Biden Administration Proposes Major Science Funding Increases in First Budget Request

On May 28, President Biden released the full details of his first budget proposal to Congress.  Unrestrained by legally-imposed budget caps for the first time in a decade, President Biden proposed an 18 percent boost in discretionary spending for a total of $1.522 trillion.  The President’s top fiscal year (FY) 2022 budget priorities are public health, climate and clean energy, innovation, and education.  This is a sharp contrast from the Trump Administration, which prioritized defense spending and proposed major cuts to other domestic programs.

Of note for SIOP, the request includes $10.17 billion for the National Science Foundation in FY 2022, a 19.8 percent or $1.66 billion increase above the FY 2021 enacted level.  Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) would receive a 13.3 percent increase over current levels.  The SBE request highlighted the role of social sciences in several key national priorities, including “research in artificial intelligence (AI) with a focus on worker productivity and wellbeing in a growing range of work environments,” broadening participation in STEM fields, national security and preparedness, climate change, and other topics of relevance to I-O psychology and SIOP advocacy.  Specifically, the budget request emphasized the role of SBE in the NSF Big Ideas, such as exploring technological impacts on the workforce as part of the Future of Work and the Human-Technology Frontier (FW-HTF) Big Idea.

While the budget request is a helpful guide for future federal investments and understanding President Biden’s policy priorities, it is still up to Congress to embrace, modify, or reject budget proposals.  The timing of passing final FY 2022 appropriations remains uncertain and the late start to the appropriations process increases the likelihood of a stop gap funding measure, known as a Continuing Resolution, to avoid a government shutdown and continue to fund federal agencies beyond September 30—the end of FY 2021.  A full analysis of President Biden’s budget request is available here.

 

SIOP Policing Initiatives Meets with National Academies Staff

This month, the SIOP Policing Initiative met with staff of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s (NASEM) Law and Justice Committee.  During this meeting, the Policing Initiative gave an overview of I-O psychology, spoke with the committee staff about their upcoming reports on policing, and shared SIOP’s interests in policing reform.  The Policing Initiative also discussed the Societal Experts Action Network (SEAN)  and NASEM’s upcoming studies on the effects of COVID on work and family.  Following a very productive meeting, NASEM staff requested that Lewis-Burke provide a list of SIOP experts in policing and of members with published research on the impact of COVID-19 on work and family life.  Lewis-Burke and SIOP will continue to engage with NASEM when appropriate and enable SIOP members to serve as a resource to the National Academies going forward.

 

Congress Continues to Advance Monumental Science Legislation

On June 8, the Senate passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) through a bipartisan vote of 68-32. The bill includes multiple science provisions to increase competitiveness with China, including proposed increased funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the formation of a new use-inspired research directorate.  Among the provisions of interest to SIOP members, the bill would promote research projects that consider workforce implications of new technologies and ways to address workforce gaps, including geographic diversity.  Simultaneously, the House of Representatives advanced their NSF reauthorization bill, the NSF for the Future Act, where it awaits a vote by the full House.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has directed committees to begin drafting their versions of USICA provisions which would serve as a starting point for negotiations with the Senate.  Both sides would then work out their differences through a series of conferences.  Lewis-Burke remains focused on this dynamic legislation and will continue to monitor for issues of relevance to I-O psychology.

Publication Type
Washington InfO

Topic
Government Relations