February 20, 2012
Capitol Update

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 degrees. 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.

 

 

ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSED FY 2013 BUDGET REQUEST PRIORITIZES RESEARCH AND STEM EDUCATION

President Obama’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Budget calls for continued increase for the federal research and development (R&D) enterprise and a renewed focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. The President’s FY 2013 Budget proposes $140.8 billion for federal R&D, an increase of $2 billion or 1.4 percent over the FY 2012 enacted level. (All comparisons are to the FY 2012 budget as enacted, in current, not-adjusted-for-inflation dollars.)

The Federal research portfolio, comprising basic and applied research, would total $64 billion, a 3.3 percent, or $2 billion increase over FY 2012. Non-defense R&D would rise 5 percent to $64.9 billion. These increases are offset in part by reductions in Department of Defense (DOD) weapons-systems development activities as its programs mature and transition to the production phase.

In addition, the President’s FY 2013 science and technology budget includes:

  • $13.1 billion—an increase of 4.4 percent above FY 2012 funding levels, to support funding for three science agencies crucial to the nation’s future competitiveness—the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Science, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratories;
  • $2.2 billion for a range of advanced manufacturing R&D to focus on innovative manufacturing processes, advanced industrial materials, and robotics, and by encouraging greater Federal collaboration with universities and industry; and
  • $350 million for transformational energy R&D in DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), a 27.3 percent increase over the FY 2012 appropriated amount of $275 million. 

Other R&D highlights in the President’s FY 2013 Budget (compared to FY 2012 enacted) include:

  • $17.7 billion total for National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a slight reduction from last year but with increases proposed for Space Technology and Exploration accounts.  NASA’s Aeronautics research accounts would decrease by 3.1 percent to $552 million from $570 million, and NASA Science portfolio would decline 3.2 percent to $4.9 billion from slightly more than $5.0 billion;
  • $7.4 billion for NSF, a 4.8 percent increase over FY 2012 appropriated amount of $7.0 billion;
  • $5 billion for the DOE Office of Science, a 2.4 percent increase over the FY 2012 appropriated amount of $4.8 billion;
  • $1.8 billion total for the National Nanotechnology Initiative, an increase of 4.1 percent over the FY 2012 appropriated amount of $1.7 billion;
  • $857 million for NIST, a 14.5 percent increase over the FY 2012 appropriated amount of $751 million; and
  • $336.9 million for the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at the National Institute of Health (NIH), a 0.3 percent decrease from the FY 2012 appropriated amount of $338 million.

Additional details can be found on fact sheets and other FY 2013 budget resources at http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/rdbudgets.  A detailed breakdown of R&D budgets is available at:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/fy2013rd_summary.pdf

Kicking off the first of multiple hearings regarding the budget request, the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology held a hearing on February 17th at which White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Director John Holdren answered questions about the proposed FY 2013 R&D budget. Information on that hearing is available at http://science.house.gov/hearing/full-committee-hearing-overview-administration%E2%80%99s-federal-research-and-development-budget

Melissa Carl handles public policy-related STEM education and workforce issues for ASME.  She can be reached at carlm@asme.org

Robert Rains handles public policy-related energy issues for ASME.  He can be reached at rainsr@asme.org  

Paul Fakes handles public policy-related research and development (R&D) issues for ASME.  He can be reached at: fakesp@asme.org

 

 

DOE BUDGET SHOWS ADMINISTRATION PRIORITIZING RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION IN FY 2013

In an election year, and following a fiscally austere FY 2012 for some programs, DOE Secretary Steven Chu unveiled President Obama's $27.2 billion FY 2013 budget request for the department, emphasizing the President’s commitment to an all-of-the-above energy strategy that includes critical investments in innovation, clean energy technologies and national security strategy.  This is $855 million, or 3.2 percent, more than the FY 2012 appropriated amount of $26.3 billion. 

In addition to the $5 billion request by President Obama for FY 2013 for the DOE Office of Science, which would be a $118 million, 2.4 percent boost over the FY 2012 appropriated amount, highlights in the FY 2013 budget include:

  • $2.3 billion for DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office, a $527 million, or 29 percent increase over the FY 2012 appropriated amount of $1.8 billion;
  • $770 million for the Office of Nuclear Energy, an $88 million, or 10.3 percent decrease from the FY 2012 appropriated amount of $858 million;
  • $650 million for the Office of Fossil Energy research and development, an increase of $86.3 million, or 15.3 percent over the FY 2012 appropriated amount of $564 million; and
  • $120 million to support the Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs), an increase of $20 million, or 20 percent over the FY 2012 appropriated amount of $100 million.   

DOE’s complete FY 2013 Budget Request to Congress is available at: http://www.cfo.doe.gov/crOrg/cf30.htm

Robert Rains handles public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at: rainsr@asme.org

 

 

OUTGOING SENATE ENERGY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN BINGAMAN HOLDS FINAL DOE BUDGET HEARING

Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently testified before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, providing specifics for the DOE’s FY 2013 budget request. The hearing was significant, not only with a looming Clean Energy Standard bill promised within the next few weeks by Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), but also because Sen. Bingaman’s retirement from public service means that this was his last hearing regarding the DOE budget. 

Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) took the opportunity to invite secretary Chu to participate in an upcoming oversight hearing by ENR regarding the troubled Loan Guarantee Program (LGP). While the House has held numerous hearings on the topic, ENR has been somewhat reluctant to weigh in, partially because of the highly political tone of the topic. Sen. Bingaman (D-N.M.) has said that ENR is planning a hearing in two weeks to review a White House report that examined the loan program.

Secretary Chu also fielded questions related to all types of programs under the DOE umbrella.  Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) took the time to promote a uranium enrichment plant within his state that was seeking enriched uranium, as well as a loan by the DOE.  Sen. Barrasso (R-WY) voiced his concern about the effect on consumers if tax breaks for the oil and gas industry are revoked, as is proposed in the budget.  Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) asked for an update on the DOE Innovation Hubs.  Inspired by Secretary Chu’s time at Bell Laboratories, the DOE Hubs assemble multidisciplinary teams from universities, national laboratories, and the private sector to address systemic energy challenges and tackle fundamental problems in energy.  Five exist now, and President Obama has proposed a sixth hub on grid systems. 

In a statement released prior to the hearing, Committee Chair Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) indicated his support of the proposed energy budget saying, “This budget highlights the choice facing Congress about our clean energy future.” Bingaman added, “The President’s vision is to support the groundbreaking research that will ensure that America leads in making the clean energy technologies of tomorrow a reality, giving consumers new cost-saving energy choices and keeping our energy-related manufacturing base strong.  Within this budget, he has heeded the analysis from the Quadrennial Technology Review of energy and made tough choices to wind down work in some mature areas, in order to have increased resources for new frontier research.”

To read the Independent Counsel’s review of the DOE Loan Guarantee Program please click here http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/report_on_doe_loan_and_guarantee_portfolio.pdf

To read Secretary Chu’s written statement, please visit http://energy.senate.gov/public/_files/SecChuTestimony021620110.pdf

To read the entire statement, go to http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=d332fe9e-5883-48b0-a033-427096a2585a&Month=2&Year=2012&Party=0

Robert Rains handles public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at: rainsr@asme.org

 

 

NSF SEEKS TO SUPPORT ENGINEERING RESEARCH IN FY 2013

NSF Director Subra Suresh discussed the President's $7.373 billion FY 2013 budget request for the agency during their budget rollout, emphasizing that new knowledge resulting from federal investments in science and technology is needed to ensure the nation's future prosperity and global competitiveness.  This is $340 million, or 4.8 percent above the FY 2012 appropriated amount of $7.033 billion.   

Highlights in the NSF FY 2013 budget include:

  • $876.3 million for Engineering Directorate programs, a 6.1 percent increase, with $165.2 million designated for NSF’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs (an 8.2 percent increase); 
  • $202.5 million for the Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability portfolio, a 29 percent increase over last year’s $157 million total, which includes priority work on clean energy alternatives, sustainable chemical and manufacturing practices, water conservation, ocean acidification, natural disaster prediction and response and understanding the changes occurring in coastal and Arctic ecologies;
  • $196 million, identical to FY 2012, for the continuation of construction of four large-scale facilities essential to discovery: the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, Ocean Observatories Initiative, National Ecological Observatory Network and Advanced Technology Solar Telescope;
  • $110 million, a $2 million or 1.7 percent decrease from FY 2012, for cybersecurity research and education via the Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace and the Federal Cyber Service;
  • $106 million, a 36 percent increase from last year’s level of $78 million, for the Cyberinfrastructure Framework for 21st Century Science and Engineering initiative;
  • $63 million, more than triple the FY 2012 funding level of $20 million, to support interdisciplinary work through the Integrated NSF Support Promoting Interdisciplinary Research and Education initiative; and
  • $19 million, more than twice the FY 2012 funding level of $8 million, to the NSF Innovation Corps.

The suite of educational investments in NSF's fiscal year 2013 budget request builds on the recognition that science and engineering talent is the foundation for America's future. Areas of educational investments run the spectrum from early learning to college completion. NSF's educational investments include:

  • $876 million total for Education and Human Resources programs, an increase of 5.6 percent over the FY 2012 total of $829 million;
  • $30 million to transform K-16 mathematics teaching and learning through a new partnership with the Department of Education;
  • $20 million for the Widening Implementation and Demonstration of Evidence-Based Reforms program to move improved undergraduate STEM education instructional practices and curricular innovations to scale;
  • $61 million for the Transforming Undergraduate Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program to reformulate undergraduate education by creating new learning materials, and improving teaching strategies, faculty development and evaluation approaches informed by the latest scientific research; and,
  • $49 million to bring engaging science content, knowledge and applications to more learners via the new Expeditions in Education activity.

A video of the budget presentation may be viewed at http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_videos.jsp?cntn_id=123111&media_id=71929&org=NSF

The complete NSF FY 2013 budget request is available at http://www.nsf.gov/about/budget/fy2013/index.jsp

Melissa Carl handles public policy-related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education issues for ASME. She can be reached at: carlm@asme.org

Paul Fakes handles public policy-related research and development issues for ASME. He can be reached at: fakesp@asme.org

 

 

DEFENSE SCIENCE BOARD WARNS AGAINST EROSION OF U.S. SCIENTIFIC WORKFORCE

The Defense Science Board (DSB) has released its long awaited report on Department of Defense (DOD) basic research programs.  The DOD funds long-term basic research in a wide variety of scientific and engineering fields with a goal of exploiting new knowledge to enhance military capabilities and transform-future capabilities. DOD-funded research has a reputation for high-risk endeavors that have led to paradigm shifts in the nation's technical capabilities. 

The Defense Science Board (DSB) was charged by Congress in August 2010 to conduct and assessment of the quality of DOD basic research programs and to provide advice on long-term basic research planning and strategies for DOD. Its final report, “Report of the Defense Science Task Force on Basic Research,” was released earlier this month and reached the following conclusions:

  • The task force found an alarming level of bureaucratic business practices hindering the conduct of basic research at DOD, from both within and outside of the department and its partner organizations.  The DSB recommended that the Director for Basic Research in ASD(R&E) serve as an ombudsman, seeking to document, eliminate, or waive such unproductive activities;
  • The task force found a myriad of formal mechanisms in place for assessing the quality of basic research in DOD, and considers those fully adequate. Additional review, inspection, and assessment are not needed at this time; and
  • The task force examined the flow of basic research funding from congressional appropriation to disbursement, documenting the cost of doing business, using the Air Force as an example. The overall conclusion of the task force is that the efficiency of DOD funding of basic research is consistent with other comparable government activities.

“In sum, the task force found the current DOD basic research program to be a very good one, comparable to others in the federal government and well-suited to DOD's needs. While nothing is ever so good it cannot be improved, the only area found where improvement would make a significant difference would be to reduce the unnecessary bureaucratic burden imposed at all levels of the basic research organization.”

With respect to the long-term outlook of the DOD research enterprise, the DSB noted that the United States faces a long-term challenge in is science and engineering workforce, including in recruiting the most qualified researchers for DOD research efforts, “An increasing fraction of the world's basic research is being conducted outside the United States. There is a vastly increased rate of growth in the number of non-U.S. citizens graduating with advanced science degrees, awarded by both U.S. universities and by colleges abroad. More and more scientific publications are based on work done overseas. And there are many other indicators of the trend toward globalization of science.”

The entire 132-page report may be read at http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/dod/dsb/basic.pdf

Paul Fakes handles public policy-related research and development issues for ASME. He can be reached at: fakesp@asme.org

 

 

ADVANCE YOUR CAREER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE! APPLY FOR AN ASME FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FELLOWSHIP, INCLUDING A NEW OPPORTUNITY AT USAID

ASME is currently accepting applications for participation in its Federal Government Fellowship Program through which ASME members provide engineering and technical expertise to policy-makers in Congress.  Federal Fellows provide a valuable public service to the nation, while at the same time providing engineers with a unique opportunity to participate directly in the public policy making process.

ASME Congressional Fellowships
ASME is seeking individuals interested in serving as a 2012-2013 Congressional Fellow, who would spend one year in Washington, D.C. working with the staff of a congressional committee, U.S. Senator or U.S. Representative. Congressional Fellowships are designed to demonstrate the value of engineering-government interaction, bring technical backgrounds and external perspectives to the decision making process in Congress and provide a unique public policy learning experience to the Fellow. Because of the limited number of Congressional Fellowships available, the process is very competitive. The following credentials are encouraged: at least five years of professional experience; an advanced engineering degree; professional engineer registration; and, some public policy experience.

United States Agency for International Development
This year, ASME is also pleased to announce a Federal Government Fellowship opportunity with the USAID, the principal federal agency to extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms. 

USAID is currently developing Grand Challenges for Development in rain-fed agriculture and off grid, renewable energy for agriculture. The Office of Science & Technology seeks a fellow who can help drive the development of these two challenges, ensure that the problem statement is scientifically valid and rooted in the most current data and information, and liaise with the necessary and appropriate parties – both within and outside of USAID.   The Fellow will be expected to provide scientific, technical, and intellectual leadership, and analytical support contributing to the advancement of the Grand Challenges effort.  The Fellow will serve as a liaison with internal and external partners, helping USAID enhance its network of development solution providers.  The Fellow will also serve as an engineering adviser to the Director of the Office of Science & Technology.

All ASME Fellows will be awarded a stipend of $60,000 for the one year Fellowship. ASME Federal Fellows typically serve from September through August, but a January through December term is sometimes an option. Applications are accepted annually from December 1st through March 31st. All Fellows must be U.S. citizens and ASME members at the time of application.

To apply for an ASME Congressional Fellowship, fill out the online application at: https://secure.asme.org/fedgovfellows/appform.cfm  and provide the requested materials. The application deadline is March 31, 2012.

For additional information about the ASME Federal Government Fellowship Program, visit: http://www.asme.org/NewsPublicPolicy/GovRelations/Programs/Federal_Government.cfm, or contact Patti Jo Snyder, ASME Government Relations, at: snyderp@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
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