1. Federal IT Policy: Higher Education & the New Congress Net@EDU Tempe, Arizona Sue Fratkin February 5, 2007

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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 concern http://www.compete.org

5. 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)

6. House Science now Science & Technology Chair: 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

7. 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)

8. 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

9. 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….

10. 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