House passes National Defense Authorization Act
The week of June 9, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY25. This bill sets the Pentagon’s policy agenda and authorizes how the Department of Defense can use federal funding.
The House NDAA will need to align with the Senate’s bill. The Senate Armed Services Committee held a closed-door markup of its version of the FY25 NDAA the week of June 9. Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS) is advocating for an overall $55 billion increase above the FY25 President’s Budget Request. UNC Federal Affairs is closely monitoring the House’s progress on the legislation and will continue to engage with key congressional offices as both bills advance.
House Appropriations Committee advances FY25 bills
Subcommittee chairs received their topline funding levels from leadership in mid-May. The overall totals undercut bipartisan agreements from last year’s debt limit negotiations. Operating within an approximately $1.6 trillion total, defense budgets would see a modest 1% boost in the upcoming fiscal year, while non-defense funding faces a roughly 6% reduction. These allocations fall well below the levels sought by Senate leaders, setting the stage for another prolonged funding clash beyond the November election.
On May 23, the House Appropriations Committee advanced the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs bill, sending it to the House for a floor vote. It passed on June 5. Looking ahead, the House Appropriations Subcommittee will consider the Department of Health and Human Services appropriations bill on June 27 and a full committee markup is scheduled for July 10.
According to press reports, Senate appropriators’ work on FY25 is delayed due to disagreements about the topline spending levels. The Senate Appropriations Committee hopes to begin marking up its bills after the July 4 recess. To see each of the 12 appropriations bills’ progress through the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, see this Congress.gov status table.
HELP Ranking Member Cassidy releases new proposals to modernize NIH
On May 9, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a white paper detailing proposals to improve the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Over the past year, Cassidy has sought input from stakeholders regarding potential policy updates for the modernization of the NIH.
Per the press release found on the minority committee’s website, NIH funds more biomedical research than any other public institution in the world, dedicating 91% of its $49 billion budget to research both inside and outside the agency. The NIH has not undergone a comprehensive congressional review of its operations and procedures since the passage of the 21st Century Cures Act in 2016.
UNC Federal Affairs will maintain involvement with members and staff of the HELP Committee as this initiative moves forward.
President Biden’s science advisors publish artificial intelligence report
In April, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) published its report on Supercharging Research: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Meet Global Challenges. PCAST is a federal advisory committee of science and technology advisors appointed by the President. President Biden tasked PCAST with producing the AI report in his Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence. Read the report for a list of recommendations.
National Science and Technology Council releases annual report on R&D infrastructure
On May 2, the White House National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) released its annual report on “U.S. Federal Research and Development Infrastructure.” This report is required by the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) Act of 2007. It outlines the research and development infrastructure (RDI) deficiencies at federal and national laboratories and recommends practices for agencies to adopt within their existing budgets and legal authorities.
NSTC identified four major issues affecting U.S. RDI: “aging and inadequate research infrastructure; cascading impacts from substandard facilities; a widening gap in global S&T outcomes; and challenges in recruiting and retaining top talent.”
The report further states: “Being a science superpower carries the burden of supporting and maintaining the advanced underlying infrastructure that supports the research and development enterprise. Congressional appropriations have not kept pace with maintenance needs across multiple administrations, resulting in multibillion dollar maintenance backlogs across multiple government agencies, forcing government managers into a position where they must choose between executing science missions or maintaining their facilities.”
See the report to review opportunities for agencies to meet future S&T needs.