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| FYI: Science Policy News from AIP |
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| What’s Ahead |
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| A sample collected from the surface of Mars by the Perseverance rover is awaiting possible retrieval by a mission that is now in danger of being canceled. (NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS) |
Constrained Budget Proposals Put Mars Sample Return in Peril
The outlook for science agency budgets will come into clearer focus this week as congressional appropriators continue to advance their fiscal year 2024 spending bills. Last week, House and Senate appropriators each released bills that would cut NASA’s Science Mission Directorate by more than 5%, with the Senate proposing to slash funding for the Mars Sample Return mission from $822 million to $300 million and calling for NASA to cancel the mission if its total estimated cost cannot be brought under $5.3 billion, a limit virtually certain to be exceeded. Details of the House proposal will not be released until after it is considered by the full Appropriations Committee, potentially later this week, but meeting the $950 million requested for MSR would be impossible under the proposal’s topline for the Science Mission Directorate without imposing severe cuts across other activities.
Other science agencies are also facing tighter budgets. The National Science Foundation would receive a budget cut of 2% under the House proposal and 4% under the Senate proposal. The House also aims to cut the U.S. Geological Survey by 10%, though the Senate proposal for that agency is still pending. Senate appropriators are scheduled to consider their proposal for the Department of Energy on Thursday. House appropriators have already advanced a DOE proposal that includes level funding for the Office of Science, a 13% cut for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and an 8% increase for the National Nuclear Security Administration. Keep up to date on budget proposals across agencies with FYI’s Federal Science Budget Tracker.
Senate Takes Up NDAA as Research Restrictions Advance in House
The Senate will take up its draft of the National Defense Authorization Act on the floor this week, following close behind the House, which passed its version of the bill last week. During the House floor debate, several provisions seeking to constrict research ties with China were added to the bill on voice votes, including ones that would:
- Prohibit all federal agencies from directly or indirectly funding research conducted by any “agent or instrumentality” of the Chinese government or the Chinese Communist Party, or by “any entity owned by or controlled by the People’s Republic of China.”
- Generally prohibit the Department of Defense from funding any institution of higher education that collaborates in fundamental research with an “entity of concern” or several categories of research institutions associated with the Chinese military.
- Generally prohibit DOD from providing R&D funding to any “entity that maintains a contract” with an academic institution in China, Russia, or other countries to be specifically identified.
- Generally prohibit DOD from funding any cooperative biomedical research program with the Chinese government or “China-affiliated organizations.”
The vote on the House bill was split 219-210, mainly along party lines, with Democrats objecting to a series of Republican floor amendments restricting DOD support for diversity and inclusion initiatives and for service members seeking abortions and gender-affirming medical care. Any provision in either version of the bill could be dropped or altered when House and Senate negotiators eventually meet to finalize the legislation.
Package of Nuclear Technology Bills up for Discussion
The House Energy and Commerce Committee is holding a hearing on Tuesday to consider a slate of bills aimed at streamlining the nuclear licensing process and promoting the competitiveness of the U.S. nuclear energy industry. These include ones that would reduce application fees for advanced nuclear reactor licenses, allow DOE to award prizes to cover the costs of licensing “certain first-of-a-kind” reactors, and establish regulatory requirements for microreactors. The Nuclear Fuel Security Act, which has also been introduced in the Senate, would direct DOE to accelerate efforts to develop a domestic source of high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) for use in advanced reactors. However, the bill does not include a funding target, whereas the Senate version proposes that Congress immediately provide $3.5 billion to improve uranium availability, including $1 billion for HALEU.
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| In Case You Missed It |
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| Pyrocumulonimbus clouds formed by fires in Canada in May 2023, imaged by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s GOES-18 satellite. (NOAA) |
Science Committee Preparing Wildfire Legislation
The House Science Committee held a hearing last Wednesday to explore opportunities for improving the prediction of weather conditions that increase the risk of extreme wildfires and to inform prospective legislation addressing wildfire preparedness. Witnesses testified on regulatory limitations the commercial sector faces in developing remote sensing technologies, as well as on the importance of fire risk mitigation and communication. Earlier this year, committee member Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA) introduced the Fire Information and Reaction Enhancement (FIRE) Act, which would direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to build one or more fire-weather testbeds for improving wildfire detection and forecasting, with a target budget of $15 million. After last week’s hearing, Committee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) reintroduced the Wildland Fire Risk Reduction Program Act, which Democrats previously advanced in 2021 without Republican support. The legislation would establish an interagency program focused on wildfire prediction and mitigation with an initial cross-agency budget target of about $400 million.
Spectrum Management Bills Gaining Steam in House
The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced two spectrum management policy bills through subcommittee last week, including the first bill to reauthorize the National Telecommunications and Information Administration in three decades. The bill would elevate NTIA’s standing within the Department of Commerce, codify its Office of Spectrum Management and Spectrum Management Advisory Committee, and provide guidance for its role of communicating the interests of federal spectrum users to the Federal Communications Commission. The committee also advanced the Spectrum Relocation Enhancement Act, which would encourage federal agencies to terminate or share their existing spectrum allocations by allowing them to access a portion of the revenue from FCC auctions of bands relinquished for commercial use. It would also permit auction revenues to support R&D on spectrum reallocation. Earlier this year, the committee approved the Spectrum Coordination Act, which would require NTIA to publicly detail any concerns federal agencies have over pending spectrum auctions. The FCC’s legal authority to auction spectrum bands lapsed in March and auctions cannot resume until Congress passes legislation to renew it.
NSF Aims to Improve Rigor of Research Security Policy With New Program
The National Science Foundation released new details last week on its planned “Research on Research Security Program,” which seeks to bring greater rigor to policies aimed at preventing foreign actors from misappropriating U.S.-funded research. The program will fund academic research focused on identifying the scale of research security threats and assessing associated risk mitigation methods across areas such as cybersecurity, foreign travel security, and export control training. The program’s scope is informed by a recent JASON advisory panel report that NSF commissioned and will be further shaped by an upcoming workshop. NSF is holding a webinar on July 26 to elaborate on the program’s goals and preview the workshop. The agency first announced plans to create the program in its fiscal year 2024 budget request.
NSF Awards $162 Million for Materials Research Centers
The National Science Foundation announced awards for nine Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers last month, each funded at $18 million over six years. Seven of the universities in this latest cohort previously operated MRSECs and two are new hosts: The University of Michigan will operate a center focused on nanoscale structures for quantum computing and self-healing polymers, and the University of Tennessee will operate a center focused on applying artificial intelligence to research in quantum materials and developing materials suited for use in nuclear fusion reactors and hypersonic defense systems. NSF holds competitions for MRSECs on a staggered six-year cycle and, with the latest awards, is supporting a total of 20 centers.
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| Events This Week |
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All times are Eastern Daylight Time, unless otherwise noted. Listings do not imply endorsement.
Monday, July 17
Tuesday, July 18
Wednesday, July 19
Thursday, July 20
Friday, July 21
Monday, July 24
Know of an upcoming science policy event either inside or outside the Beltway? Email us at fyi@aip.org.
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| Opportunities |
DOD Hiring Director for Advanced Materials
The Department of Defense is hiring a director for advanced materials, who will oversee related research and engineering activities across the department. Applicants must have a degree in engineering or a physical sciences field, broad knowledge of advanced materials disciplines, and demonstrated knowledge of defense R&D, budget, and acquisition processes. Applications are due July 31.
Space Studies Board Hiring Interns
The National Academies is seeking interns for the Space Studies Board, who will be assigned a variety of clerical and research duties. Applicants must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.
OSTP Seeking Input on National Ocean Economy Strategy
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is seeking input to inform a National Strategy for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. The strategy is being developed by an interagency committee and will cover a variety of subject areas, such as ocean science and technology, climate change, and ocean energy and resources. Comments are due Aug. 28.
Know of an opportunity for scientists to engage in science policy? Email us at fyi@aip.org.
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