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Policy News: May 28, 2021

In this issue: President Biden Releases Full Budget Request The budget includes $10.17 billion for NSF and $948 million for the Biological Sciences Directorate. Endless Frontier Act Stalled and Renamed to the Innovation and Competition Act Bill would create a technology directorate at the National Science Foundation and increases authorized funding levels. Congress House passes STEM diversity bills. Executive Branch…

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ESA Governing Board Approves Major Initiatives

by Kathleen Weathers, ESA President The ESA Governing Board members met for its spring meeting over Zoom May 11-12. Even with the virtual social limitations, Board members were highly engaged, and ever-thoughtful as we considered several important—some even called them historic—positive strides forward. Agenda topics focused on advancing ESA’s strategic priorities, the health of ESA’s finances, discussions of future ESA…

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Action Alert: Endorse the NSF for the Future Act

May 25, 2021 Dear ESA Members: The US House of Representatives may be considering the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the Future Act (H.R. 2225) soon. The bill would reauthorize landmark legislation for the National Science Foundation (NSF), provide steady, increasing funding levels for NSF and also create a new Technology and Engineering Solutions Directorate. The bill contains provisions for…

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Policy News: May 17, 2021

In this issue: Katherine S. McCarter Graduate Student Policy Award Recipients Virtually Visit the Hill to Advocate for Science Funding and Research Relief  Students requested $10.2 billion in federal funding for the National Science Foundation in FY 2022. House and Senate Committee Approve Competing Proposals to Increase Funding for the National Science Foundation NSF for the Future and Endless Frontiers…

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Policy News: May 6, 2021

In this issue: Biden administration unveils 10-year plan to conserve one-third of U.S. land Plan follows up on Biden’s commitment to conserve 30% of lands and waters by 2030. Congress Senate holds confirmation hearing for OSTP nominee, House Science Committee holds NSF hearing. Executive Branch President Biden announces NOAA, BLM and DOE science nominees. States International Scientific Community NSF releases…

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Special Policy News #7: The Transition

In this issue:   Biden administration requests 16% increase in domestic spending, $4 billion for climate and sustainability research Budget request includes $10.2 billion for NSF. Interior creates climate taskforce, rescinds Trump-era secretarial orders The taskforce will “coordinate work across the [Interior] Department, including accelerating renewable energy development and identifying actions to foster investments in energy communities.” Congress Senate confirms…

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Close up image of the United States Capitol.

Biden administration requests 16% increase in domestic spending, $4 billion for climate and sustainability research

President Joe Biden released a 58-page discretionary “Skinny Budget” request April 9 totaling $1.5 trillion to fund the federal government for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY2022). The budget request calls for a 16% increase to $769 billion in non-defense discretionary spending and a 1.7% increase to $753 billion for defense spending. It would increase funding for federal science agencies and there…

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Special Policy News #6: The Transition

In this issue:   Biden Infrastructure Plan Includes Funding for Natural Infrastructure, Scientific Infrastructure $2 trillion plan includes $50 billion to create a new technology directorate for NSF. Lawmakers Introduce Competing Proposals to Increase Science Funding House Science Committee bill crease a new Science and Engineering Solutions directorate at NSF. Senate Confirms Biden’s Pick for Deputy Secretary of Energy, Biden…

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