden Unveils Research Priorities

BU IN DC

The School of Public Health and the Center for Antiracist Research cohosted "Antiracism as Health Policy: Race, COVID-19, and Policy Reform," a webinar series featuring Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), from April 5th through 7th.

Senior Vice President Steve Burgay, Amy Hook, and Rachal Lapal of  External Affairs attended the Association of American Universities Public Affairs Network meeting on March 30th and 31st. Carol Duan of BU Public Relations spoke to the meeting attendees about communicating with Chinese students.

Kevin Gallagher of the Global Development Policy Center discussed Chinese loans to African nations during a panel hosted by John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies on March 30th.

James Bessen of the School of Law spoke about the future of work as part of a virtual discussion hosted by the GRAIL Network, the Center for Democracy & Technology, and the R Street Institute on March 18th.

BIDEN UNVEILS RESEARCH PRIORITIES

President Joseph Biden recently unveiled both a stimulus package and a budget proposal that envision significant roles for federally-funded research. The President's American Jobs Plan, a $2.25 trillion infrastructure proposal to jumpstart his "Build Back Better" agenda, proposes $50 billion for the National Science Foundation to establish a new technology directorate and $40 billion for lab infrastructure and significant investments in research capacity at Minority Serving Institutions. Congressional Democrats intend to vote on the plan this summer, but it may face challenges in the closely divided U.S. Senate.

Biden's "skinny" budget proposal, a high-level overview of the President's fiscal year 2022 funding recommendations, requests:

• Pell Grants: $3 billion for Pell Grant awards for low-income students, which would increase the maximum grant award by $400 and expand eligibility to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.
• National Institutes of Health: $51 billion, including $6.5 billion to create a new ARPA-H, designed to accelerate medical research from discovery to implementation.
• National Science Foundation (NSF): $10.2 billion, a $1.7 billion increase over its current level.
• Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science: $7.4 billion, a $400 million increase over its current level.
• Climate research: $4 billion in climate research and development across NSF, NASA, DOE, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Using the preliminary budget request as a guide, Congress will now begin crafting the annual spending bills that determine agency budgets.

MOMENTUM BUILDS FOR A BIGGER NSF

Both chambers of Congress have begun consideration of legislation which would increase the budget of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and create a new NSF directorate focused on addressing grand challenges and commercializing research. On Wednesday, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee held a hearing on the Endless Frontier Act, a forthcoming bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Todd Young (R-IN) that would provide $100 billion to NSF over five years and expedite commercialization of critical technologies such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and synthetic biology. Majority Leader Schumer plans to schedule a Senate vote on the Endless Frontier Act by the end of April. Separately, the leaders of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee introduced the bipartisan NSF for the Future Act (H.R. 2225), which would authorize a $73 billion increase to NSF’s budget over five years. It would also create new mentoring requirements for those working with NSF-funded trainees and provide greater support for Minority Serving Institutions.

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT REVIEWING TITLE IX RULES

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) announced on April 6th that it will review the agency's Title IX regulations on campus sexual misconduct, as directed by President Biden in a March executive order on gender equity. The announcement is the first step in rolling back changes made during the Trump Administration that narrowed the federal definition of sexual misconduct and required campuses to hold live hearings as part of the adjudication process. Advocates for sexual assault survivors opposed the Trump-era changes, which they believe have a chilling effect on the reporting of campus assault allegations. OCR plans to solicit public input on the regulations in the coming months, with the expectation that a formal rule-making process will follow. 

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