A staple since COSSA’s 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.
Funding Opportunity Announcements
NSF: Cyberlearning for Work at the Human-Technology Frontier (NSF 17-598) Back to this issue’s table of contents.
Events Calendar
Why Social Science? Congressional Briefing on Social Science Solutions for Health, Public Safety, Computing, and Other National Priorities, October 4, 2017, Washington, DC The Lunch @ DC: The Promise of Evidence-Based Policymaking: Recommendations of the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking, October 5, 2017, Washington, DC American Statistical Association Symposium on Statistical Inference, October 11-13, 2017, Bethesda, MD National Research Summit on Care, Services and Supports for Persons with Dementia and Their Caregivers, October 16-17, 2017, Bethesda, MD 14th Annual AERA Brown Lecture in Education Research With Alfredo J. Artiles, October 19, 2017, Washington, DC The Lunch @ DC: How Evidence Can Transform the Fight Against…
COSSA Washington Update, Volume 36 Issue 18
Featured News House Passes Omnibus Spending Bill Along with Problematic NSF Amendment COSSA in Action The Computing Research Association Answers “Why Social Science?” Congressional News Senate Labor-HHS-Education Bill Approved by Committee Federal Agency & Administration News Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking Releases Final Report NSF Releases Dear Colleague Letter on Proposals Related to Hurricane Harvey COSSA Member Spotlight Annual AERA Brown Lecture to Feature Alfredo J. Artiles AAPSS Accepting Nominations for 2019 Moynihan Prize Events Calendar
House Passes Omnibus Spending Bill Along with Problematic NSF Amendment
After two weeks of debate and votes on hundreds of amendments, the House of Representatives has passed an omnibus spending bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, consisting of all twelve spending bills. The omnibus includes the same funding levels for social science research as the Commerce-Justice-Science and Labor-Health and Human Services-Education bills that were passed by the House Appropriations Committee. While the proposed funding levels were moderately good for social and behavioral science research, the House approved an amendment proposed by Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX), the chair of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, that could be detrimental to the…
Senate Labor-HHS-Education Bill Approved by Committee
On September 7, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its fiscal year (FY) 2018 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) Appropriations Bill; the Labor-HHS Subcommittee advanced the bill on September 5. This bill contains annual funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Education (ED), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), among other federal departments and agencies. The House Appropriations Committee passed its version of the bill on July 19; the bill recently passed the House as part of a 12-bill…
Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking Releases Final Report
On September 7, the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking (CEP) released its final report, The Promise of Evidence-Based Policymaking. The Commission was established by the bipartisan Evidence-Based Policymaking Commission Act of 2016, which had been introduced by Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) in the House and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) in the Senate. The Commission consisted of 15 members appointed by the President, Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader, and Senate Minority Leader, with five members being selected for their privacy expertise. Katharine G. Abraham, University of Maryland, chaired the Commission, with Ron Haskins, Brookings Institution, as her…
NSF Releases Dear Colleague Letter on Proposals Related to Hurricane Harvey
The National Science Foundation (NSF) released a Dear Colleague letter on September 1 encouraging submissions of proposals that seek to address challenges related to Hurricane Harvey. This includes proposals that address how to better prepare for storms, the human aspects of natural disasters, improving emergency response, and ways to reduce future damage. Proposals may be submitted as rapid response research grants, early-concept grants, or supplemental funding to existing grants. More information can be found here. Back to this issue’s table of contents.
Annual AERA Brown Lecture to Feature Alfredo J. Artiles
The American Educational Research Association (AERA), a COSSA governing member, will hold its 14th annual Brown Lecture in Education Research on October 19 in Washington, DC. The 2017 lecture will be delivered by Alfredo J. Artiles, Dean of Graduate Education and the Ryan C. Harris Professor of Special Education at Arizona State University. Artiles’ work focuses on the intersection of disability with other socio-cultural differences and how to better understand and address related educational disparities. More information on Artiles and the lecture, including how to register to attend in person or watch via webcast, is available on the AERA website….
AAPSS Accepting Nominations for 2019 Moynihan Prize
The American Academy of Political and Social Science (AAPSS), a COSSA member, has opened the nomination process for its 2019 Daniel Patrick Moynihan Prize. The Moynihan Prize recognizes “social scientists, public officials and other leaders in the public arena who champion the use of informed judgment to improve public policy.” More information on the Prize and instructions for submitting nominations is available on the AAPSS website. Back to this issue’s table of contents.
Events Calendar
The Lunch @ DC: Evidence-Informed Government: Addressing New and Recurring Challenges to Old Problems, September 21, 2017, Washington, DC The Lunch @ DC: The Promise of Evidence-Based Policymaking: Recommendations of the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking, October 5, 2017, Washington, DC American Statistical Association Symposium on Statistical Inference, October 11-13, 2017, Bethesda, MD National Research Summit on Care, Services and Supports for Persons with Dementia and Their Caregivers, October 16-17, 2017, Bethesda, MD 14th Annual AERA Brown Lecture in Education Research With Alfredo J. Artiles, October 19, 2017, Washington, DC The Lunch @ DC: How Evidence Can Transform the Fight Against Poverty, October 19, 2017,…
COSSA Washington Update, Volume 36 Issue 17
Featured News White House Outlines FY 2019 R&D Budget Priorities, Emphasizes Role of Industry COSSA in Action The American Educational Research Association Answers “Why Social Science?” Congressional News Pressure’s on as Congress Returns to Packed Agenda Federal Agency & Administration News NIH Announces New Next Generation Researchers Policy NIH Requests Information on ECHO-wide Cohort Data Collection Protocol NIJ Releases New Policing Research Strategic Plan HHS Seeks Nominations for New Pain Management Task Force NSF Seeking Candidates for Director of Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences AHRQ Releases 2016 Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report Publications & Community Events National Academies Launches…
Pressure’s on as Congress Returns to Packed Agenda
Congress returns this week from its month-long August recess with just 12 working days left until fiscal year (FY) 2017 is a wrap. While September is a typically busy stretch as policymakers try to finish work on the annual appropriations bills and tie up other end-of-the-fiscal-year loose ends, the next few weeks promise to be even more challenging than recent years. First on deck is an $8 billion emergency relief package in response to Hurricane Harvey. In addition, Congress will need to raise the federal debt ceiling in the next couple of weeks as well as take action to avoid…
NIH Announces New Next Generation Researchers Policy
On August 31, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a new policy aimed at increasing the number of early career investigators competing successfully for NIH grants. The Policy Supporting the Next Generation Researchers Initiative implements Section 2021 of the 21st Century Cures Act, enacted in late 2016, which calls for the agency to prioritize investment in the next generation of biomedical researchers. The Next Generation Researchers Policy sets two new definitions of early career investigators: Early Stage Investigators (ESIs) and Early Established Investigators (EEIs). Early Stage Investigators are defined as a “program director/principal investigator who has completed their terminal…
NIH Requests Information on ECHO-wide Cohort Data Collection Protocol
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking input into the development of the cohort data collection protocol for the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program. ECHO was formed late last year to “investigate how exposure to a range of environmental factors in early development—from conception through early childhood–influences the health of children and adolescents.” ECHO represents the follow-on activity to the now-discontinued National Children’s Study. The Request for Information seeks comments on a number of aspects of the ECHO-wide cohort, which will entail data collection from 84 existing cohorts. Input is sought on the data elements, types…
NIJ Releases New Policing Research Strategic Plan
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the research and evaluation arm of the Department of Justice, has released a five-year strategic plan for policing research. Priorities include promoting and supporting research to optimize workforce development for officers and civilian personnel, promoting and supporting research on policing practices, and promoting and supporting research on the relationship between policing and communities. More information can be found here. Back to this issue’s table of contents.
HHS Seeks Nominations for New Pain Management Task Force
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is soliciting nominations for members of their new Pain Management Task Force. The Task Force was announced on August 25 by HHS Secretary Tom Price and is charged with developing best practices for prescribing pain medication and managing pain. The Task Force will be a joint effort with the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs and is seeking membership from diverse disciplines and views, including experts and patients in pain management, addiction, mental health, minority health, and more. Nominations must be received by September 27, 2017. More information can be found in…
NSF Seeking Candidates for Director of Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking candidates for the Director of the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS) within the Directorate of Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE). The BCS Director is responsible for providing leadership and direction to the Division and implementing overall strategic planning. The BCS Division provides funding for research that helps advance scientific knowledge about the brain, human cognition, language, social behavior, and culture. Applications must be submitted by September 29, 2017. The position requirements can be found on USAJobs. Back to this issue’s table of contents.
AHRQ Releases 2016 Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released the 2016 edition of its Congressionally-mandated National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (QDR). This year marks the 14th annual release of the report, which compiles over 250 individual measurements to present a comprehensive overview of the equity and quality of our health care system. The report is available on the AHRQ website. Back to this issue’s table of contents.