In this issue:
VOTE ON ASME'S 2013-2014 PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES!
Your help is needed in establishing the top six federal Public Policy Agenda issue priorities for ASME to address during the legislative session for 2013 – 2014. ASME's Public Policy Agenda is a compendium of federal issues of concern to the Society put together from the results of a survey issued every two years by ASME Government Relations.
Information on ASME's 2011-2012 Public Policy Issues, along with our Public Policy Agenda, are available to review at: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/advocacy-government-relations and http://files.asme.org/asmeorg/NewsPublicPolicy/GovRelations/17695.pdf
It may come as no surprise to you, but out of 435 members in the U.S. House of Representatives and 100 in the U.S. Senate, only 10 have engineering backgrounds. Policy decisions should be backed with sound science, engineering and economics, so the Public Policy Agenda is a very important tool for the Society, as it will drive Government Relations activities and programs at the federal level. This includes position statements issued by ASME and its various groups and divisions, which are available to review at: http://www.asme.org/NewsPublicPolicy/GovRelations/PositionStatements/
All ASME members can vote on the issues that they believe are having the biggest impact on ASME and engineers in general by completing our online policy survey at:
http://asme.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_56Ejj7v8kHEdkMY
It will only take 10 minutes to fill out the survey.
As a thank you for taking this survey, you will be included in a drawing for one of three Amazon.com gift card valued at $100. Winners will be selected at random from all eligible entries. Employees and contractors of ASME and their immediate families (spouses and children) are not eligible to win. Void where prohibited.
As a member, your participation – your vote! – is vital to ensuring that ASME’s Public Policy Agenda represents your priorities to federal policymakers.
Thank you in advance for completing the survey. We greatly appreciate your involvement in public policy issues that affect mechanical engineers and the engineering profession. Please share this email with other ASME members.
BILL OVERRIDING THE PRESIDENT'S PIPELINE VETO HEADS TO HOUSE FLOOR
On February 7th, the full House Energy and Commerce Committee approved H.R. 3548, the North American Energy Access Act, by a vote of 33 to 20. The bill would expedite the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline by removing the president’s authority over the pipeline’s permit and giving it to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
The legislation instructs FERC to approve the pipeline within 30 days if the permit remains in compliance with State Department’s Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), which concluded building the pipeline was the “preferred” option. The legislation also gives FERC 30 days to approve the Nebraska re-route once the environmental review is complete and the state’s governor has approved it.
The Administration had been studying the issue, via the State Department, since 2008, and was facing a February 21, 2012 deadline to approve or reject the pipeline project that was worked into a payroll tax deduction bill that was approved by Congress late last December. On January 18, 2012, the Department of State recommended that the President deny the presidential permit for the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline. The decision has become a lightning rod of criticism for some lawmakers who view the project as a means to enhancing the nation’s economy, and energy security.
As previously announced by House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), H.R. 3548 will now become part of the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, H.R. 7. Please visit http://www.speaker.gov/blog/?postid=278277 for an overview of that measure.
To read H.R. 3548, go to http://thomas.loc.gov and search by bill number.
For more information about ASME public policy activities related to energy, please visit: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/advocacy-government-relations/programs--public-policy----society-policies/energy
Robert Rains handles public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at:
rainsr@asme.org
SS&T COMMITTEE HOLDS HEARING ON "ASSESSING AMERICA'S NUCLEAR FUTURE – A REVIEW OF THE BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION'S REPORT TO THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY"
On February 8th, the House Science, Space and Technology (SS&T) Committee held a hearing entitled “Assessing America’s Nuclear Future – A Review of the Blue Ribbon Commission’s Report to the Secretary of Energy.” Testifying before the full Committee were: Lt. Gen. Brent Scowcroft, USAF (Ret.), Co-Chairman, Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future; The Honorable Richard Meserve, Commissioner, Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future; and, The Honorable Pete Lyons, Assistant Secretary of Nuclear Energy, Department of Energy.
The purpose of this hearing was to examine the recommendations contained in the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future (BRC) Report to the Secretary of Energy, as well as the broader science and technology issues associated with spent nuclear fuel management. For over 50 years, a deep geological repository has been examined as an option for radioactive waste disposal. In its report, the BRC notes “the conclusion that disposal is needed and that deep geologic disposal is the scientifically preferred approach has been reached by every expert panel that has looked at the issue and by every other country that is pursuing a nuclear waste management program.”
The tone of the hearing was dour, even with effusive praise from the dais for both Lt. Gen. Scowcroft and Rep. Meserve. While lawmakers seemed to appreciate the production of the report, there was still some obvious concern regarding the political considerations regarding the implementation of the report’s recommendations. To this, the panel repeatedly pointed to the success of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) storage facility located in New Mexico. The WIPP’s success was attributed to, in part by, the sustained communication and education of the population within the surrounding area about the facility and its purpose. The panel contrasted that with the legislative decision to locate nuclear spent fuel within Yucca Mountain, a decision wholly unpopular with Nevada residents.
In presenting its recommended strategy, the BRC noted all elements of its strategy are “necessary to establish a truly integrated national waste management system, to create institutional leadership and wherewithal to get the job done, and to ensure that the United States remains at the forefront of technology developments and international responses to evolving nuclear safety, non-proliferation, and security concerns.”
Assistant Secretary of Nuclear Energy at the Department of Energy, Dr. Pete Lyons, stressed how important the issue of spent nuclear fuel storage will continue to be moving forward. “The United States must develop a sustainable fuel cycle and used fuel management strategy to ensure that nuclear power continues to be a safe, reliable resource for our nation’s long-term energy supply and security.”
Last fall, ASME President Victoria A. Rockwell provided comments in the form of a general position statement to the BRC’s draft report that was originally released on July 29, 2011 and was open for comment until October 31, 2011. For more information about this position statement, please see the November 7, 2011 Edition of Capitol Update.
To read President Rockwell’s comments on the BRC report, go to http://files.asme.org/asmeorg/NewsPublicPolicy/GovRelations/PositionStatements/30412.pdf
The written statements of the witnesses may be read at: http://science.house.gov/hearing/full-committee-hearing-assessing-america%E2%80%99s-nuclear-future-%E2%80%93-review-blue-ribbon-commission%E2%80%99s
For more information about ASME public policy activities related to energy, please visit: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/advocacy-government-relations/programs--public-policy----society-policies/energy
Robert Rains handles public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at:
rainsr@asme.org
DOE TO LAUNCH NEW ENERGY INNOVATION HUB FOCUSED ON ADVANCED BATTERIES AND ENERGY STORAGE
The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced plans to launch a new Energy Innovation Hub for advanced research on batteries and energy storage with an investment of up to $120 million over five years. The hub, which will be funded at up to $20 million in fiscal year 2012, will focus on accelerating research and development of electrochemical energy storage for transportation and the electric grid. The interdisciplinary research and development through the new Energy Innovation Hub will help advance cutting-edge energy storage and battery technologies that can be used to improve the reliability and the efficiency of the electrical grid, to better integrate clean, renewable energy technologies as part of the electrical system, and for use in electric and hybrid vehicles that will reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.
The goal of the Batteries and Energy Storage Hub will be to deliver research leading to revolutionary new technologies. While advancing the current understanding and underlying science around energy storage, the role of the new hub will be to develop radically new scientific approaches, including the exploration of new materials, devices, systems and novel approaches for transportation and utility-scale storage. The hub should foster new energy storage designs and develop working, scalable prototype devices that demonstrate radically new approaches for electrochemical storage, overcoming current manufacturing limitations through innovation to reduce complexity and cost. The ultimate goal will be to surpass the current technical limits for electrochemical energy storage and reduce the risk level enough for industry to further develop the innovations discovered by the hub and deploy these new technologies into the marketplace.
The Energy Innovation Hubs, together with the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy program, have been signature concepts ushered in under Secretary Chu during his tenure at the DOE. Secretary Chu was inspired to create the hubs from his work at the Bell laboratories in the late 1970’s. While initially proposing eight hubs during the fiscal year (FY) 2010 budget; Congress funded three: energy efficient buildings system design, fuels from sunlight, and nuclear energy modeling and simulation.
Letters of Intent to apply are due on March 1, 2012 with full applications due on May 31, 2012. Universities, national laboratories, nonprofit organizations, and private firms are eligible to compete and are encouraged to form partnerships when submitting their proposals. The award selection is expected this summer.
The full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is available at: https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/?doc=DE-FOA-0000559&agency=DOE
For more information about ASME public policy activities related to energy, please visit: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/advocacy-government-relations/programs--public-policy----society-policies/energy
Robert Rains handles public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at:
rainsr@asme.org
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND PRIVATE SECTOR ANNOUNCE OVER $100 MILLION IN COMMITMENTS TO PREPARE 100,000 NEW STEM TEACHERS
On February 7th, President Obama hosted the second White House Science Fair celebrating the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country. The President also announced key additional steps that the Administration and its partners are taking to prepare 100,000 effective math and science teachers and to meet the urgent need to train one million additional STEM graduates over the next decade.
The second White House Science Fair included over 100 students from over 45 states, representing over 40 different STEM competitions that recognize the talents of America’s next generation of scientists, engineers, inventors and innovators. More than 30 student teams had the opportunity to exhibit their projects this year, almost twice as many as the first White House Science Fair held in 2010. The President viewed exhibits of the student work, ranging from breakthrough research to new inventions, and then provided remarks to an audience of students, science educators and business leaders on the importance of STEM education to the country’s economic future. For a sampling of the exhibits that the President saw, as well as more information on all the students, competitions and organizations being honored, please visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/02/06/background-exhibits-students-and-competitions-white-house-science-fair
In conjunction with the White House Science Fair, the President issued a national challenge to prepare 100,000 effective teachers with such skills in math and science over the next decade. Key steps being announced today to meet that goal include:
- A new $80 million investment to help prepare effective STEM teachers: The President’s upcoming budget will request $80 million for a new competition by the Department of Education to support effective STEM teacher preparation programs, such as those that allow students to simultaneously earn both a STEM degree and a teaching certificate, and provide undergraduates with early and intensive experiences in the classroom honing their skills.
- A new $22 million investment from the philanthropic and private sector to complement the Administration’s efforts: After the President issued his call to action to recruit and prepare 100,000 effective STEM teachers, over 115 organizations, led by Carnegie Corporation of New York and Opportunity Equation, came together to form a coalition called “100Kin10” to help reach the President’s goal. A complete list of partners and their commitments is available at www.100Kin10.org
- A STEM focus in upcoming Race to the Top competition: To ensure that STEM remains a component of systemic education reform, the Department of Education will again include a focus on STEM criteria in the upcoming Race to the Top competition.
- New policies and investments to recruit, support, retain and reward excellent STEM teachers: To improve the teaching and learning of STEM and encourage the best STEM teachers to stay in the profession, the Department of Education will devote a portion of its upcoming $300 million Teacher Incentive Fund competition to support state and local efforts to improve compensation, evaluation, and professional development systems for STEM educators.
For additional information, please refer to: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/02/07/president-obama-host-white-house-science-fair
Additional information about ASME public policy activities related to workforce development and STEM education can be found at: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/advocacy-government-relations/programs--public-policy----society-policies/workforce-development-and-stem-education
Melissa Carl handles public policy-related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education issues for ASME. She can be reached at: carlm@asme.org
PCAST RELEASES UNDERGRADUATE STEM EDUCATION REPORT
On Tuesday, February 7th, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released its report entitled “Engage to Excel: Producing One Million Additional College Graduates with Degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.” This report provides a strategy for improving STEM education during the first two years of college that is responsive to both the challenges and the opportunities that this crucial stage in the STEM education pathway presents.
In its latest report, PCAST concludes that retaining more STEM majors is the lowest-cost, fastest policy option to provide the STEM professionals that the U.S. needs for economic and societal well-being. Among other benefits of this approach, it does not require expanding the number or size of introductory courses, which are already constrained by space and resources at many colleges and universities.
In addition to its call to create a Presidential Council on STEM Education to help implement and expand upon PCAST’s recommendations, the report’s major policy recommendations—applicable to technical and community colleges as well as four-year colleges and universities—are:
- Catalyze widespread adoption of empirically validated teaching practices;
- Advocate and provide support for replacing standard laboratory courses with discovery-based research courses;
- Launch a national experiment in postsecondary mathematics education to address the math preparation gap; and,
- Encourage partnerships among stakeholders to diversify pathways to STEM careers.
In conclusion, PCAST’s recommendations, many of which could be implemented by refocusing current STEM investments, address the most significant barriers to STEM student retention and have the potential to inspire and catalyze change in America’s college classrooms. Their implementation would provide students with the skills they need to fill 21st century American jobs and provide the United States with the workforce it needs to be innovative and competitive for decades to come.
In May of 2011, then ASME Center for Public Awareness Vice President Willard Nott was invited to provide oral remarks to the PCAST working group on this subject.
The 22-page executive report may be viewed at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/pcast-executive-report-final_feb.pdf
The full 130-page report is available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/pcast-engage-to-excel-final_feb.pdf
Additional information about ASME public policy activities related to workforce development and STEM education can be found at: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/advocacy-government-relations/programs--public-policy----society-policies/workforce-development-and-stem-education
Melissa Carl handles public policy-related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education issues for ASME. She can be reached at:
carlm@asme.org
THE ARTICLES CONTAINED IN CAPITOL UPDATE ARE NOT POSITIONS OF ASME OR ANY OF
ITS SUB-ENTITIES, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY NOTED AS SUCH. THIS PUBLICATION IS DESIGNED
TO INFORM ASME MEMBERS ABOUT ISSUES OF CONCERN BEING DEBATED AND DISCUSSED IN
THE HALLS OF CONGRESS, IN THE STATES, AND IN THE FEDERAL AGENCIES.
ASME Government Relations
1828 L Street, NW, Suite 906
Washington, DC 20036