OSTP Virtual Public Listening Sessions on Open Science

Posted on May 31, 2023

This week and next week, the White House Office of Science & Technology (OSTP) is hosting a series of live sessions aimed at listening to the perspectives of early career researchers on open science. OSTP is seeking input from undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows as well as those involved in training and capacity building, including librarians, educators, and administrators. Participants will have the opportunity to speak during the session and should indicate their interest in doing so in the registration form.

Please visit the links below to register for any of the four upcoming virtual listening sessions. The listening sessions are as follows:

Open Science Possibilities for Lowering Barriers to Entry: Perspectives from Early Career Researchers on Engaging in Open Science on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 1:00 – 3:00 pm EDT
- Who: The public, including undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers

Open Science Possibilities for Equitable Participation and Access: Perspectives from Early Career Researchers at Emerging Research Institutions on Monday, June 5, 2023 at 1:00 – 3:00 pm EDT
- Who: The public, including undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers from emerging research institutions, including Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Community Colleges, and Primarily Undergraduate Institutions

Open Science Possibilities for Career Advancement: Perspectives from Early Career Researchers on Opportunities and Challenges in Career Progression and Trajectory on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 3:00 – 5:00 pm EDT
- Who: The public, including undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers

Open Science Possibilities for Training and Capacity Building: Perspectives from the Early Career Researcher-Supporting Community on Monday, June 12, 2023 at 1:00 – 3:00 pm EDT
- Who: The public, including trainers, librarians, college and university administrators, or any other staff supporting the early career researcher community in capacity building for open science

For more information on the sessions, click here.

House Appropriations Committee Begins FY24 Spending Bill Markups

Posted on May 23, 2023

Last week, the House Appropriations Committee began the markup process for their FY24 spending bills. The subcommittees met last week and held markups on four bills — Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; Legislative Branch; Homeland Security; and Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. The full House Appropriations Committee is expected to hold markups for these four bills on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

On the Senate side, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee Patty Murray and Vice Chair Susan Collins stated that they plan to begin their markups of their spending bills in June.

Registration Open for UW Federal Relations Spring Town Hall — 6/1

Posted on May 15, 2023May 15, 2023

The Office of Federal Relations is hosting a Virtual Town Hall on June 1st at 11am-12pm PST. The Town Hall will address ongoing federal legislation, appropriations, UW priorities, and other federal updates followed by Q&A. The Town Hall is open to all members of the UW community. To join, please register here.

President Biden Announces Intent to Nominate Dr. Bertagnolli as NIH Director

Posted on May 15, 2023May 15, 2023

President Biden announced today his intent to nominate Dr. Monica Bertagnolli as Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Dr. Bertagnolli is currently the Director of the National Cancer Institute and was previously the Richard E. Wilson Professor of Surgery in the field of surgical oncology at Harvard Medical School, a surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and a member of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment and Sarcoma Centers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Read more about Dr. Bertagnolli and President Biden’s statement here.

President Biden & Speaker McCarthy Set to Meet Tuesday to Discuss the Debt Ceiling

Posted on May 8, 2023May 15, 2023

President Biden, Speaker McCarthy, and other congressional leaders are set to meet on Tuesday to discuss raising the debt ceiling amidst the ongoing political standoff and renewed urgency given the Treasury Department’s warning that the government could default on its debt as soon as June 1. House Republicans passed their debt ceiling bill last week that would increase the debt ceiling while cutting federal spending by more than $3.5 trillion over the coming decade. The plan would cut discretionary spending by an average of 18% over the next decade with little detail on which programs would be cut or spared. The New York Times estimates that if defense, veterans’ health, and border security are spared (which has been discussed), the remaining programs would have to be cut by half. The bill also includes provisions that repeal some of the Biden administration’ priorities including the plan to cancel student loan debt.

House Democrats meanwhile are calling for an increase in the debt ceiling without conditions (which was done multiple times during the Trump presidency) but the House Republicans claim they will not budge. Tuesday will be the first time in seven months that President Biden and Speaker McCarthy will meet to discuss this issue which will a critical to see if any progress can be made.