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This week in Washington
June 22 , 2009

Congress is in session and working on an ambitious agenda that includes completing essential work on all Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations bills. The House is scheduled to vote on all twelve spending bills by August. The Senate appropriations process is underway at a slightly slower pace. Beyond FY10 appropriations, Congress is attempting to tackle two major policy items this summer - climate change and health care reform. Reports from Capitol Hill indicate that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is pushing for floor consideration of the House energy and climate change bill (H.R. 2454) as early as the end of this week in order to proceed with health care legislation later this summer.

The following is a recap of recent activities in Washington , D.C. of interest to the UCLA community.

CONGRESS | WHITE HOUSE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES

CONGRESS

Fiscal Year 2010 (FY10) Appropriations

On June 9, the House Appropriations Committee approved overall discretionary spending limits for its 12 subcommittees (known as 302(b) allocations) for the coming fiscal year. The House Committee has proposed $1.086 trillion in non-emergency discretionary spending, which is about $8.9 billion less than the President requested. Several House Subcommittees have begun marking up their individual spending bills, with the goal of completing consideration of all bills before the August recess. Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) has released the following tentative mark-up schedule:

House FY10 Appropriations Markup Schedule

Please note this schedule is subject to change. For more details on the full Appropriations agenda, visit: http://appropriations.house.gov/

Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its 302(b) allocations as well as its first two FY10 funding bills - Legislative Branch and Homeland Security. The Senate allocations are higher than the House allocations for Commerce-Justice-Science and Energy & Water ($64.80 billion v. $64.314 billion, and $33.75 billion v. $33.30 billion, respectively) but lower than the House allocations for Interior-Environment and Labor-HHS-Education ($32.10 billion v. $32.30 billion and $ 163.10 v. $163.40 billion, respectively). Differences between the House and Senate appropriations bills will be worked out in conference committee later this summer or in early fall.

For more information on FY10 Senate allocations, visit: http://appropriations.senate.gov/index.cfm

House Approves Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) Appropriations Bill :

On June 18, the House approved the FY10 CJS appropriations bill by a vote of 259 to 157. CJS includes funding for several science research agencies as well as Justice Department programs. Overall, the legislation provides $64.4 billion for all programs, which is 12 percent more funding than in FY09 but slightly less than the President requested. The following is a summary of the funding levels approved for research agencies included within the CJS bill. (NOTE: Comparisons to FY09 levels do not take into account funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which is intended to be spent in FY09 and FY10).  

National Science Foundation (NSF): $6.9 billion, an increase of about 7 percent above the FY09 level, but $108 million below the President's FY10 request. NSF received $3 billion in the ARRA. In FY07-08, UCLA received $77,274,097 in NSF support.

Within the NSF portfolio, the bill provides $5.64 billion for Research and Related Activities, an increase of 9 percent over FY09; $863 million for Education and Human Resources, an increase of 2 percent over FY09; and $114 million for Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction, a decrease of 25 percent from FY09.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): $18.2 billion, an increase of 2.3 percent above FY09 funding, but $483 million below the President's FY10 request. NASA received $1 billion in ARRA.

Within the NASA portfolio, the bill provides $4.49 billion for the Science Mission Directorate, which is $7 million below FY09; $500 million for the Aeronautics Mission Directorate, which is $1 million above FY09; and $175 million for Education, which is about $5 million above FY09 funding. The bill also includes $3.29 billion for the Exploration Mission Directorate, which is $212 million below FY09; $6.1 billion for Space Operations, about $333 million below FY09; and $3.1 billion for Cross-Agency Support Programs, about $142 million below the FY09 level.

Overall, the bill flat funds the next generation of human space flight at FY09 levels pending the recommendations of a review panel due later this summer.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): $781 million, a decrease of roughly 8 percent below FY09, and $65 million below the President's request. NIST received $610 million in ARRA. Within NIST, the Technology Innovation Program would receive $70 million to fund high-risk, high-reward research into areas of critical national need done by U.S. businesses, colleges and universities, and national labs.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): $4.6 billion, and increase of 5 percent above FY09 and $129 million above the President's request. NOAA received $830 million in the ARRA. The Institute for the Environment, through the Friends of NOAA coalition, has advocated for increases in extramural research funds at NOAA.

For further details on the House CJS Appropriations bill, visit: http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/CJS_FY10_FC_Summary_06-08-09.pdf

House Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill :

On June 18, the House Appropriations Committee completed its mark up on the FY10 Interior appropriations bill. Overall, the legislation provides $32.3 billion for all programs which is the same amount requested by the President, and $4.7 billion above the FY09 level. It includes $10.4 billion for EPA.

The bill provides $170 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities and $170 million for the National Endowment for the Arts. This is $17 million above the President's request and $15 million above FY09. Neither agency has received significant funding increases in recent years. The House is expected to take up the I nterior-Environment spending bill later this week.

For more information on all FY10 House Appropriations bills, visit: http://appropriations.house.gov/

House to Vote on Energy and Climate Change Legislation This Week

House Democratic leaders are working to bring comprehensive energy and climate change legislation to the floor for a full vote by the end of this week. On Monday, the Energy and Commerce Committee filed the 1,200+ page bill known as the “American Clean Energy and Security Act,” with the Rules Committee. The Rules Committee will meet later this week to determine the procedures for amendments and debate on this legislation. Reports from the Hill indicate that a House vote could take place this Friday or Saturday.

In the meantime, the bill's primary sponsors, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-West Los Angeles) and Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), are still negotiating with their Democratic colleagues to ensure they will have the 218 votes necessary to pass the bill. Democrats who have not yet committed to voting for the bill include fiscal moderates who are concerned about overall costs, rural Democrats concerned about farmers and agribusiness, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus who are concerned about additional electricity costs the bill may impose on low-income individuals.

The university community has weighed in with Democratic leaders about the importance of a strong research and development component in any final legislation. The Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU, formerly NASULGC) recently sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi expressing our belief that any final strategy for addressing climate change must include significant federal investment in basic energy research. UCLA continues to work with the university community to share this message with key House members as the legislation moves forward.

For more on the American Clean Energy and Security Act, visit:
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090623/hr2454_rulesfiled.pdf (full text)

http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1633&catid=155&Itemid=55 (background and supporting documents)

House Passes Study Abroad Legislation

The House passed the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011. As previously reported, this legislation includes provisions of the Paul Simon Study Abroad Act that UCLA strongly supports:

• To help at least 1 million undergraduates study abroad annually within 10 years
• To expand study abroad opportunities for underrepresented students
• To increase the number of students that study abroad in non-traditional destinations

Prior to the start of the 111th Congress, Chancellor Block wrote to Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman asking for the reintroduction of the Study Abroad legislation. The bill will bolster existing campus efforts to increase quality study abroad opportunities for all students.

The Foreign Relations legislation will now head to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for a vote. For more information, visit: http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/press_display.asp?id=624

http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/ucla-one-of-top-schools-for-foreign-40353.aspx

Rep. McKeon (R-CA) Moves to Armed Services, Rep. Kline to Education and Labor

Last week, the Republican Steering Committee voted to appoint Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.) to replace Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) as the top Republican on the House Education and Labor Committee. Rep. McKeon, a strong supporter of the federal guaranteed-student-loan program, stepped down from the Committee on June 17 to become the Ranking Member on the House Armed Services Committee. The top minority slot opened up when President Obama appointed Rep. John McHugh (R-NY) to be Secretary of the Army.

Rep. McKeon's departure from the education post comes at a time when the committee will play a significant role in considering the Administration's controversial reform of the student loan program. During his tenure as Chairman and as Ranking Member, Rep. McKeon regularly consulted with UCLA on issues concerning higher education including the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and testing and standards issues related to K-12 education.

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WHITE HOUSE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES

Education and Research Organizations Recommend Visa Improvements

On June 17, in response to a significant increase in visa delays, a group of 32 higher education, scientific, and engineering organizations, including the Association of American Universities (AAU), Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and Association of International Educators (NAFSA), issued a joint statement urging the federal government to take additional steps to streamline the visa process for international students, scholars, and scientists. The associations also sought the creation of a high-level interagency panel to review all of the government's post-9/11 visa policies and procedures.

In the aftermath of 9/11, the government increased review of students and scholars wishing to enter the country who had scientific and technical expertise deemed potentially useful to terrorists. The higher education community, including UCLA, became increasingly concerned about lengthy security delays that began to erode institutions' ability to attract and retain international scientific talent.

In response to a growing concern and increased scrutiny over its visa related policies and procedures instituted since 9/11, the federal government has streamlined procedures for processing visa applications from foreign students and researchers trying to enter the U.S. Officials say these changes should make a lasting improvement in a review process that at times has resulted in long delays, stalled the flow of scientific talent into the country, and stymied scientific collaborations.

Administration Issues Further Guidance on Use of Recovery Act Funds

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has released additional guidance on reporting requirements for federal agencies and other entities receiving funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The guidance attempts to clarify the information that will be required from each agency by addressing the mechanics and chronology of the requirements. Please note the guidance does not apply to contracts directly awarded by the federal government under ARRA. The guidance is available on the OMB website at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/memoranda_default/ and on the official White House Recovery Act website at: http://www.recovery.gov/ .

New Administration Nominations

President Obama recently nominated the following individuals to serve in federal posts:

U.S. Department of Energy
Director, Office of Science
William F. Brinkman
Occupation: Senior Research Physicist, Princeton University
Education: University of Missouri ( B.S. and Ph.D.)
Confirmed June 19, 2009

U.S. Department of Energy
Assistant Secretary, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Cathy Zoi
Occupation: CEO, Alliance for Climate Protection
Education: Duke (B.S.), Dartmouth (M.S.)
Confirmed June 19, 2009

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Deputy Administrator
Lori Garver
Occupation: President of Capital Space, LLC; Former NASA Associate Administrator of the Office of Policy and Plans
Education: Colorado College (B.A.), George Washington University (M.S.)
*Pending Senate confirmation

National Endowment for the Arts
Chairman
Rocco Landesman
Occupation: President, and Owner of Jujamcyn Theaters
Education: University of Wisconsin (B.A.), Yale (M.F.A., D.F.A)
*Pending Senate confirmation

National Endowment for the Humanities
Chairman
Former Rep. Jim Leach (R-IA)
Occupation: Professor of Public & International Affairs, Princeton University
Education: Princeton (B.A.), Johns Hopkins University (M.A.)
*Pending Senate confirmation

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If you have questions about this update or other federal issues, please contact:
Kim S. Kovacs Executive Director, UCLA Federal Relations (310) 794-6808 or kkovacs@support.ucla.edu