BUzz Bits
BUZZ BITS…
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) declined to appeal a court-ordered injunction prohibiting its unlawful presence policy, thereby preventing the agency from enforcing it. The rule would have barred international students from entering the country for up to 10 years for any unknowing visa violation.
- Dr. Kerri Dugan has been appointed acting director of the Biological Technologies Office at DARPA; she has served as deputy director since August 2019. Dugan replaces Brad Ringeisen, who is leaving the agency after four years in the director role.
- DHS announced the creation of a China Working Group to better counter security threats from the Chinese government. The group will focus on implementing the Administration’s visa restrictions for certain Chinese nationals, among other issues.
2020 CAMPAIGN: SCIENCE PROPOSALS
With the 2020 Presidential election less than 100 days away, BU Federal Relations presents a primer on the research policy proposals put forth by President Donald J. Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.
- Federal Research Spending: Trump has proposed deep cuts to federal research agencies in each of his annual budget requests. Biden would create a $300 billion innovation fund for extramural research and research infrastructure through the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, and DARPA.
- Research Priorities: The Trump Administration’s Industries of the Future initiative focuses on the development of artificial intelligence, quantum information sciences, advanced communications, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. Biden proposes targeted research and development programs in 5G, artificial intelligence, advanced materials, biotechnology, and clean vehicles.
- Biomedical Research: Biden would would create a new Advanced Research Projects Agency – Health, and direct significant investment in cancer research. The Trump Administration has prioritized its Childhood Cancer Data Initiative, opioid addiction, and the development of an influenza vaccine.
GRANTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
The Climate Programs Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released six fiscal year 2021 competitions:
- Emissions, Air Quality, and Heat in Urban Areas
- Atmospheric impacts due to changes in anthropogenic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic
- New Climate Monitoring Approaches and Products for Areas of Climate Risk
- Process-Oriented Diagnostics for Climate Model Improvement and Applications
- Innovative Ocean Dataset/Product Analysis and Development for Support of the NOAA Observing and Climate Modeling Communities,
- Advancing Climate Adaptation and Coastal Community Resilience
Letters of intent are due by August 17, and full proposals for five of the competitions are due by November 30.
A Note to Our Readers: Due to the Congressional District Work Period, Beltway BUzz will be on hiatus for the rest of August. Should a deal be reached on a new pandemic relief bill, we will resume publication and post updates on our web site in order to bring you the details.