President Trump Suspends Entry Under H1-B Visas Through the End of 2020<\/strong><\/a> House Democrats Infrastructure Bill Reauthorizes Watershed Restoration Programs, Creates Wildlife Corridor System<\/strong><\/a> Congress<\/strong><\/a> Executive Branch<\/strong><\/a> Courts<\/strong><\/a> States<\/strong><\/a> Scientific Community<\/strong><\/a> ESA In the News<\/strong><\/a> Opportunities to Get Involved<\/strong><\/a> <\/a> The American Association of Universities (AAU) countered that the proclamation \u201cwill harm our nation\u2019s economic and scientific competitiveness while failing to achieve any of the president\u2019s stated goals in issuing it.\u201d Major tech companies, including Amazon, Google and Twitter, also panned the proclamation.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, lawmakers on Capitol Hill continue work addressing the potential threat of foreign espionage in the U.S. scientific enterprise to national security. A bill from Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Tom Carper (D-DE) and a bipartisan group of co-sponsors introduced the American Innovation Act (S. 3997<\/a>). Among other changes, the bill would allow the State Department to deny visas to researchers with ties to foreign governments determined to be \u201chostile foreign actors\u201d and impose criminal penalties on researchers who fail to disclose foreign ties. Portman and Carper lead the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which released a\u00a0staff report<\/a>\u00a0criticizing research funding agencies and the FBI for failing to combat the threat of Chinese government talent recruitment programs to U.S.-funded research late last year.<\/p>\n AAU and other scientific organizations fear that an overly broad interpretation of Portman and Carper\u2019s bill could block most Chinese graduate students and researchers from working at U.S. institutions.<\/p>\n Another bill, the National Security Innovation Pathway Act (H.R. 7256<\/a>)\u00a0from Reps. Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) has broader support among the scientific community. Langevin and Stefanik\u2019s bill creates a pathway to permanent residency for students and professionals working in certain STEM fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum information sciences, biology, robotics, and hypersonics. According to the bill sponsors, scientists in this program may work in national security innovation, be involved in related government-funded research at universities or possess expertise that will advance the development of critical technologies.<\/p>\n ESA has joined other members of the scientific community in\u00a0opposing<\/a>\u00a0restrictions COVID-19 related restrictions on immigration and urging agencies to\u00a0find<\/a>\u00a0\u201cthe appropriate balance between our nation\u2019s security and an open, collaborative scientific environment.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a> The Moving Forward Act includes the full text of the INVEST in America Act (H.R. 7095<\/a>). This nearly $500 billion surface transportation bill creates new programs to incentivize states to reduce carbon emissions from transportation and requires that states and cities consider climate change in their transportation planning. The bill includes $300 million in federal transportation funds to prevent vehicle-wildlife collisions. It authorizes a study of vehicle-wildlife collisions and habitat connectivity to update existing Federal Highway Administration research. The House Transportation and Infrastructure advanced the INVEST in America bill Jun. 18. Unlike previous surface transportation bills, this legislation is not bipartisan.<\/p>\n House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said that the full House will vote on the infrastructure package the week of Jun. 30.<\/p>\n Last summer, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee advanced a\u00a0bipartisan surface transportation bill<\/a>\u00a0(S. 2302<\/a>). The full Senate has not yet considered that bill. Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) called the INVEST in America Act a \u201croad to nowhere\u201d and urged House leaders to consider the Senate bill instead. The Senate committee also passed a water infrastructure bill (S. 3591<\/a>) in May 2020.<\/p>\n <\/a> President Trump will formally nominate William Perry Pendley to lead the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Pendley has been the BLM acting director for the past year. Before joining the Trump administration, Pendley led the Mountain States Legal Foundation, which advocates for selling federal lands. The BLM has not had a Senate-confirmed director since the end of the Obama adminstration.<\/p>\n Senate:<\/strong>\u00a0The full Senate\u00a0approved<\/a>\u00a0the Great American Outdoors Act (S. 3422<\/a>). This bill would permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at $900 million a year.\u00a0The LWCF provides funds to federal agencies and state and local governments to purchase lands for conservation and recreation opportunities. Funding for the LWCF comes from oil and gas leasing revenue. The bill also creates a five-year trust fund to address deferred maintenance needs in national parks and public lands. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said that the House plans to vote on the bill at the end of July.<\/p>\n Research Funding:<\/strong>\u00a0Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) introduced the Research Investment to Secure the Economy Act (RISE Act,\u00a0H.R. 7038<\/a>), which authorizes around $26 billion in coronavirus relief funding to federal science agencies. In turn, agencies would award this funding to research organizations to continue work on federally funded research projects. House Science Committee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) are original co-sponsors for this bill. ESA endorsed the bill along with over 200 other societies and universities.<\/p>\n Oceans:<\/strong>\u00a0House Oceans Caucus Co-Chairs Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Don Young (R-AK)\u00a0requested<\/a>\u00a0that Congressional leadership invest in the \u201cblue economy\u201d in future coronavirus economic recovery legislation. The lawmakers asked for at least $10 billion for coastal restoration projects, $100 million for the National Sea Grant College Program and $100 million for the Integrated Ocean Observing System.<\/p>\n Legislative updates<\/strong><\/p>\n See ESA\u2019s\u00a0Legislative Tracker<\/a>\u00a0for more updates on legislation relevant to the ecological community.<\/p>\n <\/a> The National Science Foundation\u00a0released<\/a>\u00a0its implementation of the OMB memo, largely echoing the original guidance. Additional flexibilities for paying salaries using NSF grants are extended through the end of September 2020. NSF is also allowing an extension of deadlines for submitting audits to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse through the end of 2020.<\/p>\n BLM:<\/strong>\u00a0A\u00a0final\u00a0environmental impact statement<\/a>\u00a0(EIS) for developing the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A)\u00a0opens<\/a>\u00a0around 19 million acres, or about 80% of\u00a0the area, to additional oil and gas development.\u00a0The previous management plan for the area, finalized in 2013, protected 11.2 million acres of the NPR-A, citing the importance of the area to migratory birds and caribou.<\/p>\n A new\u00a0draft EIS<\/a>\u00a0would allow<\/a>\u00a0a new section of highway to bisect Utah\u2019s Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and a desert tortoise conservation area. The agency\u2019s \u201cpreferred alternative\u201d for the route closely matches the plan proposed by the Utah Department of Transportation in 2018. The EIS is open for public comment through Sept. 10.<\/p>\n EPA:<\/strong>\u00a0The Trump administration\u2019s Navigable Waters Protection Rule became effective Jun. 22. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers first released their final rewrite of the Waters of the U.S. rule in early 2020 (see\u00a0ESA Policy News, Jan. 27, 2020<\/a>). Immediately before the rule became effective, a federal judge in California\u00a0rejected<\/a>\u00a0a request from Democratic Attorneys General to issue a nationwide injunction of the rule. Separately, another federal judge in Colorado issued an injunction on the rule in the state of Colorado, keeping the rule from taking effect there until litigation challenging the rule concludes.<\/p>\n An EPA Office of Inspector General\u00a0report<\/a>\u00a0found<\/a> that the agency has failed to implement an agency-wide data quality system. The mandatory data quality system would cover activities such as determining hazardous or toxic wastes in the environment, supporting enforcement monitoring efforts and mapping human health risk data.<\/p>\n NOAA:<\/strong>\u00a0An agency investigation found that acting Director Neil Jacobs and former communications director Julie Kay Roberts\u00a0violated<\/a>\u00a0NOAA\u2019s scientific integrity policy when they issued a press release supporting President Trump\u2019s assertation that Hurricane Dorian posed a threat to Alabama. This statement contradicted forecasts issued by the National Weather Service\u2019s Birmingham office.<\/p>\n NASA:\u00a0<\/strong>Three major space agencies, NASA, the European Space Agency and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency,\u00a0released<\/a>\u00a0a new\u00a0dashboard<\/a>\u00a0allowing users to see the impacts of COVID-19 shutdowns, as viewed from satellites.<\/p>\n DoD:<\/strong>\u00a0The department\u2019s two top scientific officials \u2013 Michael Griffin, the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, and Deputy Under Secretary for Research and Engineering Lisa Porter \u2013\u00a0resigned<\/a>\u00a0their positions effective Jul. 10. An email from both Griffin and Porter to staff said that they were leaving to jointly pursue a private sector opportunity.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/a> Nevada:<\/strong>\u00a0State Engineer Tim Wilson\u00a0issued<\/a>\u00a0an order restricting groundwater withdrawals in an area northeast of Las Vegas. The order potentially stops a massive proposed planned community in the area. The Center for Biological Diversity said the decision \u201cthrows a lifeline\u201d to the federally endangered Moapa dace, which depends on groundwater-fed springs in the area.<\/p>\n Minnesota:<\/strong>\u00a0Attorney General Keith Ellison (D)\u00a0filed<\/a>\u00a0a lawsuit against ExxonMobil, Koch Industries and the American Petroleum Institute, claiming that the entities violated state laws against fraud and deceptive advertising. The lawsuit asks that the organizations pay restitutions for damages and fund a climate education campaign. This case mirrors similar cases filed against Exxon by the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and cities and counties in recent years. In December 2019, a state judge in New York ruled in favor of Exxon after the State Attorney General claimed that the company intentionally misled investors about the risk of climate change regulations to its operations and profits. Ellison said that his case is different because it focuses on damages to consumers, rather than shareholders.<\/p>\n <\/a> Defense:<\/strong>\u00a0A report from the Environmental Policy Innovation Center, \u201cThe Conservation of Defense<\/a>,\u201d examines how conservationists can work with the U.S. Department of Defense to\u00a0maintain and expand the lands under the Department\u2019s management to benefit wildlife, water resources, and ecosystems.<\/p>\n <\/a> View more letters and testimony from ESA<\/strong>\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a> Opportunities for Public Comment and Nominations:<\/strong><\/p>\n Visit this page on ESA\u2019s website for updates on opportunities from the Federal Register<\/a>,\u00a0including upcoming meetings and regulations open for public comment.<\/p>\n ESA\u2019s policy activities work to infuse ecological knowledge into national policy decisions through activities such as policy statements, Capitol Hill briefings, Congressional Visits Days, and coalition involvement. Policy News Updates are bi-monthly summaries of major environmental and science policy news. They are produced by the Public Affairs Office of the Ecological Society of America.<\/p>\n Send questions or comments to\u00a0 Alison Mize, director of public affairs,\u00a0Alison@esa.org<\/a>\u00a0or Nicole Zimmerman, public affairs manager,\u00a0Nicole@esa.org<\/a><\/p>\n Visit the\u00a0ESA website<\/a>\u00a0to learn more about our activities and membership.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\nSenators Introduce Bill Restricting Visas to Researchers with Ties to \u201cHostile Foreign Actors.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nFull House will vote on bill this week.<\/p>\n
\nSenate confirms Sethuraman \u201cPanch\u201d Panchanathan to lead NSF, House introduces relief bill for research.<\/p>\n
\nOMB and NSF issue new coronavirus guidance for science funding agencies<\/p>\n
\nThe EPA will not appeal a court decision overturning a 2017 policy barring agency grantees from serving on advisory committees.<\/p>\n
\nMinnesota Attorney General files lawsuit against ExxonMobil, Koch Industries and the American Petroleum Institute for deceiving consumers.<\/p>\n
\nNational Academies seeks experts for an ocean plastic study.<\/p>\n
\nView an up-to-date list of ESA\u2019s media coverage.<\/p>\n
\nFederal Register opportunities.<\/p>\nPresident Trump Suspends Entry Under H1-B Visas Through the End of 2020<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nPresident Donald Trump issued a\u00a0proclamation<\/a>\u00a0suspending the entry of workers under H-1B, H-2B, J and L visas through the end of 2020. High-skill workers, including researchers, widely use H1-B visas to work in the United States legally. The proclamation says that the order is necessary to speed economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and reduce unemployment.<\/p>\nHouse Democrats\u2019 Infrastructure Bill Reauthorizes Watershed Restoration Programs, Creates Wildlife Corridors System<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nHouse Democrats introduced a $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill covering energy and water infrastructure, public transportation, hospitals and more. Among other provisions, the Moving Forward Act (H.R. 2<\/a>)\u00a0reauthorizes the Chesapeake Bay Program and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and creates EPA program offices covering the Puget Sound and the San Francisco Bay, identical to legislation passed by the full House in February 2020 (see\u00a0ESA Policy News, Feb. 11, 2020<\/a>). Another section establishes a National Wildlife Corridor system and a wildlife movement grant program. This section largely mirrors Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA)\u2019s Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act (H.R. 2795<\/a>) and Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)\u2019s Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act (H.R. 5179<\/a>). The bill also requires the Department of Transportation to rank each state on its progress in reducing carbon emissions each year, with the top states receiving additional federal transportation funds and financial penalties for the bottom states.<\/p>\nCongress<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nNominations:<\/strong>\u00a0The full Senate voted to confirm\u00a0Sethuraman \u201cPanch\u201d Panchanathan<\/a>\u00a0as director of the National Science Foundation Jun. 18. President Donald Trump nominated Panchanathan in December 2019. Panchanathan is an Arizona State University computer scientist and a former member of the National Science Board. NSF directors are appointed for six-year terms.<\/p>\n\n
Executive Branch<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nWhite House:\u00a0<\/strong>The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a new\u00a0memo<\/a>\u00a0for federal grantmaking agencies in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The guidance updates earlier guidance providing additional flexibilities to science funding agencies issued in March and April. The new memo directs agencies to \u201cinform recipients to exhaust other available funding sources to sustain its workforce and implement necessary steps to save overall operational costs\u201d to preserve federal funds for when activities may resume. Grantees are still authorized to use federal grants for salaries and benefits during the pandemic; OMB also notes that funding agencies \u201cmay also evaluate the grantee\u2019s ability to resume the project activity in the future.\u201d<\/p>\nCourts<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nEPA:<\/strong>\u00a0The agency\u2019s lawyers\u00a0announced<\/a>\u00a0that they will not appeal a federal court decision that overturned the EPA\u2019s 2017 policy barring EPA grantees from serving on advisory committees. This policy forced academic researchers off the EPA\u2019s top scientific advisory committees, clearing the way for the agency to replace academic scientists with industry representatives. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York overturned the EPA policy in February. Other legal challenges to the agency\u2019s policy were unsuccessful.<\/p>\nStates<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nNew Jersey:<\/strong>\u00a0Governor Phil Murphy (D)\u00a0announced<\/a>\u00a0his support for a bill that would allow the Department of Environmental Protection to deny permits for projects like incinerators, sewage treatment plants and power plants that would increase pollution in \u201coverburdened\u201d minority communities. The bill defines overburdened communities as census tracts where 35 percent of the households qualify as low-income, 40 percent of households are minority or 40 percent of households have limited English proficiency. The Department of Environmental Protection would also be required to evaluate the environmental and public health impacts of permitting these projects.<\/p>\nScientific Community<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nNASEM:<\/strong>\u00a0The Ocean Studies Board is\u00a0looking<\/a>\u00a0for experts and reviewers to contribute to a study of the United States\u2019 contributions to global ocean plastic. The study began this month and will last for 18 months with a final report scheduled for publication in October 2021. Relevant areas of expertise include environmental and marine policy, marine conservation and coastal management.<\/p>\nWhat We\u2019re Reading<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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ESA In the News<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nESA regularly issues press releases to the media about journal articles and other Society news. Press coverage is kept up-to-date on our \u201cIn the News\u201d page.\u00a0Check out news stories here<\/a>.<\/p>\nESA Correspondence to Policymakers<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Opportunities to get involved\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nVirtual public meetings and conference calls:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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