June 10th, 2011 | View Archive
HHS UPDATES NIH FY12 BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR NATIONAL CENTER FOR ADVANCING TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCES (NCATS)
Secretary Sebelius sent a letter this week to Senator Harkin, containing updated NIH FY12 budgetary details.
http://blogs.nature.com/news/NCATS.budget.amendment.june%207%202011.pdf
Revisions reflect the changes to the IC budgets due to the elimination of NCRR, reorganization of its programs, and creation of NCATS. NCATS would have a budget of roughly $722 million.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO ADDRESS DISTANCE EDUCATION REGULATIONS
Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) introduced H.R. 2117 to prohibit the Department of Education from overreaching into academic affairs and program eligibility under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and repeal burdensome regulations on state authorization.
State authorization regulations issued by the Department of Education in October require every college or university to request permission from all states in which they currently offer distance education by July of 2014 in order to maintain operations in a state.
Many institutions have been concerned about the time frame for institutions to apply and receive approval, as well as the increase of paperwork for the universities and the states.
DOD TO REMOVE CAP LIMITATION ON INDIRECT COSTS
On June 3, 2011, the Department of Defense issued a memorandum stating that the DoD Cap limitation on indirect costs (such as facilities and administrative costs) will not apply to FY 2011 funding on basic research awards.
The official DoD Memo can be viewed here (PDF).
SENATOR CORNYN OFFERS AMENDMENT TO BLOCK LISTING THE SAND DUNE LIZARD ON THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST
On June 7, 2011, Sen. Cornyn filed an amendment, S. 782, to the Economic Development Administration reauthorization bill that would halt adding the Sand Dune Lizard to the Endangered Species Act. His move follows proposals earlier this spring by a number of House Republicans from New Mexico and Texas to stop the proposal, which they feel will harm oil and gas development in the region.
Earlier in May, the U.T. Board of Regents expressed similar concerns stating that the listing is premature and currently unsupported in law. The designation of the Sand Dune Lizard as an endangered species could potentially affect 75,000 acres of the University Lands.
Leadership in the Senate has not yet stated whether they will allow a vote on this measure.
You can view Sen. Cornyn's amendment here (PDF).
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