THE DAILY WHIP: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2016

H.Res. 609 – Rule providing for consideration of both H.R. 3293 – Scientific Research in the National Interest Act (Rep. Smith (TX) – Science, Space, and Technology) and H.R. 3442 – Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Act (Rep. Marchant – Ways and Means)(One hour of debate).  The Rules Committee has recommended one Rule which would provide for consideration of two bills.

For H.R. 3293, the Rules Committee has recommended a structured Rule that provides for one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.  The Rule allows for 6 amendments, debatable for 10 minutes equally divided between the offeror and an opponent.  The Rule allows one motion to recommit, with or without instructions, and waives all points of order against the legislation.

ForH.R. 3442, the Rules Committee has recommended a structured Rule that provides for one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ways and Means.  The Rule allows for 8 amendments, debatable for 10 minutes equally divided between the offeror and an opponent.  The Rule allows one motion to recommit, with or without instructions, and waives all points of order against the legislation.

The Rules Committee also rejected a motion by Ms. Slaughter of New York to consider both H.R. 3293 and H.R. 3442 under open Rules.  Members are urged to VOTE NO.

H.R. 3293– Scientific Research in the National Interest Act (Rep. Smith (TX) – Science, Space, and Technology)(One hour of debate).  This bill would require the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award grants or enter into cooperative agreements only if NSF determines that the grant or cooperative agreement: “promotes the progress of science in the United States;” is consistent with the mission of the National Science Foundation; “is worthy of federal funding;” and “is in the national interest” by increasing economic competitiveness in the U.S., advancing the health and welfare of the public, helping to develop the STEM workforce, increasing public scientific literacy, increasing partnerships between academia and industry in the U.S., or supporting national defense. 

The NSF uses peer review to make sure the agency is awarding only the most deserving recipients with grants and cooperative agreements since federal research dollars are scarce.  H.R. 3293 adds additional bureaucratic requirements to this process and opens it up to political influence.  Currently, the NSF uses the highest standards for its merit reviews of grants and conducts an extensive review process before allocating grant money or cooperative agreements, so H.R. 3293 is just another example of a Republican solution in search of a problem. 

Identical language to H.R. 3293, was included in H.R. 1806 – America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015 which passed the House without a single Democratic vote.  That vote can be found HERE. 

The Rule makes in order 6 amendments, debatable for 10 minutes, equally divided between the offeror and an opponent.  The amendments are:

Jackson-Lee Amendment #1. Redirects the bill to "applied research" grants instead of "basic research."
Eddie Bernice Johnson Amendment. Replaces subsection 2(b), "Determination", to ensure the determination is consistent with the mission of the agency and with the existing merit-review criteria.
Jackson-Lee Amendment #3. Adds a new allowable category for grants that are consistent with established and widely accepted scientific methods applicable to the funded field of study.
Jackson-Lee Amendment #4. Adds a new allowable category for grants that are consistent with the definition of basic research as it applies to the funded field of study.
DelBene Amendment #5. Clarifies that language in the underlying bill allowing research to be funded for the development of an American STEM workforce to ensure it includes computer science and information technology sectors.
DelBene Amendment #6. Clarifies that the underlying bill does not impact grant funding that has already been awarded by the National Science Foundation.

Bill Text for H.R. 3293:
PDF Version

Background for H.R. 3293:
House Report (HTML Version)
House Report (PDF Version)

Suspension (1 bill)

1. H.R. 4470– Safe Drinking Water Act Improved Compliance Awareness Act, as amended (Rep. Kildee – Energy and Commerce)

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
The GOP Leadership has announced the following schedule for Thursday, February 11: The House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.  The House is expected to consider H.R. 3442 – Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Act (Rep. Marchant – Ways and Means).