Science Policy News
ASA, CSSA, and SSSA responded to a request for comments from the Environmental Protection Agency regarding regulatory exemptions proposed for certain plants created using gene-editing technologies. EPA’s proposed rule was decades in the making and was written to complement USDA’s recent rule on the matter.
ASA, CSSA, and SSSA submitted comments to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) voicing concern over a proposed change to end the longstanding “duration of status” visa policy that allows international students to stay in the United States until they complete their degrees.
ASA, CSSA, and SSSA joined 82 other scientific and educational groups in supporting the House Science Committee’s call for the National Academies to study systemic racism in academia.
After several tense days of negotiations, Congress and the administration came to an agreement on a short-term funding deal for fiscal year 2021 (FY21). The continuing resolution (CR) will hold government funding steady until December 11. The lame duck Congress will have to make the final funding decisions or punt until the new Congress has been seated. Our prediction is a CR until March 2021.
USDA requested input on the Agriculture Innovation Agenda, its vision for the future of agriculture that includes increasing agriculture’s productivity while decreasing its environmental footprint. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, as a part of an intersociety Task Force, responded that the Agriculture Innovation Agenda goals first depend on keeping Americans farming.
ASA, CSSA, and SSSA joined 67 educational and scientific societies in opposing plans announced by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to modify the exemption to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The letter, sent to the White House, Department of Homeland Security and Department of State, calls on ICE to immediately withdraw the modification that ends the exemption allowing international students to stay in county and take online courses.
The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis released its “Climate Crisis Action Plan” – Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy and Just America. The 500-page document outlines the legislative actions needed to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and highlights opportunities across twelve economic sectors including agriculture and science and technology.
Eighteen coalitions composed of scientific societies, trade groups, and educational organizations - including ASA, CSSA, and SSSA - urged Congress to include supplemental funding for federal research in any future coronavirus response legislation. The letter requests $26 billion for scientific and medical researchers who have been impacted by the pandemic. The funding would cover supplements for research grants and contracts.
In the coming weeks, Congress plans to pursue another $1-2 trillion COVID-19 relief package. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA have been working with our partners to try and add researchers to the list of impacted industries. The research and university communities are asking Congress to include $26 billion in supplemental extramural research funds in the next relief package.
Due to the disruptions arising from the national response to COVID-19, multiple federal agencies are making adjustments to their procedures, including extending deadlines for grant solicitations. USDA NIFA has extended deadlines for several solicitations. NSF has released FAQ documents on grant deadlines, travel, and review panelists.