PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Natural Science Included Among NSF Priority Treatment Areas

On May 18, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved the Innovation bill (Senate Bill 2802) that includes authorization of funds for the National Science Foundation (NSF).

A proposed amendment would have excluded “natural science,” which includes biology, from being listed among priority treatment areas in the NSF authorization section of the bill. A manager’s amendment was offered and approved containing compromise language that fortunately included priority treatment for “natural science.”

Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and their colleagues on the committee recognized the importance of natural science, including biology, with approval of the compromise language.

As reported by the committee, the amended “Meeting Critical National Science Needs” section of the bill and its “Priority Treatment” subsection states, “The Director [of NSF] shall give priority in the selection of awards and the allocation of Foundation resources to proposed research activities, and grants funded under the Foundation’s Research and Related Activities Account, that can be expected to make contributions in physical or natural science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, or that enhance competitiveness or innovation in the United States.”

We appreciate the important work by ASPB campus contacts and their colleagues who contacted their members of the Senate committee to oppose the earlier draft amendment, which subsequently was not offered. Key assistance for biology also was received in the Senate from members outside the committee. Senator Christopher (Kit) Bond’s (R-MO) staff worked with ASPB and the committee seeking a balanced approach to science support that includes natural science as a priority. The improved compromise language was approved without objection.