The Senate will begin debate on the bipartisan Endless Frontier Act, which advanced out of committee last week. The legislation would create a new Directorate for Technology and Innovation within the NSF, establish supply chain resiliency programs, and create new reporting on jobs, the economy, and security. The bill advanced out of committee despite the addition of a contentious amendment to shift $71 billion from the NSF to the Department of Energy for R&D purposes. Several amendments include China-related and other research security provisions.
Category: Congressional To Do
NSF Reauthorization Introduced in House
The House Science, Space, and Technology has introduced legislation to reauthorize the NSF. The legislation is sponsored by committee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) along with Subcommittee on Research and Technology Chairwoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) and Ranking Member Michael Waltz (R-FL). It was introduced as the National Science Foundation for the Future Act. The bipartisan legislation increases overall agency funding by $2 billion, addresses key challenges for data access and accountability, security concerns, and creates a new Directorate for Science and Engineering Solutions.
A summary is available here.
Nelson Nominated to Lead NASA
Former Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) has been nominated to lead NASA. The three-term Senator and former Representative flew on a shuttle mission in 1986 and served as a vocal champion of the agency while he was in Congress. He served as chairman of the Senate Commerce, Transportation, and Science Committee, which oversees NASA.
Read more about Nelson and his nomination here, here, and here.
Becerra Confirmed as HHS Secretary
House Votes on Significant Immigration Bills
This week the House is set to vote on, and likely pass, two significant pieces of legislation as part of the Administration’s immigration overhaul push.
The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 would provide a path to legal status for certain undocumented agricultural workers.
The American Dream and Promise Act would offer a path to citizenship for DACA recipients via green card who arrived in the US before their 18th birthday, before 01/01/21. This is provided the applicant meets specific education, employment, or service requirements. It would also offer a path to citizenship for individuals in the US from nations under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).
The American Dream and Promise Act is not to be confused with the bipartisan DREAM Act reintroduced in the Senate which would offer some expanded protections for DACA recipients.
While the bills are likely to pass in the House, and have support from President Biden, the Senate would need to overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold for the legislation to become law.