Issue 15 (July 25)

On July 13, the Senate Appropriations Committee marked up and reported out its version of the fiscal year (FY) 2024 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Bill. The Senate CJS appropriations bill contains annual funding proposals for the National Science Foundation, Department of Justice, and Census Bureau, among other federal departments and agencies.

The bill is written in-line with the FY 2024 budget caps that were agreed to earlier in the summer. As part of that agreement, total discretionary spending is capped at $1.59 trillion in FY 2024, a cut of about 9 percent below FY 2023. The share allocated to the CJS bill is $71.7 billion, which is 14.4 percent below the total CJS bill in FY 2023.

As a result—and as expected—this cap has resulted in near-flat funding and even cuts to science agencies across the Senate bill: 

While disappointing, especially when compared to the amounts requested by the Biden Administration earlier this year (see the “FY 2024 Budget Request” column above), the Senate CJS marks are likely the “best case scenario” when it comes to science funding in FY 2024. The House Appropriations Committee could release full details of their FY 2024 CJS bill in the coming days containing additional—and sizable—cuts proposed to science agencies. As COSSA has been reporting, FY 2024 promises to be a challenging year for nearly all discretionary accounts.

Congress will head out soon for its month-long August recess. Upon their return after Labor Day, lawmakers will be faced with the challenge of finding common ground between the two very different funding proposals. The slim Republican-Democrat margins in both chambers has set the stage for a tough, likely protracted funding battle. With the new fiscal year beginning on October 1, it is likely that a stop-gap funding measure—known as a continuing resolution (CR)—will be needed to allow additional time for negotiation or else risk a government shutdown.

Read on to review details on the Senate’s CJS appropriations bill for FY 2024 for federal agencies and programs important to the social and behavioral science research community.

Congressional appropriators are currently considering fiscal year (FY) 2024 appropriations bills that would decimate funding for federal science and statistical agencies. It is critical that we raise our voices in support of robust investment in social and behavioral science research.

In response, COSSA has issued an action alert urging members to write to their Members of Congress to urge their support for social science research funding in FY 2024!

Visit COSSA’s TAKE ACTION page to send a quick message to your Senators and Representatives and tell them why they must support the highest possible funding levels for federal science and statistical agencies in FY 2024.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking nominations for the Alan T. Waterman Award, which recognizes an early career researcher in any field of science or engineering supported by the NSF. The award winner will receive a medal and a grant of $1 million to use over a five-year period for scientific research or advanced study in the mathematical, physical, biological, engineering, social, or other sciences at the institution of the recipient’s choice.

Nominations will be accepted through September 15, 2023. Read more about the award’s criteria, the application, and the selection process here. 

On July 12, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a Federal Register notice adding “Demography and Population Studies” to the programs within the DHS sciences, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) designated degrees program list. This addition allows international students to remain in the United States for two years of “Optional Practical Training” as opposed to the previous one year.

The Population Association of America (PAA), a COSSA Governing Member, worked with its membership to secure designation of “Demography and Population Studies” within this category.

Read more about this successful change on the PAA website here. 

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has disclosed its plans to introduce a program centered around the critical domain of research security. Named the Research on Research Security Program (RRSP), the objective is to review the nuances, breadth, challenges, and potential of research security. Key focus areas under this initiative include cybersecurity, security concerning foreign travel, training on research security, and instruction on export controls.

The program will aim to fund initiatives that evaluate methodologies to pinpoint research security hazards and the tactics to prevent and minimize threats. This will equip researchers with key insights on safeguarding their work, amplifying transparency and cooperation, and unveiling research outcomes.

As an initial step, NSF will sponsor a workshop amplifying awareness on this topic. This event will bring together national and international figures from the realm of research security to spotlight pivotal themes and subjects meriting exploration within the new program.

For more details on the workshop, see the Dear Colleague Letter (DCL): Workshop to Inform Development of the NSF RRSP. Proposals responding to this DCL are open for submission until September 25, 2023.

NSF’s next scheduled webinar focused on establishing a Research on Research Security Program will be on July 26 and you can register here.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released a draft of its Scientific Integrity Policy and is inviting the public to share feedback and comments.

The draft policy is in response to the Presidential Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-based Policymaking. Its main objective is to offer agency stakeholders an opportunity to voice their opinions on the policy. HHS formulated the draft following the guidelines from the National Science and Technology Council Framework for Federal Scientific Integrity Policy and Practice.

The deadline for submissions is September 1, 2023. For additional details on the draft and how to submit, visit the HHS website here.

On July 21, the White House gathered seven of the world’s leading AI companies, including Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Inflection, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI to gain consensus over the responsible development of AI.

Reflecting the Administration’s ongoing commitment to leverage AI’s potential without compromising Americans’ rights and safety, these companies agreed to operate by the standards that emphasize safety, security, and trust in AI. This initiative showcases a collective understanding that AI’s benefits should not come at the expense of fundamental rights.

In line with the announcement, the Administration has been actively consulting international allies, aiming for a globally coordinated approach to AI. Countries engaged include Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, and many others. The collective goal is to establish shared principles for AI governance and safety.

Coming soon, the Office of Management and Budget will release draft policy guidance for federal agencies on AI usage, underpinning the overarching commitment to safeguarding the American public.

Stay tuned to COSSA’s continued coverage on artificial intelligence.

On July 17, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) hosted federal agencies alongside the National Science Foundation (NSF) for a discussion, How can public access advance equity and learning? During the first half of the webinar, officials from NSF, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) discussed their implementation strategies for public access.

During the panel and audience Q&A session, AAAS invited professors and PhD candidates to discuss the effect of public access on universities and students. In accordance with the Biden Administration’s Executive Order, all federal agencies must have enacted public access policies before December 31, 2025 (see previous COSSA coverage).

Stay tuned to COSSA’s continued coverage.