New Legislation Would Create National Gun Violence Research Program

Last week, Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30), Chair of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, reintroduced the National Gun Violence Research Act that would create a comprehensive approach to gun violence research involving multiple agencies. The bill would authorize additional funding for the National Science Foundation ($15M), the National Institute of Standards and Technology ($1M), the Department of Health and Human Services ($25M), and the Department of Justice ($3M)

Bipartisan Group Proposes Funding for Research on Mental Health Effects of COVID-19

FABBS is monitoring new legislation recently introduced by a bipartisan and bicameral group of Members of Congress: the COVID-19 Mental Health Research Act. Senators Klobuchar (D-MN) and Kaine (D-VA) introduced the bill in the Senate, while Representatives Tonko (D-NY) and Katko (R-NY) are sponsoring the House Version.

The bill would direct $100 million annually for five years to the National Institute of Mental Health to fund research on the mental health consequences of the pandemic, with

House Science Committee Holds Hearing on Building Back the U.S. Research Enterprise: COVID Impacts and Recovery

The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee met on Thursday, February 25th to discuss the impact that COVID-19 is having on research and researcher productivity, including the science pipeline. Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) began the hearing by outlining challenges to researchers caused by the pandemic including: time and financial constraints; losing graduate and future researchers; a reduction in productivity; the challenges of resuming paused research; and elevated stress

While Awaiting President’s Budget Request, Congress Advances COVID Relief

White House Budget Update

The first Monday of February has come and gone without a Presidential Budget Request for fiscal year (FY) 2022. This is fairly standard in the first year of a new administration, particularly one that is simultaneously managing other funding bills as well as significant procedural and leadership changes. In addition, White House officials say the work of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has been further delayed due to obstructionist behavior from outgoing