Protecting the SBE Sciences at the National Science Foundation
2012
House Passes CJS Spending Bill: Amendments Eliminate NSF Political Science Program and American Community Survey (COSSA Washington Update)
On May 9th the House voted 218-208 in support of an amendment by Rep. Jeff Flake (AZ) to prohibit NSF from spending appropriated funds on the political science program and 232-190 supporting a second amendment offered by Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL) to eliminate the American Community Survey.
Flake Amendment roll call vote
Webster Amendment roll call vote
May 9th Congressional record of floor debate -- The ACS discussion is on p. H2505 (3rd Column) to H 2509 (3rd Column). The NSF discussion is on H 2543 (1st Column) to H 2544 (1st Column).
2011
"Social Science, Spared Again"
SCIENCE Magazine Editoral by COSSA's President, Kenneth Prewitt
The Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) at the National Science Foundation face potential threats from those in Congress who do not appreciate their contributions to American science and public policy. COSSA has organized and mobilized responses to that threat. We hope you can join us. The following are resources for your contribution to the effort.
House Subcommittee on Research and Science Education Holds Hearing: Social, Behavioral and Economic Science Research: Oversight of the Need for Federal Investments and Priorities for Funding. (more)
COSSA Organizes and Mobilizes Responses to Threat to SBE at NSF
The Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) at the National Science Foundation face potential threats from those in Congress who do not appreciate their contributions to American science and public policy. COSSA has organized and mobilized responses to that threat. We hope you can join us. The following are resources for your contribution to the effort.
House Appropriations Committee Marks Up
There were no amendments regarding the SBE Directorate during the consideration of the FY 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill, which includes NSF, by the House Appropriations Committee on July 13.
NSF would be affected by an across-the-board cut of 0.1 percent of all programs in the bill to add money to NOAA’s Operations and Research. NSF’s overall appropriations would decrease by $6.9 million.
Now it is on to the floor. The House has cancelled its break next week, so that it is now more likely that the bill will be on the House floor before the August recess, most likely the week of August 1.
Resources
Intersociety Letter to House Appropriators
Examples from Economics Research
Examples from Political Science Research
Examples of Vital Research Funded by the NSF Law and Social Science Division
Linguistic Society Letter
Contributions of NSF-funded Research in Developmental Science
Myron Gutmann's Testimony to House Science Committee
Hilary Elfenbein's Testimony to House Science Committee
COSSA Letter to Research Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Mo Brooks
Social, Behavioral and Economic Research in the Federal Context
The Unexamined Society - David Brooks, NYTimes.com
How to Contact Congress
