Policy

Hearing Update: House Agriculture Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Implementation of Farm Bill Research Programs

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On October 17, the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research held a hearing to review the implementation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s 2018 Farm Bill research programs with testimony from Deputy Undersecretary for Research, Education and Economics Scott Hutchins.  This hearing comes after the Farm Bill was reauthorized in December … Read more Hearing Update: House Agriculture Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Implementation of Farm Bill Research Programs

NSF Announces Next Phase of Reintegrating Biology Initiative

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October 2019 Washington Update – Prepared by Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC for the American Society of Plant Biologists Following their Town Halls in September, the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Reintegrating Biology Initiative has announced the next phase of the process.  Reintegrating Biology will convene four “Jumpstarts”, two and a half-day workshops to “develop new and innovative … Read more NSF Announces Next Phase of Reintegrating Biology Initiative

NIFA Relocation

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October 2019 Washington Update – Prepared by Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC for the American Society of Plant Biologists Employees of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Economic Research Service (ERS) have begun work in Kansas City, with the first report-to-work date occurring on September 30.  Although the agencies have begun to hire new … Read more NIFA Relocation

Action Alert: America Grows Act

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  The American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) and the Plant Science Research Network (PSRN) are pleased to pass along an Action Alert released by the American Society for Agronomy (ASA), the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) in support of new legislation introduced by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). The … Read more Action Alert: America Grows Act

Press Release – ASPB Names 2019 Recipient of Leadership in Science Policy Public Service Award

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Honor to be presented at Plant Biology 2019 in San Jose, California ROCKVILLE, MD – The American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) is pleased to announce that Pamela Ronald is the recipient of its 2019 Leadership in Science Policy Public Service Award. The ASPB Science Policy Committee awards the Leadership in Science Public Service Award … Read more Press Release – ASPB Names 2019 Recipient of Leadership in Science Policy Public Service Award

PSRN Updates: Inclusivity in the Plant Sciences and Plant Summit 2019

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In early 2019, the Plant Science Research Network (PSRN) held two strategic planning meetings. The PSRN is an NSF-supported Research Coordination Network whose members are research councils and scientific societies, including ASPB. Among the participants at both workshops were early career researchers and scientists from the public and private sectors across the plant science research … Read more PSRN Updates: Inclusivity in the Plant Sciences and Plant Summit 2019

Policy Update: Shutdown Outlook and Impacts for Higher Education and Research

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Lewis-Burke Associates LLC – December 21, 2018 While much of the government has already been funded for fiscal year (FY) 2019, including the Department of Defense (DOD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Energy (DOE), and the Department of Education (ED), a number of science agencies will be impacted if Congress and the President … Read more Policy Update: Shutdown Outlook and Impacts for Higher Education and Research

Legislative Update: Congress Approves 2018 Farm Bill Conference Report

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On December 10, Congress released the long-awaited 2018 farm bill conference report, H.R. 2 The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, a bipartisan compromise package that authorizes farm programs and agricultural research through fiscal year (FY) 2023.  The final farm bill package, totaling 807 pages, is budget neutral.  Title VII, the Research Title, largely reflects the … Read more Legislative Update: Congress Approves 2018 Farm Bill Conference Report

ASPB Appropriations Action Alert

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Much of the federal government is operating under a continuing resolution (CR) that is set to expire on December 7, 2018. Congress has yet to pass seven of the twelve appropriations bills for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, including the Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill, which funds the National Science Foundation (NSF), as well as the … Read more ASPB Appropriations Action Alert

Nomination Update: Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing on USDA Under Secretary of REE, Chief Scientist Nomination

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On November 28th, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing to consider the nomination of Dr. Scott Hutchins as U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics (REE), which also serves as USDA Chief Scientist. Hutchins, the former global leader of Corteva AgriScience, is an entomologist by training and … Read more Nomination Update: Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing on USDA Under Secretary of REE, Chief Scientist Nomination

Plant scientists call for renewed focus on empowerment of trainees

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Preparing graduate students and postdocs for diverse careers Changes in the workforce are challenging academia to prepare scientists to be adaptable and adept at communicating across boundaries. To meet these demands, the Plant Science Research Network (PSRN, plantae.org/PSRN) is shifting the focus to enable trainees to take ownership of their training experiences. “Since President Lincoln … Read more Plant scientists call for renewed focus on empowerment of trainees

Policy Update: Senate Hearing on Student Visas and National Security

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Lewis-Burke Associates LLC – June 6, 2018 On June 6, the Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing entitled, “Student Visa Integrity: Protecting Educational Opportunity and National Security.”  The hearing focused on the potential threats international students and academics, particularly those from China, pose to national … Read more Policy Update: Senate Hearing on Student Visas and National Security

Policy Update: House Agriculture Committee Approves Farm Bill

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On April 18, 2018, the House Agriculture Committee approved H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (Farm Bill).  As expected, the markup was extremely partisan in nature with Democratic Members strongly opposing the proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and noting the lack of transparency.  Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN) … Read more Policy Update: House Agriculture Committee Approves Farm Bill

Plant Scientist Runs for Congress

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I believe science can help us develop solutions to global food insecurity. I study the effects of drought on maize roots at the University of Missouri, and I hope my findings will contribute to improving crop resilience as rainfall patterns change in the Midwest. Currently, I am represented in Congress by an anti-science politician, U.S. … Read more Plant Scientist Runs for Congress

First Look at Trump’s FY 2019 Budget Proposal

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  By Lauren Broccoli (Lewis-Burke Associates)   The Trump Administration released its fiscal year (FY) 2019 budget request overview this morning that did not include the National Science Foundation (NSF) and provided scant details on other research programs.  While we wait on NSF and DOE budget specifics, I wanted to share USDA numbers.  As expected, … Read more First Look at Trump’s FY 2019 Budget Proposal

Government Shutdown Update: CR Advances

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On Monday afternoon, the Senate voted to advance a Continuing Resolution (CR) to end the three-day federal government shutdown and extend funding for government programs at Fiscal Year 2017 levels through February 8.  The stalemate that led to the shutdown ended after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) gave Democrats assurances that the Senate will … Read more Government Shutdown Update: CR Advances

Agency Update: NSF Seeks Members for STEM Education Advisory Panel

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Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC – November 10, 2017 On November 8, the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced that it is accepting recommendations for members of a new STEM[1] Education Advisory Panel.  This panel will provide input to the interagency Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (CoSTEM), which is made up of agency leads for … Read more Agency Update: NSF Seeks Members for STEM Education Advisory Panel

Action Alert – Contact Congress to Prevent Major Tax Increase on Graduate Students

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Please read the urgent request below and contact your Member of Congress regarding a harmful provision in a piece of legislation under consideration by Congress. The situation: The U.S. House of Representatives is currently considering tax reform legislation, H.R. 1, that would change the way graduate student income is considered and result in large tax … Read more Action Alert – Contact Congress to Prevent Major Tax Increase on Graduate Students

Appropriations Update: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves FY 2018 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill with Bipartisan Support

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Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year (FY) 2018 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill with a bipartisan vote of 30-1.  The Senate bill would provide $31.5 billion for the Department of Energy (DOE), an increase of $718 million, or 2.3 percent, above the FY 2017 enacted level.  This level of funding … Read more Appropriations Update: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves FY 2018 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill with Bipartisan Support

ASPB Statement on Trump’s FY 2018 Budget Proposal

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On May 23, 2017, the White House released its fiscal year (FY) 2018 budget request whereby it proposed to slash funding for federal agencies that support plant science research and education.  If enacted, President Trump’s FY 2018 budget would have a catastrophic impact on plant science and the broader U.S. enterprise of scientific innovation.  The … Read more ASPB Statement on Trump’s FY 2018 Budget Proposal