A staple since COSSAās earliest days, the biweekly COSSA Washington Update newsletter provides members and the public with comprehensive coverage of policy developments impacting social and behavioral science research.Ā
Preliminary Details of House Labor-HHS Bill Released
On July 7, the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (Labor-HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee passed its fiscal year (FY) 2017 appropriations bill for agencies and programs under its jurisdiction, which include the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Department of Education, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), among others. While text of the draft appropriations bill was released to coincide with the Subcommittee markup, the Committee Report is not expected to be released until the bill is marked up by the full Appropriations Committee on…
COSSA and CJRA Host āAsk a Criminologistā Congressional Roundtable on Increasing Homicide Rates
On July 7, COSSA and the Crime and Justice Research Alliance (CJRA) hosted the first in a series of āAsk a Criminologistā Congressional Roundtables. This briefing highlighted the work of Dr. Richard Rosenfeld of the University of Missouri, St. Louis on possible research directions to identify the causes of the sharp increase in U.S. homicides in 2015 (slides available here). Dr. Rosenfeld presented to over 130 attendees and was joined by CJRA chair Dr. Nancy La Vigne and Washington Post crime reporter Tom Jackman for a panel discussion and audience questions. The audience of Capitol Hill staff and community stakeholders…
Tri-Caucus Introduces 2016 Health Equity and Accountability Act
On June 15, led by Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL), members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) introduced the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA) (H.R. 5475). The groups, also known as the Congressional Tri-Caucus, have introduced versions of the legislation since 2007, which has served to inform other health-related legislation considered by the Congress, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Introducing the bill, Rep. Kelly, chair of the CBC Health Braintrust, noted that HEAA āis a reminder that there is much work to be done to improve health…
NSF Seeking Division Director for Undergraduate Education
The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced a nationwide search to fill the position of Division Director for the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR). The selected candidate will lead the activities of the Division, assess its needs and trends, and collaborate with other senior leaders across the directorates of NSF. Qualified candidates should possess a record of leadership and achievement in academe, government, or not-for-profit research and education endeavors, specifically directed at the enhancement of undergraduate STEM research. Additionally, qualified candidates must be experienced in technical, financial, and administrative management. Details can…
PCORI Announces Commitments in Support for Cancer Moonshot Initiative
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has released its plans to support the Vice Presidentās Cancer Moonshot Initiative.Ā PCORIās National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network (PCORnet) has committed to (1) enhancing its national data network to facilitate large-scale cancer research; (2) creating data tables that describe characteristics of patient cohorts treated for the most common types of cancer; and (3) establishing a Cancer Collaborative Research Group within PCORnet to assist in identifying research questions, developing approaches to integrate big data in cancer prevention and treatment, and reducing disparities. More about PCORIās support for the Cancer Moonshot is available on its website….
Video Shares Insights into NIH Grant Application and Peer Review Process
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Scientific ReviewĀ (CSR) recently posted a video compiling insights from individuals who have participated in the NIHās peer review process, including peer reviewers, study section chairs, and NIH staff. The video is designed to guide applicants in planning and writing a competitive grant application, including writing the summary and specific aims sections of the application; explaining why the research is essential; and the importance of explaining proposed techniques, among other suggestions. The video is part of CSRāsĀ Insiderās Guide to Peer Review for Applicants. Back to this issueās table of contents.
Academies Report Recommends Abandoning Proposed Changes to the Common Rule
On June 29, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released part 2 of its report Optimizing the Nationās Investment in Academic Research (the first part had been released in 2015). Of particular significance to the social and behavioral science research community is a chapter within the report on the āEthical, Legal, and Regulatory Framework for Human Subjects Research.ā In it, the panel issues a stinging criticism of the Department of Health and Human Servicesā (HHS) September 2015 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects. The chapter argues that the NPRM…
National Academies Seeks New DBASSE Director
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine is searching for its next Executive Director of the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education (DBASSE). The DBASSE Executive Director is responsible for executing the vision and strategy for division activities, directing the financial and budgetary efforts of both the Division and specific projects, as well as developing and maintaining relationships with government agencies, professional organizations, and academics. Substantial knowledge in the fields of social science, behavioral science, and/or education, a Ph.D. or Mastersā degree, and a minimum of 16 years of professional experience are required. More information can be…
CNSF Releases Statement on American Innovation and Competitiveness Act
The Coalition for National Science FundingĀ (CNSF), of which COSSA is an active member, released a statement on July 6 regarding the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (S. 3084). This legislation, which was approved by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on June 29, includes language authorizing the National Science Foundation (NSF); check out COSSAās analysis for full details. The CNSF statement highlights the important role of the NSF in the U.S. innovation and research enterprise and requests that the Senate extend the length of NSFās authorization past the two years currently provided in the bill. CNSF also thanks…
Congressional Briefing Explores Groundbreaking Research on the Health of the Aging
On June 30, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in collaboration with Friends of the National Institute on Aging (FoNIA) hosted an educational briefing on Capitol Hill on āAdvancing the health of an aging population: Groundbreaking Research Supported by the NIA.ā FoNIAĀ is a broad-based coalition of aging, disease, research, and patient groups that supports the mission of theĀ Institute; COSSA is a longstanding member. The briefing continues the series of annual FoNIA Congressional briefings designed to share the latest aging research with Congress and its staff. Presenters included NIA Director Richard Hodes; NIA Deputy…
Funding Opportunity Announcements
NSF: Dear Colleague Letter: Change Makers (NSF-16-109) NIH opportunities: Ā NIH: Extramural Loan Repayment Program for Contraception and Infertility Research (LRP-CIR) (NOT-OD-16-115) NIH: Extramural Loan Repayment Program for Clinical Researchers (LRP-CR) (NOT-OD-16-116) NIH: Extramural Loan Repayment Program for Pediatric Research (LRP-PR) (NOT-OD-16-117) NIH: Extramural Loan Repayment Program for Health Disparities Research (LRP-HDR) (NOT-OD-16-118) NIH: Extramural Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds (LRP-IDB) (NOT-OD-16-119) NIMH: Advanced Laboratories for Accelerating the Reach and Impact of Treatments for Youth and Adults with Mental Illness (ALACRITY) Research Centers (P50) (PAR-16-354) NIMHD/NCI: Social Epigenomics Research Focused on Minority Health and Health…
AERA Briefing Examines the Supreme Court Decision in Fisher v. UT Austin
On June 28, the American Educational Research Association (AERA) held a briefing, AfterĀ Fisher: What the Supreme Courtās Ruling Means for Students, Colleges, and the Country, to discuss the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Fisher v. University of Texas, Austin (Fisher II). A distinguished panel of civil rights and education research experts focused on the impact of the Fisher II ruling and its implications for ensuring quality education for all students. The Courtās June 23 ruling reaffirmed āthe compelling governmental interest in promoting student-body diversity in higher education and upheld the constitutionality of the Universityās race-conscious admissions policy under the…
Events Calendar
Joint Statistical Meetings, Chicago, IL, July 30-August 4, 2016 American Psychological Association Annual Convention, Denver, CO, August 4-7, 2016 Rural Sociological Society Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada, August 16-19, 2016 American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, August 20-23, 2016 American Political Science Association Annual Meeting & Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA, September 1-4, 2016 Economic History Association Annual Meeting, Boulder, CO, September 16-18, 2016 A list of COSSA membersā annual meetings and other events can be found on the COSSAĀ website. COSSA members who have an upcomingĀ eventĀ they would like to see listed in theĀ EventsĀ Calendar and on our website should send an email toĀ jmilton@cossa.org….
COSSA Washington Update, Volume 35 Issue 13
Featured News Senate Introduces āCOMPETESā Reauthorization Bill Congressional News Appropriations Process Grinds to a Halt Lipinski Introduces Legislation to Improve Research Regulations Federal Agency & Administration News Impact Report Highlights Obama Administrationās Science Initiatives Acting Agricultural Statistics Board Chair Named Scientific Workforce Diversity Discussed at NIH Advisory Committee Meeting Census Scientific Advisory Committee Seeks Nominations Nominations Open for NSB Awards Publications & Community Events NAS Webinar Puts Recent āAdvancing the Power of Economic Evidenceā Report in International Context Funding Opportunity Announcements COSSA Member Spotlight CJRA & COSSA to Host āAsk a Criminologistā Roundtable on Homicide Rates Events Calendar
Senate Introduces āCOMPETESā Reauthorization Bill
On June 22, Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO), Gary Peters (D-MI), John Thune (R-SD), and Bill Nelson (D-FL) introduced the bipartisan American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (S. 3084), which is the Senateās version of America COMPETES Act reauthorization legislation. As COSSA has been reporting, the America COMPETES Act is legislation originally enacted in 2007 to bolster U.S. investment in basic scientific research at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other federal science agencies. The Houseās efforts to reauthorize COMPETES took a negative turn in recent years, resulting in legislation that would decimate federal funding for social science research and dismantle the…
Appropriations Process Grinds to a Halt
It was only a matter of time before the fiscal year (FY) 2017 appropriations process ground to a halt in anticipation of the extended summer recess. Tensions came to a head last week with a Democratic sit-in on the House floor in demand of a vote on gun safety legislation, and a 15-hour Democratic filibuster of the FY 2017 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill in the Senate to force votes on gun violence-related amendments, which were allowed late in the week. In light of the renewed focus on gun control in the aftermath of the Orlando tragedy, any bipartisan progress…
Lipinski Introduces Legislation to Improve Research Regulations
Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) introduced legislation on June 24 intended to develop ways to alleviate some of the administrative burden placed on federally funded researchers and institutions. The University Regulations Streamlining and Harmonization Act of 2016 (H.R. 5583), which is co-sponsored by Lipinskiās Illinois colleague from across the aisle, Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL), builds on recommendations from a 2015 National Academies report, Optimizing the Nation’s Investment in Academic Research: A New Regulatory Framework for the 21st Century, Part 1 (part 2 of the report will be released on June 28). The improvements and efficiencies proposed in the bill include establishing…
Impact Report Highlights Obama Administrationās Science Initiatives
On June 21, the White House released 100 Examples of President Obamaās Leadership in Science, Technology, and Innovation. Among the initiatives and policies listed are efforts to increase scientific transparency at federal science agencies, the formation of science-related councils and groups at the White House, and the creation of multiple science and research-related tax credits. Many of the initiatives promoted the social and behavioral sciences, including creating the Social and Behavioral Sciences Team (SBST) at the White House, publishing thousands of federal datasets onĀ data.gov, and implementing a multi-agency plan to harness big data. Back to this issueās table of contents.
CJRA & COSSA to Host āAsk a Criminologistā Roundtable on Homicide Rates
The CrimeĀ & Justice Research Alliance (CJRA) (a collaborative effort of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and the American Society of Criminology, both COSSA members) and COSSA will be hosting the first in a series of āAsk a Criminologistā Congressional roundtables on Thursday, July 7. Ā This roundtable will feature new research commissioned by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) exploring why homicide rates in the United States increased in 2015 and include a discussion with CJRA Chair Dr. Nancy La Vigne, Dr. Richard Rosenfeld, and Washington Post reporter Tom Jackman. More information, and a link to RSVP, can be found…
Acting Agricultural Statistics Board Chair Named
The National Agricultural Statistics Service has named Joseph L. Parsons acting chair of the U.S. Department of Agricultureās (USDA) Agricultural Statistics Board. The Agricultural Statistics Board āprepares and issues USDAās official national and state forecasts and estimates relating to crop production, stocks of agricultural commodities, livestock and livestock products, dairy and dairy products, poultry and poultry products, agricultural prices, economic information, agricultural wage rates, chemical usage, and other such subjects.ā Parsons currently serves as Director of NASSā Information Technology Division and Chief Information Officer. Back to this issueās table of contents.