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APS Science Policy Update
March 6, 2009
In this issue:
- Congress works to wrap up FY 2009 funding, White House looks ahead to FY 2010
- Stimulus spending at NIH, NSF
- Stem Cell legislation introduced
- NIH updates inflation indices
- Conflict of Interest in the news at Harvard Medical School
- Senators place holds on science nominees
Congress works to wrap up FY 2009 funding, White House looks ahead to FY 2010
With the current continuing resolution (CR) expiring today, the Senate failed yesterday to pass an omnibus measure that would complete FY 2009 spending bills. A short term CR is expected to be passed today so that Congress can continue to work on the omnibus next week. The omnibus as currently drafted contains $30.3 billion for NIH, $6.49 billion for NSF and $17.8 billion for NASA. FY 2009 funding for Medical and Prosthetic research at the VA was passed last year at a level of $510 million.
In the meantime, the Obama Administration has issued a broad overview of the FY 2010 budget. A more detailed budget is not expected until sometime in April. http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/assets/fy2010_new_era/A_New_Era_of_Responsibility2.pdf
Stimulus spending at NIH, NSF
Agencies that received stimulus funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 are hard at work determining how to spend those funds quickly and effectively. See below for where to find information on stimulus spending at NIH, NSF, NASA and the VA.
- National Institutes of Health
- http://www.nih.gov/recovery/ and http://grants.nih.gov/recovery
- National Science Foundation
- http://nsf.gov/recovery/
- Veterans Affairs
- http://www.va.gov/recovery/
- NASA
- http://www.nasa.gov/recovery/
Stem Cell legislation introduced in the House
Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) has introduced new legislation entitled the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2009 (H.R. 873). The bill is similar to those passed in earlier Congresses and would allow the use of federal funds for research on embryonic stem cell lines derived from excess embryos created for fertility treatments.
NIH updates inflation indices
Each year NIH updates the Biomedical Research and Development Price Index (BRDPI) to reflect current economic conditions. The BRDPI for FY 2009 is estimated at 3.9%. http://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/UI/2009/BRDPI_Proj_Feb_2009_final.pdf
Conflict of Interest in the news at Harvard Medical School
Conflict of interest in research and medicine continues to be a topic of discussion around the country. The New York Times published an article earlier this week about Harvard Medical School’s links with industry. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/business/03medschool.html?_r=1
Senators place holds on science nominees
Earlier this week the Washington Post learned that the nominations of John Holdren for head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Jane Lubchenco for head of NOAA were stalled because of holds placed on their confirmation votes in the Senate. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/02/AR2009030202425.html
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