PUBLIC POLICY

Public and Scientific Affairs Board (PSAB)
Underlying the ASM's dedication to the advancement of scientific knowledge is its commitment that science serve the public interest. To address scientific matters affecting the public interest, the ASM created the Public and Scientific Affairs Board (PSAB) in 1979. The PSAB monitors legislation and regulation and develops positions for the Society on public policy issues. The PSAB encourages the adoption of sound policies affecting science and technology and the discipline of microbiology. The PSAB responds to policy makers who may request or require an understanding of research and technology in microbiology. It also communicates microbiological issues to the public.

Sequestration/CR FY 2013 Research Budget Update
On March 21, Congress passed an amended version of HR 933, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013, a spending package that funds the Federal Government though September 30, the end of the fiscal year, and avoids a government shutdown as the current continuing resolution (CR) expired on March 27. Senate amendments added three full-year spending bills for; Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug and related agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science and related agencies and Homeland Security and extended FY 2012 levels for most of the remaining agencies including: Labor, HHS and Education, Energy and Water development and Interior, Environment and Related agencies. While HR 933 does not prevent sequestration cuts of over 5 percent, it does add additional funding before sequestration to some agencies including: the National Science Foundation (NSF) received $152 million more or 2.7 percent to offset the sequester’s impact from 5 percent to 2.4 percent below FY 2012 levels; the National Institutes of Health (NIH) received an additional $71 million, but sequestration will reduce NIH’s current year budget by $1.4 billion or 4.8 percent below the FY 2012 level; the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received $9 million more to increase spending on facilities, food safety and medical countermeasures among other expenses; the Department of Agriculture (USDA) received $55 million for the Food Safety and Inspection Service, designated to prevent sequester mandated furloughs of meat, poultry and egg inspectors; the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) science and technology division is nearly $185 million higher than its 2012 level, with about $37 million set aside for the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility (NBAF). For updates on research budget issues, please visit the Public Affairs webpage at: Research and Development Funding for FY 2013