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Congress Takes Steps to Manage Helium Supplies
United States Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and John Barrasso (R-WY) introduced legislation – S.2374, the Helium Stewardship Act of 2012 – which lays out a resource management strategy for the Federal Helium Reserve.
The Federal Helium Reserve has maintained a vast supply of the nonrenewable gas since the 1960s and provides about one third of the world’s helium supply. However, in 1996, Congress passed a law requiring that the helium reserve must be sold off by 2014 in order pay a $1.3 billion debt to the U.S. Treasury. The result has been that helium is being sold at about half of its market value. At current rates not all of the helium will be sold by the target date and under existing law the Reserve could run out of operating money by 2013, leaving a large supply of helium still in the ground but no one with authority to access it.
Helium is used in a variety of scientific applications, ranging from medical devices, to welding, to optical fibers. S.2374 seeks to sell off the helium in the Reserve more judiciously, including selling the gas at market rates, in order to prevent shortages and encourage the private sector to develop additional helium sources and promote recycling.
OSA/SPIE’s Arthur S. Guenther Congressional Fellow, Marcius Extravour, was actively involved in the development of this bill during his tenure with the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The legislation is currently being reviewed by that committee, who will decide when and if it should be presented to the full Senate for consideration.
Two Attempts to Cut Science Funding Defeated in House
This week the U.S. House of Representatives is considering the FY 2013 funding bill for the Commerce, Justice, Science and related agencies. While funding levels in the bill (H.R. 5326) for science research and development were mostly increased over last year, two proposed amendments to the bill sought to cut funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Neither amendment passed.
The first amendment, introduced by Representative Ben Quayle (R – AZ), proposed to eliminate funding for NIST’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia (AMTech) program. AMTech is public-private partnership aimed at improving manufacturing R&D investments and reducing the time required to bring innovations to market. It was proposed in President Obama’s FY 2012 budget request but has not yet been initiated. Quayle’s amendment was defeated by a vote of 259 to 147.
The second amendment, introduced by Representative Jeff Flake (R-AZ), proposed to reduce NSF’s budget to FY 2008 levels – $1.2 billion below the amount proposed in H.R. 5326. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 291 to 121.
H.R. 5326 is expected to pass the House this week, but is not expected to pass the Senate. The Senate’s CJS funding bill is still at the committee level; once it passes the full Senate it is most likely that a conference committee will be formed by members of both chambers to produce a compromise bill.
Budget Update: FY 2013 Commerce, Justice & Science Funding Debate Begins in House of Representatives
H.R. 5326, the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013, is being considered by the full U.S. House of Representatives this week. In general, science research and development (R&D) funding under this plan would be increased over FY 2012 levels. A full summary of the bill is available on the Appropriations Committee website, and here are some science related highlights:
- The National Science Foundation (NSF) would receive $7.3 billion, a $299 million increase over FY 2012
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) would receive $830 million, a $79 million increase over FY 2012
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would receive $5 billion, a $68 million increase over FY 2012.
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) would receive $17.6 billion, $226 million below FY 2012.
- However, NASA’s Science Programs budget would receive $5.1 billion, an increase of $5 million over FY 2012.
The total funding levels in H.R. 5326 are based on the House Republican’s Budget Resolution, passed earlier this year, which sets a $1.028 trillion discretionary spending cap – lower than the $1.047 trillion cap agreed to in last year’s Budget Control Act. As such, the bill is facing opposition from Democrats and a veto threat from President Obama, who are concerned primarily about cuts to several non-science programs and with the total funding levels proposed. The bill is expected to pass the House, but is not likely to pass the Senate.
The Senate version of the CJS appropriations bill – which follows the Budget Control Act funding levels – was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee in late April but has not yet been brought to the full Senate for consideration. Overall science R&D funding levels in the Senate bill are relatively close to those in the House bill. A summary is available here.
As Congress continues to move forward with the FY 2013 appropriations process, be sure to contact your legislators and let them know you support sustained federal investments in R&D.
Job Announcement - NSF Assistant Director for Engineering
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is currently seeking an Assistant Director for Engineering (AD/ENG). Joseph J. Helble, Dean and Professor of Engineering at Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, will be leading the Search Advisory Committee.
The NSF is requesting recommendation for candidates. Such recommendations may come from any sector, including academic, industry, or government. Review criteria will include strategic vision; leadership, direction, representation; commitment; and credibility within research and education community.
There are five divisions managed by the AD/GEO, including: Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems; Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation; Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems; Engineering Education and Centers; Industrial Innovation and Partnerships. The AD/ENG will work with NSF's senior management and policy team, as well as the Engineering Directorate programs and initiatives. Employment may be on a temporary or permanent basis in the Federal Service or by temporary assignment under provisions of the Intergovernmental Personnel Act.
Please send your recommendations, including any supporting information which you might be able to provide, to AD/ENG Screening Committee by June 1, 2012 via email geosrch@listserv.nsf.gov or at the following address: National Science Foundation, Office of the Director, Suite 1205, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230.
President Obama’s FY 2013 Budget Proposal Supports Science and Innovation
This week President Obama unveiled his FY 2013 Budget request, which has a strong focus on research and development (R&D), education and innovation. The proposed budget includes increased funding for R&D programs, training programs for high-tech manufacturing jobs, and investments aimed at improving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. However, funding levels for some Department of Defense science and technology programs would be decreased under this plan.
The budget requests $140.8 billion total for R&D funding, and $70 billion overall for the Department of Education. Some science related highlights included in those amounts are:
- $7.4 billion for the National Science Foundation - $340 million more than FY 2012
- $4.992 billion for the Department of Energy Office of Science - $118 million more than FY 2012
- $708 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology - $86 million more than FY 2012
- $2.2 billion for advanced manufacturing R&D programs across multiple agencies, including NSF, NIST, and DOE.
- $260 million total for STEM Ed programs, including initiatives to recruit and train 100,000 new STEM teachers over the next 10 years.
- $2.12 billion for DOD Basic Research (6.1) programs - $2 million more than FY 2012.
- $4.49 billion for DOD Applied Research (6.2) programs - $260 million less than FY 2012
- $5.37 billion for DOD Advanced Technology Development (6.3) programs - $45 million less than FY 2012
- $2.817 billion for DAPRA – a marginal increase of FY 2012 ($2.816 billion)
Later this year, Congress will take the President’s budget request into consideration while drafting the FY 2013 appropriations bills, which have a completion deadline of September 30. The complete text of the President’s budget proposal is available here, and information on the congressional appropriations process is available here.
Posted: February 15, 2012
White House Hosts Science Fair
On February 7, President Obama hosted the second annual White House Science Fair. Over 100 student winners of science fairs across the country were invited to participate and exhibit their projects for the President. More than twice as many teams than last year participated in the fair, hailing from 45 states. Videos of the President touring the projects and speaking to the attendees are available on the White House website, as is a list of participants.
During his remarks at the event, President Obama outlined his plans to increase and improve science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in the US. Part of those plans is a $22 million private sector initiative to train 100,000 new science and math teachers. The initiative, led by the Carnegie Corporation, the initiative is a coalition of more than 100 CEOs that are aiming to improve math and science programs at 130 sites across the country. You can read more about the program on Carnegie Corporation’s website.
The President also indicated that his FY 2013 budget proposal – which will be given to Congress next week – includes programs to help train science and math teachers and meet a goal of increasing US STEM graduates by one million over the next 10 years. More details will be available after the budget is released.
Posted: February 9, 2012
2012 Defense Strategic Plan Includes Support for R&D
Recently, President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey released the 2012 strategic guidance plan for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). The strategy is designed to contend with the significant budget cuts and refocus national security priorities after the close of the Iraq war and the start of the draw down in Afghanistan. In the plan, the authors reiterate the need to continue to invest in research and development and innovation programs, saying “the Department will make every effort to maintain an adequate industrial base and our investment in science and technology.” You can read the full text of the strategic guidance document here.
Posted: January 20, 2012
OSA Member Named Chair of President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science
Recently, President Obama announced several nominations to Administration positions. Among them was OSA Fellow Member Dr. Margaret Murnane, who has been tapped to serve as the Chair of the President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science. She first began serving on the committee in 2010.
Murnane, an OSA Member since 1987, is a Distinguished Professor in the Physics Department at the University of Colorado. In addition to being named an OSA Fellow in 1998, she is also a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), JILA and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). She was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Science and the National Academy of Sciences, and has won numerous awards in recognition of her work including the 2011 Royal Dublin Society Irish Times Boyle Medal for Science Excellence, OSA’s 2010 R.W. Wood Prize, APS’ 2010 Schawlow Prize and the 2009 Ahmed Zewail Award of the American Chemical Society.
The National Medal of Science was established in 1959 and is given annually to individuals in recognition of their contributions to the sciences. The Committee, comprised of 12 scientists and engineers, is appointed by the President to evaluate nominees for the Award. Since its inception the Medal has been awarded to 468 recipients, including laser pioneers Arthur Schawlow and Charles Townes.
Posted: January 10, 2012
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