Congressional News
New Fiscal Year Officially Begins, Lawmakers Leave Washington Until November 9
Senators and House Members are now back in their states and districts campaigning ahead of the November midterm elections. Both chambers are expected to reconvene November 9 for the lame duck session. Immediately confronting lawmakers will be the fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations bills, for which Congress passed a continuing resolution (CR) last month pushing the deadline to December 11. The path forward for completing the FY 2027 process—FY 2027 officially began on October 1—will likely depend heavily on the outcome of the elections and which party will control each chamber next year. Lawmakers may decide to complete work on…
Senate Republicans Warn Against Grant Terminations at NIH
Six Republican Senators penned a letter to Trump Administration officials last month raising concern about “the potential effects of terminating ongoing, multi-year research grants after significant federal resources have already been invested,” specifically at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Instead, the letter, which is signed by Sens. David H. McCormick (R-PA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and Steve Daines (R-MT), asks that efforts be made to modify funded projects that may not currently align with Administration priorities to “help advance the Administration’s objectives while preserving the value of taxpayer investments already made.”…
Deadline Extended for Census RFI on Demographic Questions – Respond by Nov. 2
The original 30-day comment period for a Census Bureau proposed rule, Decennial Census of the Population of Americans; Proposed Residence Criteria and Proposed Regulations for Demographic Questions, has been extended to November 2 (originally October 13). If implemented, the proposed rule would mark a significant change to the 2030 Census, specifically by excluding non-U.S. citizens without a green card from apportionment used to set Congressional districts. It would also remove race and ethnicity questions from the decennial. The Census Project has been covering the issue in detail. Given the dramatic changes proposed, the deadline extension for public comment is welcome…
Senate Launches Bipartisan Science & Innovation Caucus
On September 14, Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) launched a new Bipartisan Science and Innovation Caucus. According to the press release, “Caucus members will work together with industry leaders and the research community to develop policies that promote U.S. leadership in science.” The group plans to hold briefings, roundtable discussions, and “provide a venue for discourse about new legislation to boost American scientific research and our STEM workforce.” The current list of caucus members is not yet available. Congressional caucuses are a tool used to bring together Members of Congress with a shared interest. They do not…
Congress Delays Funding Bills to December, Temporarily Blocks Uniform Guidance Changes
As previously reported, before leaving Washington for summer recess the House and Senate each passed versions of a continuing resolution (CR) aimed at avoiding a government shutdown when the fiscal year ends September 30. With the chambers passing different versions of the bill, negotiations on a final CR needed to wait until lawmakers returned to Washington earlier this month. The House passed the Senate version of the CR on September 1, thereby sending it to the President for signature. The funding patch gives members of Congress until December 11 to finalize the FY 2027 appropriations bills, punting the debate until after…
Senate Advances Continuing Resolution That Would Temporarily Block OMB Rule
Before departing for August recess, the Senate passed a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) that would extend current federal funding through December 11 to allow Congress additional time to complete the fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations process (the current deadline is September 30). The Senate’s stopgap measure will need to be passed by the House, which is currently on recess and not slated to return until August 31. While the House also passed a CR before departing Capitol Hill, it did not include a list of anomalies requested by President Trump after the bill was sent to the Senate (see previous…
House Science Committee Democrats Demand Answers about OSTP’s Use of NSF Funds
On August 6, Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), who serves as the Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and Representative George Whitesides (D-CA) sent a letter to Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Director Michael Kratsios demanding answers about allegations that OSTP is directing the use of National Science Foundation (NSF) funding. The letter comes after the release of OSTP’s report, Science: A New Golden Age, and Director Kratsios appearing before the Committee on July 22 (see previous coverage). During the hearing, Kratsios repeatedly denied OSTP’s involvement in the direct oversight of NSF funding and research priorities, stating, “I am…
House Passes CR Ahead of August Recess
As August recess rapidly approaches, the House Appropriations Committee passed a continuing resolution (CR) to extend current funding beyond the end of the fiscal year on September 30, to December 4. Notably, six Democrats broke rank with their party to support the stopgap measure, including Representatives Kathy Castor (D-FL), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Don Davis (D-NC), Jared Golden (D-ME), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM). Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) was the only Republican Congressman to vote against the bill. Generally, it is rare for Congress to enact a CR more than two months before the end of the fiscal year….
House and Senate Committees Hold Hearings on the State of American Science
Both the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (CST) and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (SST) held hearings recently regarding the American scientific research enterprise. The House SST hearing was held on July 22 featuring testimony from the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), Michael Kratsios. Kratsios used his testimony to unveil a new White House report, Science: A New Golden Age. The report makes several recommendations consistent with executive orders and other policy changes proposed by the Trump Administration. Chairman Brian Babin (R-TX) and several other members across the aisle expressed concerns…
House Select Committee on China Holds Hearing on Federal Research Security
On July 15, the House Select Committee on China held a hearing titled, Protecting American Innovation: The Federal Research Security Enterprise. Witnesses included: Mr. Jeremy Ison, Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for Science, U.S. Department of Energy; Dr. Patricia Valdez, Chief Extramural Research Integrity Officer, National Institutes of Health (NIH); and Dr. Rebecca Keiser, Acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Research Security Policy and Strategy, National Science Foundation (NSF). During his opening statements, Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) stated that China’s growing scientific research enterprise is a significant threat to the U.S. and argued that greater guardrails are necessary…
Congress Returns from July Recess
As previously reported, consideration of the fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations bills slowed as Congress left Washington for a two-week July 4th recess. While the House managed to advance all twelve of its bills through committee, the Senate has repeatedly delayed their consideration of several bills, including the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations bill that funds the National Science Foundation. Complicating things further, Senate Republicans’ dwindling majority worsened following the unexpected death of Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and the continued hospitalization of Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY). While the Senate Republicans had reportedly drafted their bills without the input…
House Appropriations Committee holds OMB Oversight Hearing
On June 30, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government held an oversight hearing on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with testimony from Director Russell Vought. During the hearing, several House Republicans, including Chairman David Joyce (R-OH), questioned Vought on OMB’s budget; and Vought praised the Administration’s efforts to end “fiscal futility.” Ranking Member Steny Hoyer (D-MD) Representative Glenn Ivey (D-MD) also expressed disappointment that the Committee did not hold a budget hearing before voting on the appropriations bills (see previous coverage). The line of questioning quickly turned to unreleased fiscal year (FY) 2026 appropriated funds and…
COSSA’s Analysis of the FY 2027 House LHHS Appropriations Bill for Federal Science Agencies
On June 9, the House Appropriations Committee advanced its version of the fiscal year (FY) 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill, which provides annual appropriations for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Education, Department of Labor, and other agencies. This is the latest bill advanced by the Committee as part of Chairman Tom Cole’s (R-OK) plan to consider all 12 annual spending bills by the July 4 break. While the Senate was scheduled to begin marking up their bills this month, more pressing issues delayed the chamber which…
Senate Departs for July Recess After Appropriations Markups Delayed
Over the weekend, the Senate departed Capitol Hill for a two-week July 4 recess, and are not scheduled to return until July 13, leaving only a few weeks until August recess to consider their appropriations bills. Before their departure, the Senate Appropriations Committee again delayed consideration of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations bill for fiscal year (FY) 2027. The bill, which was originally scheduled for June 4 and rescheduled for June 25, was postponed alongside several other appropriations bills (see previous coverage). According to recent reports, the Senate Republicans’ dwindling majority amidst the recent hospitalization of…
House Science Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Federal Research Funds
On June 24, the House Science, Space, and Technology (SST) Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a hearing titled, Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Hearing – Safeguarding Federal Research Funds: The False Claims Act’s Role in Combating Grant Fraud. Witnesses included Robert Steinau, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Inspector General, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Office of the Inspector General; Jennifer Springmann, Special Agent in Charge, National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of the Inspector General; and Brenna Jenny, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Commercial Litigation Branch, Department of Justice (DOJ). Chairman Rich McCormick (R-GA) began the hearing by expressing concern…
House Advances LHHS Bill, Senate Delays Markups
On June 5, the House Appropriations Committee released the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations bill for fiscal year (FY) 2027. The bill was advanced out of the committee in a 34 to 28 vote along party lines. Earlier this year, the President’s request called for sweeping cuts to the federal agencies that fund social and behavioral science research (see analysis). While the House bill still includes cuts to several agencies, the House has largely rejected the deep cuts proposed by the Trump Administration. Notably, exceptions include several programs housed under the Department of Education,…
Congress to Review Appropriations Bills Ahead of Midterm Elections
As previously reported, Congress has officially turned to its work on the fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations bills. The House Appropriations Committee has already advanced 7 of the 12 spending bills out of committee, including the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) bill (see analysis). The House has kept to the schedule they released in April, and is on track to mark up the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill later this week on June 5 (watch live here). On the other side of the Hill, the Senate has started working on their respective bills and…
Battacharya Defends NIH Budget to Senate Appropriators
On May 21, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) defended the NIH fiscal year (FY) 2027 budget request before the Senate Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee. During the hearing, Bhattacharya fielded concerns from both sides of the aisle about the Trump Administration’s proposed 12 percent cut to the agency (see analysis). In her opening remarks, Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) voiced her support for NIH-funded research, and highlighted the importance of cancer research and supporting rural communities. When remarks turned to Ranking Member Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), the Senator pressed the Director…
COSSA’s Analysis of the FY 2027 House CJS Appropriations Bill for Federal Science Agencies
The House Appropriations Committee has begun consideration of its fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations bills. The Committee is working to approve all 12 funding bills by the end of June. On May 13, the Appropriations Committee reported out the FY 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Bill, which includes funding proposals for the National Science Foundation (NSF), Census Bureau, National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), and other agencies. As we saw last year, the FY 2027 House CJS bill includes cuts to federal science agencies but does not go as far as the President’s budget request,…
Congress Turns to Appropriations After Returning from May Recess
Following a week-long May recess, Congress has turned their attention toward the fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations process. As previously reported, the House has set their schedule for advancing their appropriations bills through May and June. On May 13, the House Appropriations Committee reported out the Commerce, Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) budget bill—which includes funding proposals for the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Census Bureau, and more (see related article). The Committee is also scheduled to review the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) budget bill—which includes funding proposals for the National Institutes of…