FABBS reports on items of interest to many communities – scientists, policymakers, and the public. In our news, you will see updates on science funding and policy, articles that translate research for policy, and descriptions of the research contributions of scientists at all stages of their research careers.
Balanced Budget Agreement Vote Fails in House, Waiting for Action in Senate
May 23, 2018
Talk of a balanced budget amendment (BBA) to the U.S. Constitution may seem insignificant to the concerns of scientists, but there are huge implications for science funding, as well as other government programs. In April, the U.S. House of Representatives held a vote on H.J. Res 2, which would require federal government expenditures in any year to be offset by revenues collected in that same year. It would also require a true majority of each chamber to pass tax increases and a
read moreCongress Holds Hearings to Examine the NIH Budget Request
May 23, 2018
On May 17, NIH Director Francis Collins testified before the Senate Labor, Health and Human and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, providing details about not only how the agency intends to spend its $3 billion increase in the remaining months of Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, but also discussing its FY 2019 outlook.
Dr. Collins took advantage of the hearing to announce NIH had suspended enrollment in a study on the health effects of moderate alcohol consumption. The study, which
read moreHouse Appropriations Committee Approves $8.2 billion for NSF in FY 2019
May 23, 2018
On May 17, the House Appropriations committee marked up the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Bill, which includes funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF), among other federal agencies and programs.
The House CJS Appropriations bill includes $8.2 billion for NSF for FY19, a 5.3 percent increase over FY18, and a 9.4 percent increase over the administration’s request for NSF for FY19. Rep. John Culberson
read moreFABBS and Colleagues Meet with NIH to Chart Course on Clinical Trials
May 23, 2018
Since mid-2017, FABBS has interacted with NIH —and later, appropriators— about our scientific community’s concerns with NIH’s inclusion of basic science involving humans in its clinical trial policies. Given the continuing concerns earlier this year, House and Senate appropriators included Congressional report language in the Fiscal Year 2018 omnibus appropriations bill. The report language directed NIH to halt implementation of the clinical trial policies as they
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