Federal IT Policy:Higher Education & the New

CongressNet@EDU

Tempe, ArizonaSue Fratkin

February 5, 2007

Congress Changes

• HJ. Resolution 20– Omnibus funding or the continuing continuing

resolution (CR – deadline 2-15)• Promise – NO Entitlements• KEY ELEMENTS

– NSF – inc. 6-8% $335M; R&RA $4,665.95M– NIST – inc. 13.3% 50M for core programs– DOE, Office for Science – inc. 5.6% $200M & $127.8M

from eliminated earmarks– NIH – inc. of $619.5M for high risk,high impact research

http://appropriations.house.gov/News/pr070129.shtml

American Innovation Proclamation

1. Renew America’s Commitment to Discovery– Double NSF,NIST &DOE,Office for Science

2. Improve student achievement in math & science

3. Welcome highly educated foreign professional graduates especially from US universities –H.1B visas

4. Make permanent R & D Tax credit encourage private sector innovation investment

http://www.aeanet.org/proclamation

Competitiveness Index

• Competitiveness Index 2006: Where America Stands

Council on Competitiveness report – Identifies areas of leadership & dominance

• 16 of 25 most innovative companies• 17 of 20 institutions dominating world rankings

based on research performance

– Identifies areas of concernhttp://www.compete.org

Congressional Changes

Revised Appropriations Committee structure– House & Senate each has 12 subcommittees

Both have moved NSF into Commerce, Justice & Related Agencies subcommittee;

NSF no longer competing with HUD & VA - Chairs in House & Senate – long term experience

Sen. Mikulski (MD); Sen.Shelby (AL)

Rep. Mollohan (WV): Rep.Wolfe (VA)

House Science now Science & TechnologyChair: Rep. Bart Gordon (TN)

5 subcommittees:

Technology & Innovation,

Chair,Rep.David Wu (OR); Ranking,Rep.Gingrey (GA)

Research & Science Education,

Chair,Rep.Baird (WA); Ranking, Rep.Ehlers (MI)

Energy & Environment; Space & Aeronautics; Investigations & Oversight

http://science.house.gov

Revised Senate Commerce Committee 7 subcommittees:

New – Oceans; no Competitiveness but Innovation added to Science, Technology

Chair: Sen. Kerry (MA); Ranking Sen. Ensign (NV)

Consummer Affairs

Chair: Sen. Pryor (MN); Ranking Sen.Sununu (NH)

Interstate Commerce Chair: Sen. Dorgan (ND); Ranking Sen. DeMint (SC)

Administration Issues

• Focus on Iraq & Afghanistan– Supplemental $245B requested for ‘07

• $2.9 Trillion Budget proposed for ’08– Keep tax cuts beyond 2012– Defense & Homeland Security priorities– ACI not addressed but outside pressure push– Elimination of 141 Govt programs (again)– Rewrite Farm Bill – cuts– Trim Medicare

Congressional Issues

Now More activist Committee Chairs

Continuing Issues – Democratic perspective on:• Telecom rewrite – Net Neutrality,USF,Spectrum

etc.• Intellectual Property, Copyright• Privacy – networks, safeguard against identity

theft, cybersecurity• Taxes & the Internet• Workforce ….. Math & Science….

References

• EDUCAUSE Policy Chart –www.educause.edu/FederalPolicyIssues/1284

• Federal Budget Proposals –’08• www.gpoaccess.gov/USBudget/fy08/browse.html• www.aaas.org/spp/rd/new.htm• www.nsf.gov/about/budget/fy2008• www.energy.gov • www.dhs.gov• www.ostp.gov/html/M-06-17.pdf