July 29, 2021

The congressional effort to boost America’s scientific and technological competitiveness has so far focused largely on funding, with tens of billions in extra spending poised to be authorized for federal R&D agencies. But on Tuesday, lawmakers from the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee took a stab at a separate question: How do you make sure the impending flood of R&D dollars is well-spent? [T]he National Science and Technology Strategy Act, [is] legislation [that was] approved by the Science Committee via a voice vote during a Tuesday markup of several R&D provisions. The bill tasks the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science and Technology Council with developing a comprehensive science and tech strategy every four years, and mandates a quadrennial review of federal science and tech policy. The Senate also wants to overlay a strategic road map on the coming glut of R&D funding—but it’s taking a different approach. (National Journal - July 29, 2021)

Today, subcommittees of the House Armed Services Committee began markup of the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act. Notably, the panel’s new Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems, which completed its markup hearing this morning, released its proposals for the FY22 NDAA. The subcommittee mark was adopted out of committee without amendment. The subcommittee’s proposals include provisions to improve science and technology transfer across the so-called “valley of death” between academic pursuits and commercial applications; strengthen the Department of Defense’s digital engineering and testing; improve access to innovative talent; and prepare for competition in the information environment. In his opening statement, Chairman James R. Langevin (D-RI) reiterated the subcommittee’s commitment to “ensuring that the technologies shaping today and tomorrow, including biotechnology, artificial intelligence and machine learning, continue to mature and ultimately are applied across the defense enterprise.” The subcommittee markups are expected to last through tomorrow, followed by the full committee markup on September 1. The complete HASC markup schedule can be found here. (Association of American Universities - July 28, 2021)

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science Foundation have issued a request for information on an implementation plan for the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource. The RFI will inform the work of the task force created by Congress to design a roadmap for establishing and sustaining NAIRR, “a shared computing and data infrastructure resource that would provide AI researchers and students across scientific fields with access to a holistic advanced computing ecosystem.” Comments and responses are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on September 1. (Association of American Universities - July 28, 2021)

House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, said Wednesday during a press briefing that President Biden doesn't have the authority to broadly cancel student loan debt. "He can postpone," Pelosi said. "He can delay. But he does not have that power. That has to be an act of Congress." Members of her own party have disagreed with that in the past, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, and Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, stating the president does have the authority to cancel debt via executive action. Schumer said Biden could do it "with the flick of a pen." Biden directed the Department of Education and the Department of Justice to explore his legal authority to cancel debt, but they have yet to release any conclusion. (Inside Higher Ed - July 29, 2021)

Lots of uncertainty is ahead for student borrowers, with loan repayments scheduled to restart in October and two loan servicers announcing their federal contracts will be over at the end of the year. That means now is the perfect time to wipe the slate clean and start over, say those frustrated with the administration of the student loan system. The need to take advantage of the “rare opportunity for a fresh start” was a common theme of the comments made by lawmakers and witnesses during a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs subcommittee hearing held Tuesday on protecting student borrowers. “This is our best chance in years to build strong guardrails into student loan servicing contracts and to hold student loan servicers accountable if they screw things up,” [Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)] said. “It is also a chance to fix the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to make sure that our hardworking public servants get the relief that our nation promised them.” (Inside Higher Ed - July 29, 2021)