In this issue:
ASME SERVING AS A CO-CHAIR OF U.S. NEWS STEM SOLUTIONS LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
ASME is serving as a Co-Chair for the U.S. News STEM Solutions Leadership Summit, which will be held in Dallas, Texas, from June 27-29, 2012. The Summit is an event where leading educators, top policymakers, major corporations, and education technology companies will gather to address the immediate and far-reaching need for a competitive STEM-skilled job force in the United States. Due to ASME's co-sponsorship of the event, interested ASME members may register at a reduced rate.
The two and a half-day meeting will work toward five outcomes:
- Create the basis for a new data-driven jobs and careers marketplace that will accurately reflect the employment needs of companiesand the skill requirements necessary to obtain jobs, making it easier for both sides to match supply and demand.
- Inform educators and policymakers of the innovation needed in the classroom and beyond to better align skills with jobs.
- Produce a national leadership consensus on implementing programs that demonstrate success and can scale to a national level.
- Showcase the industry/government/education partnerships that are doing the best at aligning skills with jobs.
- Increase public awareness of the expanding skills gap and the devastating effect it is having on the economy as a whole and certain segments of American society in particular.
More information about this event, including the preliminary agenda, can be found at: http://www.USNewsSTEMSolutions.comU.S.
If you are interested in the reduced registration fee, please contact Melissa Carl, Manager of Government Relations, at carlm@asme.org
HOUSE APPROVES ENERGY AND WATER APPROPRIATIONS MEASURE
In recent years, lawmakers have had trouble successfully passing all 12 discretionary spending bills necessary to keep the government running. In election years, the task seems even more difficult, with lawmakers eyeing their districts, and states, earlier and earlier. With that in mind, the House of Representatives passed its version of the Energy and Water appropriations bill (H.R. 5325) last week by a vote of 255 to165, which includes funding to support the Department of Energy, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The legislation provides annual funding totaling $32.1 billion, a cut of $965 million below the President's budget request. As reported in the April 23rd, 2012 Edition of Capitol Update, the House Energy and Water Appropriations bill specifically includes:
- $24.7 billion to support the Department of Energy (DOE); $850 million below the FY11 funding level, and $5.9 billion below the Administration's FY12 request;
- $4.8 billion to support the DOE Office of Science; $42.6 million below the FY11 appropriated amount, and $616 million below the Administration's FY12 request;
- $1.3 billion to support the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE); $491 million below the FY11 appropriated amount, and $1.8 billion below the Administration's FY12 request;
- $765 million to support the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy; $7.8 million above the FY11 appropriated amount, and $20.3 million below the FY12 request;
- $476.9 million to support the DOE Office of Fossil Energy, a $32.4 million increase over the FY11 appropriated amount, and $24 million above the Administration's FY12 request; and
- $200 million to support the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) program; $79.6 million below the FY11 appropriated amount, and $450 million below the Administration's FY12 request.
Among the many amendments to the original legislation was one to eliminate $25 million for oil shale research and development. It was approved by a vote of 208 to 207. The bill also contains a provision that prohibits funding to implement or enforce new DOE energy efficiency standards for certain battery chargers. The Senate is likely to take up their version of the Energy and Water Appropriations bill in July.
For a list of House adopted amendments to the FY 2013 Energy and Water Appropriations bill, please visit: http://appropriations.house.gov/UploadedFiles/06.06.12_Energy_and_Water_Floor_Adopted_Amendments.pdf
For the text of the legislation, go to: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr5325rh/pdf/BILLS-112hr5325rh.pdf
The accompanying bill report can be found at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-112hrpt462/pdf/CRPT-112hrpt462.pdf
Robert Rains covers public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at rainsr@asme.org
BPC NUCLEAR INITIATIVE HOSTS POLICY DISCUSSION ON NUCLEAR WASTE MANAGEMENT; SENATE COMMITTEE CONVENES HEARING ON TOPIC THE FOLLOWING DAY
The Bipartisan Policy Center's (BPC) Nuclear Initiative, chaired by former Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Former Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Warren F. "Pete" Miller, held a policy discussion on June 6th to explore ongoing efforts to implement the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future's recommendations and to achieve near-term progress on nuclear waste storage and disposal. At this event, Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) were joined by leading experts to discuss strategies to break the stalemate on nuclear waste management in the U.S.
In January 2012, the Blue Ribbon Commission issued a consensus report recommending a new comprehensive strategy to manage and dispose of the nation's spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. Breaking the current stalemate requires action by both the Administration and Congress.
The June 6th event, "Near-Term Progress on Nuclear Waste Management: Implementing the Recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission," was the fourth in a series of public events hosted by BPC's Nuclear Initiative on challenges and opportunities for nuclear power in the United States. The event series addresses the spectrum of challenges facing nuclear power in the United States in order to preserve the option of nuclear energy as a reliable source of low-carbon electricity. The initiative also engages a range of stakeholders to explore technology and policy solutions that will support U.S. technological and diplomatic leadership on international nuclear issues.
As reported in the November 11, 2011 Edition of Capitol Update, then ASME President Victoria A. Rockwell provided comments in the form of a general position statement to the Blue Ribbon Commission's draft report. To read then ASME President Rockwell's comments, please visit: http://files.asme.org/asmeorg/NewsPublicPolicy/GovRelations/PositionStatements/30412.pdf
More information about the Blue Ribbon Commission's report can be found at: http://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/2012/01/blue-ribbon-commission-america%E2%80%99s-nuclear-future-releases-final-report
The following day, June 7th, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety convened a hearing, "Recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future for a Consent-Based Approach to Siting Nuclear Waste Storage and Management Facilities," to discuss the same topic.
This week, EPW plans to hold a re-nomination hearing for NRC Commissioner Kristine L. Svinicki, whose term expires this month. The EPW is also planning to hold a hearing for newly nominated NRC Chair Allison Macfarlane (For more information about this nomination, please see the May 29, 2012 Edition of Capitol Update).
Information on the June 7th hearing is available at: http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_id=a5351696-802a-23ad-472e-965e66850abe
Robert Rains covers public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at rainsr@asme.org
DOMESTIC ENERGY AND JOBS ACT UNVEILED
Although recent renewed economic concerns about a slowing global economy have depressed oil and gasoline prices as of late, House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) unveiled on June 6th the Domestic Energy and Jobs Act, a package of several bills which in the past month were approved by both the House Natural Resources Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee. During election years, it is common for lawmakers to consider legislative vehicles addressing gas prices. The bills are expected to be voted on later this month in the House.
The energy legislation package includes:
- H.R. 4480, which would mandate an increase in oil and gas production equivalent to any release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve;
- H.R. 4471 that would postpone for at least six months implementation of new EPA regulations affecting refinery emissions;
- H.R. 4381 that would require the Interior Secretary to develop a plan for energy production on public lands;
- H.R. 4382, which bars the government from rescinding leases on federal lands for energy production and streamline permitting;
- H.R. 4383 that seeks to establish a live Internet auction for Bureau of Land Management leases; and,
- H.R. 2752 and H.R. 2150, which would hasten the development of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
A press release outlining the legislation may be viewed at: http://gardner.house.gov/press-release/national-energy-production-initiative-introduced-gardner
To listen to Majority Whip McCarthy's remarks, please visit: http://www.majoritywhip.gov/press-release/icymi-majority-whip-kevin-mccarthy-unveils-domestic-energy-jobs-act-cnbc-fox-news and click on the appropriate links.
The measure will likely be considered on the House floor during the week of June 18th and is anticipated to be approved. Its fate in the Senate is unknown.
Robert Rains covers public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at rainsr@asme.org
ENERGY DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF ENERGY INNOVATION HUB FOR CRITICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH
A large part of U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu's legacy will be standing up for research concepts like the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) and the Innovation Hubs. Secretary Chu recently announced plans to invest up to $120 million over five years to launch a new Energy Innovation Hub, establishing a multidisciplinary and sustained effort to identify problems and develop solutions across the lifecycle of critical materials. Rare earth elements and other critical materials have unique chemical and physical characteristics, including magnetic, catalytic and luminescent properties, which are important for a growing number of energy technologies. The Hub, funded by up to $20 million in Fiscal Year 2012, will work to advance U.S. leadership in energy manufacturing – such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, efficient lighting and others – through research aimed both at having a reliable supply of these rare earths and other critical materials, as well as finding efficiencies and alternatives that reduce the amount we actually need.
Congress, although seemingly skeptical of the Hubs concept at first blush, has provided funding to support four hubs since their introduction in 2010. The Hubs are major integrated research centers with researchers from many different institutions and technical backgrounds. They are modeled after the strong scientific management characteristics of the Manhattan Project, the Lincoln Lab at MIT that developed radar, the AT&T Bell Laboratories that developed the transistor and, more recently, the Bioenergy Research Centers established during the Bush Administration to pioneer advanced techniques in biotechnology, including biofuels. The new Critical Materials Hub's research and development will advance innovation at all stages of critical materials science and technology.
The goal of the Critical Materials Hub will be to reduce U.S. dependence on critical materials and ensure that the deployment of domestic energy technologies is not hindered by future materials supply shortages. The Hub will address challenges across the entire life of each critical material, including mineral processing, manufacture, substitution, efficient use, and end-of-life recycling.
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 fall.
This will be the fifth Energy Innovation Hub established by the Department since 2010. The other Energy Innovation Hubs are:
- The Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, which focuses on advanced research to produce fuels directly from sunlight;
- The Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors, which is seeking to improve nuclear reactors through sophisticated computer-based modeling and simulation;
- The Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster for Energy-Efficient Buildings, which is working to achieve major breakthroughs in energy efficient building design; and,
- A Batteries and Energy Storage Innovation Hub.
Information on the existing Hubs can be found on the Energy Innovation Hubs website: http://energy.gov/hubs
To review the Department's Critical Materials Strategy report upon which the ideas for the Critical Material Hub are based, please visit : http://energy.gov/pi/office-policy-and-international-affairs/downloads/2011-critical-materials-strategy
The full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), DE-FOA-0000687, is available at: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/#FoaId71ef57c0-ce63-4f56-865c-76ff132eaf21
Robert Rains covers public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at rainsr@asme.org
NSF RELEASES REPORT DETAILING SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH IN GRADUATE ENROLLMENT IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING IN THE PAST DECADE
A recent report released by the National Science Foundation (NSF) found that graduate enrollment in science and engineering grew substantially in the past decade.
Approximately 632,700 graduate students were enrolled in science, engineering and health programs in the United States as of fall 2010. This was a 30 percent increase from 493,000 students in 2000, according to NSF's Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering.
The growth in first time, full-time graduate student enrollment in science, engineering, and health programs over this time was even greater, with a 50 percent increase from approximately 78,400 students in 2000 to almost 118,500 students in 2010.
Enrollment in biomedical engineering, which increased by over seven percent between 2009 and 2010, continues to be one of the fastest growing science and engineering fields and has experienced 165 percent growth— the most rapid growth over the last decade —from approximately 3,200 graduate students in 2000 to 8,500 students in 2010.
The report is available at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf12317/
For additional reports, please visit the NSF's National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) at: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/
Melissa Carl handles public policy-related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) issues for ASME. She can be reached at: carlm@asme.org
CLEVELAND, OH TO HOST JULY 9TH WORKSHOP ON BUILDING THE NATIONAL NETWORK FOR MANUFACTURING INNOVATION
The second in a series of regional public workshops to gather ideas and suggestions for the design of the proposed National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) is scheduled to be held on July 9, 2012, at the Cuyahoga Community College in Warrensville Heights (Cleveland), Ohio.
"Designing for Impact II: Workshop on Building the NNMI" will be sponsored by the interagency Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office (AMNPO), in partnership with local hosts NASA Glenn Research Center, Cuyahoga Community College, and Case Western Reserve University. Invited speakers include local, state and Congressional leaders, industry executives, and administration representatives. Confirmed featured speakers include U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown from Ohio.
The NNMI is a collaborative effort to improve the U.S. manufacturing sector's competitiveness and innovation performance, focusing on the scale-up of new product and process technologies. Broad participation of manufacturing stakeholders from industry, academia, state and local government, and economic-development and other organizations is essential to the proposed public-private partnership.
Advance on-line sign-up is required and begins on or about June 8, 2012 and extends until July 2, 2012 at 5 PM (EST). Space is limited and sign-up will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Participation is limited to no more than four representatives per organization.
For additional information and to register, go to: http://manufacturing.gov/amp/event_070912.html
Paul Fakes covers public policy-related research and development (R&D) issues for ASME. He can be reached at: fakesp@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.
EDITOR: ASME Government Relations, 1828 L Street, NW, Suite 810, Washington, DC 20036-5104.