What's New @ IEEE-USA - Eye On Washington

Vol. 2009, No. 2 (30 January 2009)
125 Years of Innovation and Ingenuity

CAPITOL HILL ACTIVITY

The Bottom Line on the Current Economic Stimulus Legislation

EXECUTIVE ACTIVITY

NIST Seeks White Papers

REPORTS & DOCUMENTS OF NOTE

National Academies Press

Government Accountability Office

U.S. STATES WATCH

AWARDS & GRANTS

2009 Lawrence Award Call for Nominations

LATEST IEEE-USA & IEEE ACTIVITIES

New Publication from the IEEE-USA Energy Policy Committee

National Inventors Hall of Fame Honors IEEE Members

14th Annual Science Engineering and Technology Congressional Visits Day

New IEEE Video Available on YouTube and Google Video: A smart Grid for Intelligent Energy Use

IEEE-USA Now Accepting 2010 Government Fellowship Applications

Washington, DC Public Radio, Metro Transit Announcements Promote EWeek Discover Engineering Family Day

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CAPITOL HILL ACTIVITY

The Bottom Line on the Current Economic Stimulus Legislation

The House passed an $819 billion economic stimulus bill this week after rejecting a substitute amendment that would have made deeper tax cuts than the original bill proposed. They also rejected an amendment from Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) that would have taken $800 million for Amtrak out of the bill. House leadership says the legislation is necessary to cushion the blow from the recession and make important investments in energy, health care and infrastructure. President Obama says the bill will provide a short-term spur to the sagging economy and make investments with a long-term impact. He stressed that the bill would not be a blank check for the government.

Opponents argue that the bill should be tilted more sharply toward tax cuts, which they say will generate the most economic activity the fastest. Obama said, "I know that some are skeptical about the size and scale of this recovery plan. I understand that skepticism, which is why this recovery plan will include unprecedented measures that will allow the American people to hold my administration accountable. Instead of just throwing money at our problems, we'll try something new in Washington — we'll invest in what works."

The House did adopt several other amendments by voice vote, including the following:

--from Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.), a "use it or lose it" provision requiring 50 percent of the money for highway, aviation, transit and rail projects be obligated within 90 days.

--from Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), a clarification that highway maintenance money in the bill cannot supplant existing state funds, as a way to make sure that the bill pumps additional money in the economy. "We want to make certain that there are no games played at the state level with the budgets," Shuster said.

--from Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), an increase in transit spending from $9 billion to $12 billion. The amendment increased the total cost of the legislation from $816 billion to $819 billion.

--from Larry Kissell (D-N.C.), a requirement that the Department of Homeland Security purchase American-made uniforms for the Transportation Security Administration. Kissell is a former textile worker and said it would help the industry.

--from Todd Platts (R-Pa.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), additional whistleblower protections for federal employees. "All of us would agree, regardless of our position on whether we should put any particular amount into public investment, we want that money safeguarded against waste, fraud and abuse," Van Hollen said.

The House bill also:

--includes $523.5 billion in spending and $275 billion in tax cuts,

--includes help for unemployed workers trying to preserve their health insurance and aid to states to pay for Medicaid,

--temporarily implements Obama's "Making Work Pay" tax credit for 2009 and 2010 (Workers would get an income tax credit designed to cover their first $500 of payroll taxes. Employees should expect to start seeing slightly larger take-home pay within a few months of the bill's enactment.),

--expands the child tax credit and the earned-income tax credit to provide more money for low-income families;

--includes $20 billion for the renewable-energy sector, including a three-year extension of the tax credit for producing electricity from wind and more generous tax credits for purchasing certain energy-efficient products;

--includes assistance to state and local governments to help them finance projects and cope with changes in the credit markets,

--authorizes $22 billion in school construction bonds, $25 billion in bonds for economically distressed recovery zones, $4 billion in energy bonds and $2 billion in tribal bonds, and

--includes a $15 billion provision that allows businesses to use their losses in 2008 and 2009 to offset profits from five previous years instead of the two allowed under current law (although companies getting federal assistance through the Troubled Asset Relief Program (PL 110-343) and other rescue efforts would not be eligible.).

The House bill differs somewhat from the Senate version that will move over the next week.

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EXECUTIVE ACTIVITY

NIST Seeks White Papers

The National Institute of Standards and Technology's new Technology Innovation Program (TIP) seeks white papers from academia, federal, state, and local governments, industry, professional organizations, and societies to help support, promote, and accelerate innovation in the U.S. NIST will use the white papers to help shape the program's competitions in the future.

White papers may discuss any area of critical national need such as personalized medicine and complex networks and systems along with other topics such as civil infrastructure, energy, future water supplies, manufacturing, nanomaterials, nanotechnology, and sustainable chemistry.

NIST wants to see personalized medicine addressed since spending per capital in the U.S is high and rising. Currently, the need is to develop effective advanced tools and techniques for genomics and proteomics research. This will help to provide a greater understanding of complex biological systems, biomarker identification, and targeted drug and vaccine deliver systems. There is also a need for improved and low cost diagnostic and therapeutic systems and for better methods for the integration and analysis of biological data, especially when combined with environmental and patient history data.

NIST notes that complex networks and complex systems are very important particularly for biological systems communications networks, security systems, personalized healthcare and other areas. Today, no single organization has the ability to effectively control multi-scale, distributed, and highly interactive networks. Stability and control of these networks can have far reaching consequences in our society. Complex network theory is important in order to model neural systems and to research the molecular physiological response to disease and environmental systems. For more information, go to www.nist.gov/tip/frn_seeking_whitepapers.pdf. There are several deadlines: March 9, May 11, and July 13, 2009.

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REPORTS & DOCUMENTS OF NOTE

National Academies Press

Startups Critical for Job Creation in U.S. - A new Kauffman Foundation-funded U.S. Census Bureau study suggests that the answer to economic recovery lies within startup companies. The Business Dynamic Statistics (BDS) indicate that without job creation from new firms, the U.S. net employment growth rate is negative on average.

"Job growth is essential for our economy to rebound, and this study shows that new firms have historically been an important source of new jobs in the United States," said Robert E. Litan, vice president of Research and Policy at the Kauffman Foundation, which funded the BDS. "Our research into the early years of business formation consistently shows how vital new firms are to our economy, and this data should give policymakers and budding entrepreneurs alike great hope for how we can solve our current crisis-create and grow jobs through entrepreneurship."

This report is the first of three study briefs to be released that highlight BDS data; the next reports will be released later in January and February 2009.

Government Accountability Office

Electronic Health Records: DOD's and VA's Sharing of Information Could Benefit from Improved Management. GAO-09-268, (January 28) Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09268high.pdf

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US STATES ACTIVITIES

If you like to keep up with what's going on in state politics, StateLine.org provides a good overview of the activities in all 50 state legislatures.

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AWARDS & GRANTS

2009 Lawrence Award Call for Nominations

The Department of Energy invites nominations for the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Awards, which are among the longest running and most prestigious science and technology awards given by the US. Government. Nominations for the 2009 Lawrence Awards must be submitted by April 1, 2009. All nominations are made via an electronic submission process.

AAAS GrantsNet Express - A weekly American Association for the Advancement of Science listing of science funding opportunities from private foundations and organizations, and new U.S. government grant announcements in the sciences. AAAS will send GrantsNet by e-mail to AAAS member subscribers.

Grants.gov - The President's 2002 Fiscal Year Management Agenda established grants.gov as a central storehouse for information on over 1,000 grant programs. The site provides access to approximately $400 billion in annual awards. Most agencies, such as the DOE's Office of Science, use only grants.gov to list all funding opportunities. Other funding opportunities of interest include the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and NASA.

National Science Foundation - For information on NSF Engineering Active Funding Opportunities, visit: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_list.jsp?org=ENG

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LATEST IEEE-USA & IEEE ACTIVITIES

New Publication from the IEEE-USA Energy Policy Committee

IEEE-USA National Energy Policy Recommendations - 2009 ( http://www.ieeeusa.org/policy/energyplan/default.asp)

National Inventors Hall of Fame Honors IEEE Members

On February 11th, the National Inventors Hall of Fame, along with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and Members of Congress, honors the 50th anniversary of the integrated circuit by recognizing five IEEE members at a ceremony on Capitol Hill. The IEEE "inventors who have changed the way we live" are:

Robert W. Bower - self-aligned gate MOSFET

Robert H. Dennard - dynamic random access memory (Dr. Dennard is also receiving the 2009 IEEE Medal of Honor)

Stanley Mazor - microprosser

George E. Smith - charge-coupled device

James E. West - modern microphone

14th Annual Science Engineering and Technology Congressional Visits Day

Registration for the 14th Annual Science Engineering and Technology Congressional Visits Day is now open.  The event is scheduled for April 28-29.  We encourage first time participants and student members of IEEE-USA to participate. The event includes training and scheduling of Congressional appointments with your Congressional delegation. Additional information is available at: http://ieeeusa.org/policy/cvd/default.asp

The 2009 CVD Flyer:
http://www.ieeeusa.org/policy/cvd/2009/CVD09-flyer.pdf

The 2009 Registration Page:
http://www.ieeeusa.org/policy/cvd/registration.html

A printable 2009 Registration Form
http://www.ieeeusa.org/policy/cvd/2009/CVD09-registration.pdf

New IEEE Video Available on YouTube and Google Video: A smart Grid for Intelligent Energy Use

The Smart Grid involves the use of communications and computing technology to transmit and distribute energy more efficiently.  This new video describes the smart grid and how it will reduce our carbon footprint through energy efficiency and the integration of renewable sources of energy. It features interviews recorded at the IEEE Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles: Accelerating Innovation Conference (2007), and the IEEE Energy 2030 Conference (2008).

Produced by IEEE and ScienCentral, Inc., with funding from IEEE Power & Energy Society, IEEE-USA, and the IEEE New Technology Directions Committee (NTDC). (8 minutes running time Copyright 2009)  

IEEE-USA Now Accepting Government Fellowship Applications

Each year, IEEE-USA sponsors three qualified IEEE members to serve as government fellows: one Engineering & Diplomacy Fellow and two Congressional fellows.  The fellows spend a year in Washington, serving as advisers to the U.S. Congress or key U.S. Department of State decision-makers.  IEEE-USA's Government Fellowships link engineers with government, providing a mechanism for IEEE-USA members to learn firsthand about the public policy process through personal involvement.

The congressional fellowship consists of an appointment to the personal staff of a U.S. Senator or Congressman, or to the professional staff of a Congressional Committee. The Fellow along with the Congressional sponsor and IEEE-USA, negotiates a starting date, although IEEE-USA recommends that Fellowship terms run from January 1st to December 31st. For an application Kit for the 2010 Congressional Fellowship Program, visit: http://www.ieeeusa.org/policy/govfel/cfapply.asp

The State Department fellowship begins in January of each year and offers an opportunity for an engineer to provide technical expertise to the State Department, and help raise awareness of the value of engineering input while learning about and contributing to the foreign policy process. For an application Kit for the 2010 Engineering & Diplomacy (State Department) Fellowship Program, visit: http://www.ieeeusa.org/policy/govfel/state.asp

Fellows must be U.S. citizens.The postmark application deadline for 2010 Fellowships is 13 March 2009. For more information, visit: http://www.ieeeusa.org/policy/govfel/default.asp

Former IEEE-USA Congressional Fellows are available to speak spoke to IEEE Sections, PACE and student groups anywhere in the U.S. They are able to discuss the issues they worked on during the years they served as IEEE-USA government fellows, as well as provide an engineer's perspective on the "government process" and the IEEE-USA's involvement in that process. If your section is interested in having one of the former government fellows speak to your group about the program, how the legislative process works in Washington, and how IEEE-USA is influencing it, please contact Erica Wissolik at e. wissolik @ ieee. org. For more information on the IEEE-USA Government Fellows Program, please visit: http://ieeeusa.org/policy/govfel/default.asp

Washington, DC Public Radio, Metro Transit Announcements Promote EWeek Discover Engineering Family Day

IEEE-USA is sponsoring announcements on Washington, DC's  all-classical public radio station and in the capital city's Metro transit system that promote  Discover Engineering Family Day (National Building Museum, Washington, Saturday, 21 February).

Discover Engineering Family Day, part of Engineers Week 2009, provides an interactive day-long program to introduce youngsters and their families to the excitement of engineering. The program engages more than 6,000 participants annually in "hands-on" and "minds-on" experiences to create an interest in engineering principles that are encountered in everyday life. The 2009 event encourages attendees to"work with engineers to invent something new." IEEE-USA and the National Engineers Week Foundation are major sponsors of EWeek Family Day, with more information available at http://www.eweek.org/EngineersWeek/FamilyDay.aspx

IEEE-USA contracted with Metro transit to place posters promoting Family Day in 100 rail cars on all Metro rail lines, plus installation of two lighted dioramas at the Judiciary Square/Building Museum Metro station.  The Metro placements were timed to coincide with record breaking use of the transportation system by hundreds of thousands of riders during the Presidential inauguration. Additionally, IEEE-USA is running promotional announcements highlighting Family Day in January and February on WETA-FM --  broadcast during NPR and PBS news programs at http://www.weta.org/fm, and posted online in a community calendar at http://www.weta.org/local/calendar

Through its support of Family Day and other public awareness activities, IEEE-USA seeks to counter a public perception, cited in the last Harris interactive opinion poll on engineers and scientists,  that engineers show less interest in their local communities than scientists. For more information on IEEE-USA's  public awareness program, go to http://www.ieeeusa.org/communications/default.asp.

Public Policy Priority Issues - 111th Congress, 1st Session (2009): http://ieeeusa.org/policy/issues/index.html

Position Statements: http://ieeeusa.com/policy/positions/index.html - IEEE-USA position statements identify important technical and/or engineering career-related aspects of specific public policy issues deemed to be of concern or affecting IEEE's U.S. members.  They make specific public policy recommendations and provide recommended approaches for consideration by the U.S. Congress, Executive Branch officials, the Judiciary, representatives of State and Local Government, and other interested groups and individuals, including IEEE members. Check out the new positions statements approved in January 2009 . Many more are under review by committees.

IEEE-USA In The News: http://ieeeusa.org/communications/inthenews/default.asp

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Top of Page | What's New@IEEE | IEEE-USA

What's New @ IEEE-USA's Eye on Washington highlights important federal legislative and regulatory developments that affect U.S. engineers and their careers. In addition to this biweekly newsletter, subscribers receive legislative bulletins and action alerts on IEEE-USA priority issues, including: retirement security, employment benefits, research & development funding, computers and information policy, immigration reform, intellectual property protection and privacy of health/medical information.

You can change your IEEE-USA Eye on Washington subscription status by using the forms at http://www.ieeeusa.org/communications/emailupdates/default.asp

Copyright © 2008, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.  Permission granted to copy for personal use or for non-commercial republication with appropriate attribution.