Longest Government Shutdown in History Comes to an End
After 35 days, the longest government shutdown in history came to an end on January 25, 2019, as President Trump announced a deal to reopen the government for three weeks. The White House and Congressional leaders agreed to pass a short-term government funding bill, which leaves agency funding levels flat as the two sides seek to reach a broader deal on border security. The White House maintained it was not going to accept a deal to reopen the government that did not include funding for the proposed border wall, but, after immense public pressure and backlash from federal workers, the White House reversed itself and accepted a short-term funding deal without wall funding.
The partial government shutdown impacted numerous federal agencies which oversee food safety, scientific research, and tax filings. According to a report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), government spending was reduced by $3 billion and economic growth was hurt during the shutdown. As a result, analysts believe U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) may be reduced by as much as 0.2% in the first quarter of 2019.
While the end of the shutdown comes as a relief, Congress and the White House have a limited window to reach a deal to prevent another lapse in government funding. BPS joined its counterparts on a letter to Congress outlining the impacts of the shutdown on science.
BPS Congressional Fellow: Mid-year Update
Annually, the Biophysical Society sponsors a member to serve as a fellow in a Congressional office. This invaluable experience exposes our members to new career paths and ensures that scientists have a seat at the table in the policy-making process. This year, our fellow Hermes Taylor-Weiner is serving with Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). Read his mid-year report on the BPS blog. To learn more about the fellowship, visit our website.
BPS Highlights Freshmen Members of Congress with STEM Backgrounds
In a mid-January blog post, the Society’s Public Affairs Committee highlighted nine new Members who have scientific backgrounds. This bipartisan group of legislators hails from all areas of the United States and, we hope, will help to increase awareness of science on Capitol Hill. Read our full post for more information.
Bruce Tromberg Appointed Director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
On January 7, 2019, Bruce J. Tromberg, PhD, was sworn in as the Director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB). Tromberg is a leader in the field of biophotonics and previously held dual appointments as professor in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Surgery at the University of California at Irvine (UCI). He also directed UCI’s Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, an interdisciplinary research, teaching and clinical center for optics and photonics in biology and medicine.
“Bruce brings substantial experience in biophotonics, and demonstrated his commitment to state-of-the-art imaging and bioengineering technologies through his research and leadership on numerous advisory committees, including the NIBIB National Advisory Council,” said NIH Director Francis Collins. Read the full press release.
House Democrats Finalize Science Committee Roster
On January 23, 2019, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) revealed the Democratic roster for the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee for the 116th Congress. View the full list here.
“It is a pleasure to welcome the new and returning Members to the Science, Space, and Technology Committee,” said Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). “I look forward to collaborating with all of them on an agenda that harnesses research and innovation to address the many challenges that this nation faces. There is much work to be done. I am excited to get started.”
NSF Seeking High-Level Ideas and Research Questions That Would Benefit from Convergence
The National Science Foundation (NSF) BIO Directorate is seeking ideas from the research community on fundamental biological research questions and topics that are poised for major advances. Ideally, these ideas would span multiple levels of organization in living systems and require expertise from diverse biological sub-disciplines. The deadline to reply is March 1. Read NSF’s full RFI.
Public Affairs Annual Meeting Programming: Brexit, Congressional Budgets, Grants, and Science Communications
Are you planning to attend the 2019 BPS Annual Meeting in Baltimore? Are you interested in international affairs, Congressional budgets, and/or science policy? We strongly encourage you to attend a Public Affairs Annual Meeting session. This year, we will host a Science Communications Workshop with AAAS (register online here, space is limited), a session on Brexit and its implications for the research community and immigration, NSF and NIH grant writing workshops, and a session on Congressional funding of science. Learn more about these sessions on the BPS Annual Meeting website.
*SAVE THE DATE* Rally for Medical Research – September 18-19, 2019
Each year, the Biophysical Society participates in the Rally for Medical Research, which brings over 200 scientific research and patient advocacy organizations together to call on our nation’s policymakers to prioritize medical research. Last year, BPS members from Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Mississippi participated in the day. BPS offers travel funds to members who participate. To express interest in the 2019 event, please contact Sean Winkler at [email protected].
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