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APS Science Policy Update
May 5, 2006
In this issue:
- Nature article on NIH leadership
- Budget update
- Scientific publishing and misconduct in the New York Times
- Senators Cornyn and Lieberman introduce public access bill
Nature article on NIH leadership Continuing the onslaught of editorial and news pieces about NIH leadership, Nature published the following piece in this week's issue. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7089/pdf/441017a.pdf
Budget Update The following update is from the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research. In response to the request for action towards the end of the message, FASEB plans to send out a targeted alert early next week to FASEB members that have moderate Republicans representing them in the House.
From the Ad Hoc Group:
On Wednesday, House Republican leaders, including Majority Leader John Boehner (Ohio), Majority Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.), and Appropriations Chair Jerry Lewis (Calif.), met with Rep. Mike Castle (Del.) and other moderate Republicans who have said they will not vote for any budget resolution that does not include an increase in spending for health, education and training comparable to the $7 billion added to the Senate Budget Resolution in March by Senators Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). This opposition was one of the factors that led the leadership to pull the budget resolution from the House floor in April.
In an effort to break this impasse, the GOP leadership has proposed to shift approximately $6 billion from defense and foreign aid to domestic discretionary programs. A little less than $4 billion of this total would go to the Labor-HHS-Education bill, which would mean essentially a freeze at the FY 2006 level. Rep. Castle commended the leaderships' offer yesterday but reiterated he will continue to seek $7.158 billion, which would restore programs to the FY 2006 level plus 2 percent for inflation.
It is uncertain at the present time how many moderates will now vote for the budget resolution and how many will continue to support Rep. Castle's efforts. The Republican leadership wants to bring the budget resolution to the House floor next week. If the resolution is adopted before May 15, the subcommittee allocations for House appropriators would be made according to the House budget resolution rather than the President's budget numbers, which would be better for NIH.
Rep. Castle's staff is asking the health and education communities to keep calling the House Moderates and urge them not to yield to a $4 billion deal, but to continue to hold out for the full $7.158 billion that Rep. Castle and other Moderates are pushing for.
Scientific misconduct highlighted in the New York Times The New York Times
published the following article this week about scientific misconduct and
publishers' responsibilities.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/02/health/02docs.html?_r=1&oref=login
Senators Cornyn and Lieberman introduce a bill for public access to journal articles The following
article in the Washington Post reports on a bill introduced by Senators
Cornyn and Lieberman that would require federal agencies that distribute
more than $100 million in extramural funds to make research results
available to the public.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/
05/02/AR2006050201506.html