COSSA Washington Update

The COSSA Washington Update is COSSA’s biweekly newsletter, providing comprehensive, timely analysis of policy developments impacting social and behavioral science research. Sign up for free here.

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Volume 28 (2009)

December 14, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 22

• Congress Moves to Complete FY 2010 Appropriations Process
• House Science and Technology Committee Leaders to Retire at the End of the 111th Congress
• Political Scientist Amy Gutmann, President of Penn, to Lead Obama’s Bioethics Commission
• Elinor Ostrom and Oliver Williamson Receive Nobel Prizes and Participate in Session at Swedish Embassy
• OSTP Seeks Advice on Public Access to Federally Funded Research
• NIH Launches Program to Develop Innovative Approaches To Combat Obesity
• Report Released on Low Performing Schools and Their Restructuring Efforts
• Moving Beyond High School to College Proficiency
• Mamas’ Report on Lack of Fathers in Their Children’s Lives
• GSS Calls for Proposals to Add Questions to the 2012 Survey
• Dell Hymes, COSSA’s First President, Dies at 82.
• IIASA Summer Fellowships Available
• Applications Wanted for Research on School Policies Related to Obesity
• NIH Institutes Seek Proposals to Address HIV in the Criminal Justice System
• Proposals Sought for Research on Integrity in Collaborative Research
• Editor’s Note: Happy Holidays!

November 23, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 21

• SBE Advisory Committee Meets and Hears Many Reports
• Laub Gets Hearing at Senate Judiciary Committee
• Shah Leaves Agriculture; Nominated to Head USAID
• Collins Addresses SMRB; Urges Scientific Community to Tell Story
• NIH SMRB: Working Groups Provide Status Reports
• NIH Director’s Council of Public Representatives Meet
• COPR Celebrates Ten-Year Anniversary: Welcomes Six New Members
• Healthy People 2020: OBSSR/ODP Working to Put Social and Behavioral Science Into -Action to Improve Health
• NIH Launches Second Phase of Patient Reported Outcomes Initiative
• Conference Examines Measurement of Innovation
• NIH and CDC Seek Applications for Obesity Policy Research
• Social Work Research Group Joins COSSA

November 9, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 20

• Senate Passes CJS Spending Bill; Defeats Coburn Amendment to Eliminate Political Science at NSF; Vitter Amendment Falls
• COSSA Holds Annual Meeting
• Robinson Confirmed to Run Office of Justice Programs; Lynch Named to Head Justice Statistics’ Bureau
• 2010 Census Advisory Committee Convenes for Decennial Update
• White House Announces Increased Emphasis on Program Evaluations
• A Decade Later –Diabetes Prevention Program Reports Persistence of Benefits of Lifestyle Changes
• NSF’s EHR Advisory Committee Examines Technology in Education
• NIA Uses ARRA Funds to Extend Research on Health, Economics of Older Americans
• NIH: Science of Behavior Change An Agency-Wide Research Priority

October 26, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 19

• Mikulski Defends Political Science; CJS Bill Stalls: Coburn and Vitter Amendments Unfinished
• Congressmen Barton and Walden Continue to Question NIH’s Peer Review
• Congress Sends FY 2010 Homeland Security Spending Bill to President
• Master Address Files Focus of House Subcommittee Census Hearing
• PCAST Hears from Secretary Duncan and Others on Improving Stem Education
• NIH Funds Research Examining the Factors that Influence Women’s Careers in Science
• NSF’s Graduate Education Division Solicits Proposals for Research and Evaluation of Stem Education
• NSF Interdisciplinary Program on Human and Natural Systems Makes Awards, Seeks Proposals
• NSF Encourages Interdisciplinary Work on Environment, Science and Society
• National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality Seeks Nominations for new Public Members
• Applications Wanted for Community Network Programs to Reduce Cancer Disparities
• NIDA, NIAAA, and NINR Seek Applications for Behavioral & Integrative Treatment Development Program
• NIMH to Seek Applications to Develop National Mentoring Networks to Enhance Workforce Diversity
• NIH Seeks Transformative Research Projects
• University of Texas at Brownsville Joins COSSA

October 12, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 18

• Senator Coburn Threatens to Eliminate NSF’s Political Science Program
• Groves Updates Senate Panel on 2010 Preparations; Amendment Proposes New Census Question on Citizenship
• President Obama Visits NIH; Announces $5 Billion in Recovery Act Research Grants
• USDA Launches New Research Agency and New Science Vision; House Panel Looks at Farm Bill Implementation; FY 2010 Spending Bill to President
• John Laub Selected to Head NIJ; Laurie Robinson Gets Senate Hearing
• NSF Announces DOD Supported Awards
• IES Issues Guide to Help Students Prepare for College
• APSA Report Examines U.S. Standing in the World
• Nancy Weinberg Kidd New Communication Association Head
• Martha Zaslow to Head SCRD Policy and Communications Office• Preventing Child Maltreatment
• AAHRPP Issues Final Revised Accreditation Standards
• AASRO Joins COSSA

September 28, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 17

• House Passes CR to Fund Government; Census Protected
• Census Director Groves Appears before House Subcommittee to Discuss 2010 Preparations
• At the Request of Senator Grassley, GAO Report Examines NIH Oversight of Institutes and Centers
• Representatives Barton and Walden Request Details on NIH Peer Review and the Funding of ‘Questionable Studies’
• NICHD’s Alexander Steps Down as Advisory Council Holds Meeting
• The NIAAA Advisory Council Gathers for Its 122nd Meeting
• ISR Celebrates 60th Anniversary with Capitol Hill Briefing
• Briefing Takes Another Look at Terrorism and Global Conflict
• Education Officials Address AERA Policy Meeting
• The Question of College: Should Everybody Go and How to Retain Those Who Do
• Carnegie Report Calls for Expansion of Literacy Training Into Higher Grades
• NSF Seeks Applicants for SBE Minority Post Doctoral Research Fellowships
• National Academies S&T Graduate Fellowships Available
• Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Joins COSSA

September 15, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 16

• Congress Returns: Health Care Reform Dominates; CR Likely for FY 2010 Spending
• Collins Confirmed as NIH Director: Outlines Five Areas of Opportunity in Constituent Meeting
• Recovery Act Increases Scrutiny of Spending by Agencies
• NIH: Recovery Act Funds Making an Impact
• Sunstein Confirmed to Head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
• Financial Modeling and Economists: Are They to Blame for the Economic Crisis?
• BJS Leader Outlines NCVS Restoration and Renovation
• BEA Director Discusses GDP and Beyond
• NIH Unveils New ‘User Friendly’ RePORTER Website
• PRB 2009 Data Sheet Shows World Population Growth Despite Low Birth Rates
• Nominations Sought for Nation’s Highest Science and Technology Honors
• SRCD Policy Fellowship Opportunity
• NIGMS Seeks Proposals on How to Increase Interest in Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers
• Applications Sought for NIH Director’s Pioneer Award and New Innovator Award

August 10, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 15

• FY 2010 Appropriations: House 12; Senate 4
• Labor, HHS, Education Spending Bill for FY 2010 Emerges from Senate Appropriations Committee
• Senate and House Panels Provide Set-Aside for HUD Research and Evaluation
• Bill for Social/behavioral Research Program at DOE Advances Through S&T Panel; Opponents Charge ‘Mind Control’
• Chicago Focus of Hearing on K-12 stem Education at House Science Subcommittee
• CNSTAT Panel Recommends Changes in SIPP
• Report and Briefing Focus on ‘Working Learners’
• Iris F. Litt New Head of Center for Advanced Study at Stanford
• Editor’s Note: Update’s Recess

July 27, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 14

• Myron Gutmann, Former COSSA President, New Head of NSF’s SBE Directorate
• Hill Briefing Highlights NSTC Report: Representatives Baird And Lipinski Speak
• House Passes Labor, HHS, Education Spending Bill; Accepts Defunding of Three NIH Grants
• Science Panel Approves Establishment of Social And Behavioral Research Program at Energy Department
• Congress Take a Closer Look at Women in STEM Fields
• A Big Week for Census: Groves Sworn In; Former Directors Return; Maloney Pushes Independence; Advisory Committee Meets.
• Insel Discusses NIMH’s Use of ARRA Funding: ‘Untapped Potential’ Revealed
• Another Psychologist Comes to the House
• Child Welfare Focus of New Book and Panel
• NCES Releases Report on Student Achievement Gap at State Level
• NSF Seeks Proposals on Stem Research and Evaluation
• Editor’s Note

July 13, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 13

• Senate Confirms Groves to Lead Census Bureau
• Francis S. Collins Nominated to Lead the NIH
• Congress Keeps Spending Bills Moving
• House Panel Hears About Census Data Use in Federal Formula Funding
• Academy Report Calls for Structural Independence for BJS
• IOM Provides Priorities and Recommendations for Comparative Effectiveness Research Effort
• Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research Releases Report
• Mobility, Child Development, and School Achievement Focus of Academies’ Board
• COSSA Board Member David Weisburd Announced as 2010 Stockholm Prize in Criminology Winner
• NSF Seeks Proposals in Creative Information Technology
• NIDCR to Support Small Research Grants for Data Analysis and Statistical Methodology

June 29, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 12

• FY 2010 Appropriations Moving Through Congress
• Senate Spending Committee Examines Rebirth of NIH Funding
• NIJ Research Conference Hears Holder, Kerlikowske
• Congress Asks for Research Universities Study
• More Obama Administration Appointments
• START Releases Updated Terrorism Data Base
• APS Joins COSSA

June 15, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 11

• Budget Issue: Proposed FY 2010 Budgets for Social and Behavioral Science

May 18, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 10

• Obama Administration Issues Details of FY 2010 Budget Proposal
• Census Nominee Groves Faces Smooth Confirmation Hearing
• Holdren Tells Science Committee SBE Sciences ‘Critical’ To Solving Society’s Problems
• Praise and Prescriptions for The Federal Statistical System
• More Administration Appointments: Robinson to Lead OJP Again; O’Toole New Head Of S&T At DHS
• Congress Addresses America’s Failing High Schools
• NSF’s EHR Advisory Committee Seeks Ways to Further Stem Education and Research
• Secretary Duncan and Senator Bennet Address Education Reform Meetings
• David Ellwood Winner of Second Moynihan Prize
• NIH Resumes Search for OBSSR Director
• Modeling the Scientific Workforce: Applications Wanted
• NSF Announces Major Research Instrumentation Competition under ARRA

May 4, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 9

• President Obama Addresses Science Policy In Speech To National Academy of Sciences
• Science Adviser Lays Out Obama Agenda In S&T; House Panel Chair Notes Latest Legislation
• Congressman Baird Discusses Importance of The Social And Behavioral Sciences To The Science Policy Agenda
• Concerns About The 2010 Census Raised At Commerce Secretary’s Appearances Before Spending Panels
• The President’s Council of Advisers on Science And Technology (PCAST)
• More Obama Appointments: Blank To Commerce, Shah To USDA; Spriggs To Labor
• COSSA Coalition Organizes NIH Behavioral And Social Science Poster Session on Capitol Hill
• Congress Clears Budget Resolution; Obama FY 2010 Details Soon
• NIH Scientific Management Review Board Holds Inaugural Meeting; Merger of NIDA And NIAAA Discussed
• The Call For Common Education Standards Gaining Traction
• Emerging Infectious Diseases: A Threat To America’s Health
• Tenth Anniversary of Women’s Health Office Celebrated
• NIDA Launches Drug Use Screening Tools For Physicians
• Institute For Policy Research At Northwestern Celebrates 40^th Anniversary
• NSF Solicits Proposals on Social-Computational Systems

April 20, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 8

• HHS Secretary Designate Kathleen Sebelius Responds to Senators’ Questions Following Confirmation Hearings
• Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research Seeks Comments
• Webb Introduces Criminal Justice Commission Bill
• NAS Behavioral Sciences’ Board Tackles Human Subjects’ Protections Issue at Meeting
• Difficulties in Behavioral Science Support for U.S. Intelligence Efforts
• CNSF Holds 15^th Annual Exhibition; Speaker Pelosi Thanks Science Community
• Women’s Policy Research Group Holds Conference to Present Policy Alternatives to the New Administration
• NSF Seeks Proposals for Urban Long-Term Research Area Exploratory Awards

April 6, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 7

• Administration Continues to Fill Up: Groves to Lead Census Bureau; Easton to Head Institute of Education Sciences
• NIH Acting Director Discusses Many Issues with House Funding Subcommittee
• House and Senate Pass FY 2010 Budget Resolutions
• Subcommittee Examines Factors Around Health Disparities and Access To Health Care
• House Subcommittee Approves Bills to Improve Science Education and International Science
• Implementing Effective Substance Abuse Treatment in the Criminal Justice System Focus of Briefing
• Agriculture Subcommittee Hears from CDC on the State of Obesity in the United States
• Rural Sociological Society Names Ralph Brown Executive Director
• Early College High Schools Discussed at Briefing
• NIH Releases Grand Opportunities Funding Opportunity
• Training Opportunity for Community Participation Research Targeting the Medically Underserved
• NIA Seeks to Promote Careers in Aging and Health Disparities Research

March 23, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 6

• Senate Confirms Holdren and Lubchenco
• Commerce Nominee Promises Census Will Get Done
• House Panel Examines Prisoner Reentry Research
• NSF Issues Statement on Recovery Act Funding
• SBE Interested in Proposals to Investigate Recovery Act Implementation
• NIH Announces Availability of Administrative Supplements
• HHS Announces Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research
• ‘Building a Diverse Scientific Workforce’ Subject of Congressional Briefing
• International Education Programs Celebrated
• New Solicitation for Decision Making Under Uncertainty Research
• NSF and Foundations Offer Opportunities for Cyber-Enabled Data on Innovations in Organizations
• Wanted: Proposals for Exploratory Grants for Behavioral Research in Cancer Control
• CNSTAT Issues New Edition of Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency

March 9, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 5

• Obama Administration Releases FY 2010 Budget Overview; Congress Tries to Finish Up FY 2009; Agencies Announce Stimulus Spending Plans
• Congress Receives Progress Report On Decennial Census Operations: Cost, Accuracy and Privacy Matters Among Top Concerns
• NIH Releases Challenge Grants in Health and Science Research; Deadline to Apply April 27, 2009
• NIGMS Advisory Council Approves Concept to Model Workforce Diversity; Challenge Grant for Research on Novel Interventions Released
• Proceedings of NIH “Women in Biomedical Research” Workshops Available
• NIH, CDC, RWJF Launch Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research
• Institute of Medicine Requests Input into Comparative Effectiveness Research Priorities
• NAS Report Calls for More Social Science Research on Climate Change; We’ve Heard This Before
• Teacher Quality and Alternative Certification Programs Focus of Report
• With Unemployment Climbing, Brookings Session Focuses on Jobs for Those with Middle Level Skills
• NSF Seeks Proposals on Environment, Society and the Economy
• NSF Asks for Public Comment Relating to Research Conduct for Students And Postdocs

February 23, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 4

• Economic Recovery Legislation Enacted: Science Fares Very Well
• Kington Briefs Scientific Community on NIH’s Plans for Stimulus
• Senate Committee Hears From OSTP and NOAA Nominees
• House Passes New Nanotechnology Initiative Bill; Much Emphasis on Health, Safety and Social Implications
• Youth Violence Problem and Solutions Examined by House Judiciary Panel
• Comparative Effectiveness Research: The View from NHLBI; Funding Included in Stimulus Bill
• State Department History Office Dispute Threatens Foreign Relations Document Series

February 9, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 3

• Senate Set to Pass Economic Recovery Legislation
• NSF Reports Downward Trend in Federal R&D Funding in FY 2008
• Institute on Aging Council Approves Report on Behavioral and Social Research Division
• John Hagan and Argentine Judge Winners of Criminology Prize
• Briefing Reviews Research on Crime
• Hunger in America Redux
• NIH Projects, Funding Details Available for Public Viewing on Website
• NIH Holds Conference on Science of Dissemination and Implementation
• NCI Career Development Award

January 26, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 2

• OSTP Releases Report on SBE Sciences
• Stimulus Packages Begin Legislative Journey; Science Funding Included
• President Obama Rescinds Executive Order on Presidential Records; Restores Presumption of Openness on FOIA Requests
• Cora Marrett Named NSF’s Acting Deputy Director
• Political Scientist To Lead House Research And Science Education Panel
• Brookings Scholar New Head Of Congressional Budget Office
• NICHD’s Child Development and Behavior Branch Presents Annual Report To Council: Seeks Public Comments
• Congressional Briefing Underscores Urgency Concerning Census 2010
• National Academies’ Report Makes Recommendations Designed To Improve HHS’ Performance
• OM Committee Issues A Call To Action To The Obama Administration On Global Health
• Science And Human Rights Coalition Launched
• Agencies Announce ‘Digging Into Data’ Competition 

January 12, 2009, Volume 28 Issue 1

• Welcome to 2009
• A New Congress Convenes
• A New Administration Staffs Up
• NIH Summit Explores Science of Health Disparities
• House Rescinds Bush Executive Order On Presidential Records
• DOD Announces Minerva Initiative Awards
• NSF Seeks Proposals In Three Areas Associated With HSD
• OBSSR Revamps Website
• Education Report Focuses on English Language Learners
• International Student Comparisons In Math And Science Reveal Improvement for U.S. Students
• Preparing For Terrorism Disasters Subject of Briefing
• Historians Discuss ‘Historic’ Nature of 2008 Election
• Study Finds Electronic Prescribing System Produces Cost Savings
• The AHRQ Releases Funding Opportunity Announcements
• Applications Wanted for NIH-Supported Centers for Population Health and Health Disparities