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News and updates

This Week on Capitol Hill, May 24-28

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FLOOR ACTION

The Senate continues consideration of the fiscal 2010 supplemental appropriations bill (HR 4899).

 On Tuesday, the House is expected to consider several measures under suspension of the rules. Later in the week, the House could also consider a motion to concur in the Senate amendment with a House amendment to a bill (HR 4213) that would extend certain tax cuts.

 On Thursday, the House could consider a bill (HR 5116) that would reauthorize education and research programs in science and technology.

 HEARINGS AND MARKUPS

Tuesday

  • the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions will hold a full committee hearing on the ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT REAUTHORIZATION.  2 p.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg. 
  • House Appropriations Committee will hold a full committee markup on FISCAL 2010 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS, 5:00 p.m., 2359 Rayburn Bldg.

NIH Changes to Conflict of Interest Policy

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) published in the Federal Register on Friday, May 21, 2010 a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) outlining new Responsibility of Applicants for Promoting Objectivity in Research for which Public Health Service Funding is Sought and Responsible Prospective Contractors – NIH’s Financial Conflict of Interest policy (75FR 28688).   The text of Federal Register notice  is also available on the NIH conflicts of interest website.  Comments are due July 21, 2010.  This long anticipated proposed rule is a result of NIH’s consideration of the comments it received on the Advanced NPRM in May 2009.  The description of the proposed revisions (Section II of the Supplemental Information in the Register notice) addresses the responses NIH received to the Advanced NPRM. 

There are substantive and significant changes being proposed by NIH.  Some of those changes have been anticipated by the research community; others have not.  Some of the changes will require changes in how many research organizations have designed and implemented the current NIH requirements; others will not.  It is important to remember that the proposed policy is NIH’s requirement and sets a minimum set of standards.  Organizations can implement policies the meet and exceed these requirements.  The reference to “minimum standards” is not to suggest that the current NIH policy is insufficient in achieving the goal of objectivity.  Rather, it is to remind organizations of how NIH views the reporting requirements – for purposes of reporting to NIH and – under the proposed rule – posting to public websites, organizations must report on financial conflicts of interest (FCOI) according to the organization’s standards, if they are different.   For example, the proposed rule lowers the threshold for a “significant financial interest” from $10,000 or equity interests of 5% to $5,000 total value in remuneration and/or equity in a publically traded company.  If the organization sets a $0 value, the organization must report and post interests from $0.   Continue reading “NIH Changes to Conflict of Interest Policy”

NOAA Funds Likely in Supplemental Spending Bill

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NOAA has been responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident and providing coordinated scientific weather and biological response services. We are also waiting for action on the FY10 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill (H.R. 4899), which the Senate is set to consider starting Monday.
 
On May 12, the Administration requested $20 M from Congress for supplemental funds for NOAA, which includes:

  • $15 M for fisheries related impacts
  • $5 M for “activities that support the response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, but that may not qualify as recoverable from the responsible parties under the Oil Pollution Act or the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.” 

Also last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported out a spending measure with an oil-spill amendment that contains support for NOAA:

  • $13 M for fisheries
  • $7.0 M for scientific investigations and sampling, with universities, colleges and other research partners eligible for grants to support this work.

Courtesy of NOAA OAR

Reauthorization of the COMPETES Act Stumbles (Again)

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The House of Representatives has run into difficulty in pasing the reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act. After failing to advance to a final vote last week, because of passage of a motion to send the legislation back to committee for additional consideration, on Wednesday May 19th the House failed to pass a revamped version under the expedited procedure of suspension of the rules.  The vote was 261 to 148, which was 12 votes short of the two-thirds vote needed for approval.  Fifteen Republicans voted in favor of the bill, including Congressman Dave Reichert (R-WA-8th District); no Democrats opposed it.

Following the vote, House Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) stated that he will continue to move the bill towards passage. He commented that “this bill is too important to let fall by the wayside.”  Continue reading “Reauthorization of the COMPETES Act Stumbles (Again)”

This Week on Capitol Hill, May 17-21

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FLOOR ACTION

The House will reconvene on Tuesday to bote on a number of minor bills and resolutions.  They are also expected to consider HR 4213, the American Workers, State and Business Relief Act of 2010, a bill to extend expired tax provisions and a bill that would reauthorize science and technology programs that was pulled from the floor on May 13.

The Senate will convene on Monday continue to vote on amendments to a bill to overhaul financial regulations (S 3217).  Hopes are to finish the bill by mid-week.  They may also consider HR 4213 if it is passed by the House.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon will address a joint meeting of Congress at 11:00 am this Thursday.

HEARINGS AND MARKUPS

Tuesday, 5/18 — the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions will hold a hearing on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Reauthorization.

Wednesday, 5/19 — the House Science and Technology Committee will hold a hearing on nuclear energy research.

Thursday, 5/20 — The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will hold a hearing on renewable energy, and the Senate Finance Subcommittee will hold a hearing on tax incentives and clean technology.

Source:  CQ