SIOP Submits Testimony on FY 2025 Appropriations Priorities

Every year, SIOP provides outside witness testimony regarding annual spending priorities for I-O psychology to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The testimony highlights the importance of I-O psychology and advocates for increased funding or new efforts in areas of interest. As in previous years, SIOP’s testimony on the fiscal year (FY) 2025 appropriations process encouraged Congress to provide funding increases for social science research at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Department of Defense, as well as graduate education support through NSF and the Department of Education. The testimony also continued to request support for SIOP’s partnership with the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office through a study on efficacy of COPS grants-funded projects. SIOP’s FY 2025 testimony included new language encouraging NSF to consider next steps and continuing support for the sunsetting Future of Work at the Human-Technology Frontier initiative, and to invest in research on workforce participation and wellbeing for neurodiverse individuals and individuals with disabilities. The testimony also included a new ask for Congress to direct the Department of Labor to partner with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on a study regarding best practices for integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity into workplaces, as well as scientific gaps where additional research is needed.

The House of Representatives are expected to begin drafting, releasing, and advancing annual spending bills this summer. However, with the 2024 election quickly approaching, Congress is not expected to finalize FY 2025 spending before November. Instead, Congress will likely pass a continuing resolution (CR), extending FY 2024 funding levels until December 2024 or early 2025, giving themselves additional time to reach a final agreement on appropriations after the election. Lewis-Burke will continue to provide updates via the Washinton InfO.

Lewis-Burke Presents at 2024 SIOP Annual Conference

Members of the Lewis-Burke team (led by Mr. Jack Goodman and Miss Amanda Bruno) attended the 2024 SIOP Annual Conference in Chicago last month to engage with SIOP members and present on recent activities in the nation’s capital. Amanda Bruno joined Dr. Kristin Saboe, GREAT Chair; Dr. Fred Oswald, a member of the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee; and Dr. Christopher Nye, leader of SIOP’s AI-Based Personnel Assessment and Predictive Task Force to discuss SIOP advocacy on issues relating to AI and more. Amanda highlighted recent SIOP engagement with Congress and federal agencies to ensure I-O psychology expertise is considered when creating policies and making funding decisions around use of artificial intelligence in work contexts. Jack Goodman participated on a panel and a workshop focused on finding and securing external funding, where he discussed best practices for identifying federal funding opportunities and engaging with program managers. The panel was organized by Dr. Lindsey Greco and Dr. Yifan Song, and featured Dr. Margaret Beier, Dr. Rong Su, Dr. Louis Tay, and Dr. Songqi Liu on the panel.

SIOP Meets with Sponsor of STEM Immigration Legislation

SIOP met with staff in the office of Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL), a Ph.D. scientist and sponsor of the Keep STEM Talent Act of 2023. The bill would create an exemption from the cap of immigrant visas issued for non-U.S. nationals with an advanced degree in a STEM field. It would also create additional flexibility for individuals to pursue nonimmigrant F-1 student visas to pursue an advanced degree in a STEM field while also seeking lawful permanent resident status. However, the bill does not use the widely-accepted National Science Foundation definition of STEM, nor references the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) STEM Designated Degree Program List, both of which rightfully recognize I-O psychology as a STEM field. During the meeting, Rep. Foster’s staff expressed openness to amending the bill to use the DHS definition of STEM, allowing I-O psychology students and graduates to benefit from the legislation should it pass. Lewis-Burke intends to meet with the sponsors of the Senate companion to this bill and continue advocating for I-O to be recognized as a STEM field.

Publication Type
Washington InfO

Topic
Advocacy