GOVERN MEN T & POLICY
IN WITH THE NEW As OBAMA SETS AGENDA and fills top posts, groups offer up wish lists GOVERNMENT & POLICY STAFF, C&EN WASHINGTON
44th President of the United States on Jan. 20, 2009, many hope he will bring with him a series of new policies and attitudes. After all, he ran for president with the message of change. Part of this change will most likely include a shift in attitude toward science and technology. The Administration of President George W. Bush, many critics say, has ignored science and repressed scientific exchanges involving federal researchers. Obama has pledged to change all that by insisting that key policy decisions are science based and by putting in place policies to protect scientific integrity. Obama has also stated his intent to increase funding for science, deal with the energy crisis, and take action to address climate change—to mention only a few of his science-related campaign promises that have the science community excited. Some of these changes will involve executive orders, some may be directives to regulatory agencies, and others would require congressional legislation. The current financial crisis, however, may put some of Obama’s preelection plans on hold. To help sort through the myriad options and develop the best set of priorities, the president-elect has assembled a transition team and several agency review teams. The teams are also helping Obama identify individuals to fill top federal posts, including his science adviser and heads of both the National Institutes of Health and the Food & Drug Administration. With this process expected to be ongoing for the next few months, organizations ranging from nonprofits to industry trade groups to internal governmental offices are putting forth wish lists they hope will influence the new Administration. Transparency of government is one thing many of these groups, as well as the public, are hoping will improve under the
Obama Administration. During his campaign, Obama accused the Bush Administration of being “one of the most secretive, closed Administrations in American history,” and he pledged to reverse that trend by using cutting-edge technologies to create “a new level of transparency, accountability, and participation for America’s citizens.” This attitude of openness is already apparent as the Obama camp is posting details about the identity of its transition team on its website, www.change.gov. Obama and his top advisers are also making use of the videosharing website YouTube to report on their progress and share their plans. This prolific use of the Internet is a first for the nation’s top official. ON THE RESEARCH front, one of the first actions that Obama is expected to take is to allow more federal funding to go to research on a wider array of stem cell lines. Currently, research efforts are limited by an executive order issued by Bush in 2001. Under the executive order, federal funding can be used only to support research on embryonic stem cell lines derived prior to Aug. 9, 2001. Bush twice vetoed legislation—which then-Sen. Obama supported—to expand this policy by allowing more cell lines to qualify for federal funds. Obama strongly supported an expanded policy during his presidential campaign just as he did during his time in the Senate, points out Lawrence A. Soler, vice president of government relations with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. “This is something that can be taken care 2008 OWE N S L/ B LAC K STAR/ NEWSCOM
WHEN BARACK OBAMA is sworn in as the
of in the beginning of the term and that will get funding flowing to more areas of stem cell research very quickly,” Soler says. The president-elect’s stance on stem cell research is just one example of his science-friendly attitude. In fact, much to the delight of scientific groups, early indications are that science policy will be a higher priority under the incoming Obama Administration than it was for his predecessor. As such, Obama has been receiving plenty of advice in this area. POWER WALK President Bush For example, in Sep(right) met last tember, the National month with Academies issued a President-Elect report advising the Obama at the presidential candidates White House.
on the importance of filling key science and technology posts in the federal government. This report, prepared by a committee chaired by former Republican congressman John E. Porter, notes that there are about 80 high-level science and technology appointments that must be made when Obama takes office. Highest priority should be on naming a White
“We want to ensure that scientific input returns to a prominent place in the Administration.” W W W.CE N - O N L IN E .O RG
43
DECE M B E R 1 , 2008
GOVERN MEN T & POLICY
advocate for science in Washington. The American Chemical Society, which publishes C&EN, is a member of ASTRA. “It’s clear there is going to be a collision between priorities and objectives and the fiscal realities,” Boege says. Although the prospects of large funding increases in 2009 may be bleak, Boege is encouraged by the attitude of Obama’s transition team Foundation have a strong scientific and thinks its members ON THE ROAD Obama campaigned on a background and an appreciation for understand the impromise of change. the role individual investigators play portance of a coherent in the country’s progress.” policy for science and AAAS, FASEB, and other groups are technology. “They know also calling on Obama to follow through they have to support the system better, eson his campaign pledge to double federal pecially fundamental research. But we just funding for basic research over 10 years. don’t know how they can ramp it up with This funding growth would benefit agenother pressing priorities,” he says. cies such as NIH, NSF, and the Department AAAS’s Teich believes that top scienof Energy’s Office of Science. tific priorities for the new Administration should be alternative energy and climate change, global health, and support for BUT SOME funding proponents are worphysical science and engineering. He is ried that budget gains for science won’t be buoyed by Obama’s pledge to restore inpossible in the short term. “The economic tegrity to federal science. “He is certain to situation is going to place severe contreat science and technology with more restraints on federal programs, and research spect and integrity than was the case in the is likely to be constrained with the rest of Bush Administration,” Teich says. the discretionary federal budget,” Teich Not everyone has given up hope on tells C&EN. short-term funding increases for science, “I think the cruel light of dawn from this however. “We are very hopeful that, despite financial reality will disappoint many peothe economic turmoil of the past months, ple in terms of science policy and funding,” the new Administration and Congress will says Robert S. Boege, executive director appreciate that an investment in science of the Alliance for Science & Technology is critical to national progress,” Marchase Research in America (ASTRA), a coalisays. In fact, he advocates for science fundtion of organizations and individuals that ing, particularly for NIH, to be included in any economic stimulus package that comes forward. The idea of a stimulus package is also part of many industry groups’ wish lists. For instance, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC), the nation’s largest business federation, is calling for additional economic stimulus measures to save and expand jobs in the auto, housing, trade, and infrastructure industries. “Our newly elected leaders understand that they and the business community have a strong, mutually shared interest to bring about economic recovery as soon as possible,” says Thomas J. Donohue, USCC’s president and chief executive officer. “Any
W W W.CE N -O N L IN E .O RG
SHUTTE RSTO CK
House science adviser, the report argues, echoing the advice of other science policy observers in Washington, D.C. Obama responded to the academies in a letter stating that he is committed to selecting highly qualified individuals throughout his Administration. He also said he plans to issue a presidential executive order establishing clear guidelines for publicly sponsored research, “guaranteeing that results are released in a timely manner and are not distorted by ideological biases.” The scientific community is particularly interested in Obama’s appointment of a science adviser. The science adviser must be someone “with impeccable credentials and the respect of the scientific and engineering communities,” says Albert H. Teich, the director of science and policy programs at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). “It has to be someone with the requisite political skills to operate in the high-pressure environment of the White House.” The quick appointment of a science adviser is also something the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology is advocating. This action, FASEB President Richard B. Marchase explains, would signal a return of science as a critical decision factor for the new president. “We want to ensure that scientific input returns to a prominent place in the Administration,” Marchase says. He adds that “it’s really critical to us that the leadership for agencies like NIH and the National Science
44
DECE MB E R 1 , 2008
SHUTTERSTOCK
successful and sustainable recovery must involve the business sector.” Donohue says his group is also prepared to play a role in the transition process. “We will offer our policy ideas, access to our many domestic and international experts, and views on key appointees,” he says. “We are absolutely committed to a continuity of government during this critical period for our country and, thus, will support quick confirmation of nominees to sensitive posts related to our national, homeland, and economic security.”
balance sheets, good credit histories, and order backlogs cannot obtain routine financing. There is no question that we face daunting challenges ahead.” Noting that Illinois, where Obama was senator, is an industrial state, Engler says the president-elect “understands the importance of manufacturing and what’s good for jobs and the economy overall.” NAM wants the incoming Administration to support increased offshore oil and gas production, expansion of nuclear power, and utilization of renewable energy resources—such as wind, solar, and geothermal—to diversify the nation’s energy supply. OTHER INDUSTRY GROUPS are also As Engler and other observers know, offering advice to the president-elect. Wilenergy policy will be a key element in the liam E. Allmond, director of government new Obama Administration and will likely relations at the Synthetic Organic Chemibe one of the areas to receive immediate cal Manufacturers Association (SOCMA), attention. The president-elect’s emphasis says his group wants to work with the on reducing carbon dioxide emissions and new Administration and with legislative spurring renewable energy development in leaders “on a bipartisan basis, where posthe U.S. ensures a transformation in energy generation and use. It will lead to new winners and losers in the world of electricity and fuels. Because of Obama’s outright embrace of energy’s importance, his Administration has heard from a wide spectrum of groups angling to influence the views of his transition team. Although the details of their proposals differ, groups as divergent as the industry-funded USCC and the left-leaning think tank Center for American Progress (CAP) are calling for sible, to achieve industry priorities.” WORKING LATE Industry groups an aggressive federal energy These include the adoption of more are pushing program. The two groups urge market-opening international trade the Obama the creation in the White House agreements and enactment of a perAdministration of a new high-ranking office to manent chemical plant security law to support that avoids a mandate for inherently offshore drilling. coordinate energy issues within the federal government. safer technologies. USCC also issued a plan to John Engler, president of the double energy R&D spending while increastrade group National Association of ing development of nuclear, clean-coal, and Manufacturers (NAM), says the Obama oil and gas energy production. It also seeks Administration must take steps to revitalcomprehensive energy legislation to be enize the economy, address the credit crunch, acted by the new Administration and Conand boost manufacturing. “Our nation is gress within Obama’s first year in office. in a financial crisis that is discouraging inCAP also issued a “blueprint” for vestment and consumption,” Engler says. Obama’s Administration. The recom“Manufacturers are severely impacted by mendations are likely to carry significant the credit squeeze. Companies with solid
Obama “is certain to treat science and technology with more respect and integrity.” W W W.CE N - O N L IN E .O RG
45
DECE M B E R 1 , 2008
Organozinc Halide Reagents Commercially Available from BASF
3-Ethoxy-3-oxopropylzinc bromide
Excellent coupling partners for complex molecule synthesis – High yielding reactions – Mild reaction conditions – Minimal by-products – Functional group tolerant – Efficient alkyl group couplings
Contact us at: 1-866-426-7263 (US only) +1 724-538-1300 +1 724-538-1260 (fax) www.rznx.basf.com
[email protected] Partner with us from lab to launch
GOVERN MEN T & POLICY
weight because the think tank was founded by John D. Podesta, who leads Obama’s transition team, and is made up of many Obama transition officials. Like USCC, CAP also wants speedy action and urged Obama to stress energy issues in his first State of the Union Address and to propose energy and climate-change legislation within his first 100 days in office. Although the details of a new energy policy haven’t been released, prior to the election, Obama said that he would require 25% of U.S. electricity to be derived from renewable sources by 2025. He has underscored the jobs that would be created through renewable energy projects. RENEWABLE ENERGY would also be
encouraged by Obama through his plan to increase tax credits for renewable energy sources. He is likely to get plenty of support in this effort from solar, geothermal, wind, and other segments of the renewable energy industry. In a recent briefing, industry officials from this sector urged Obama to provide $30 billion in financial aid to the industry.
This is twice the $15 billion that the president-elect has promised for catalyzing private industry efforts to develop new energy sources, singling out solar, wind, biofuels, clean-coal, and nuclear power for support. Pointing to the financial crisis, the industry officials said investment funding for new projects has become increasingly difficult to come by. They added that the recently extended tax credits were not having the desired result in stimulating new renewable energy projects because companies that would be expected to seek the tax credits were financially strapped. The renewable energy industry officials instead urged direct government payments rather than tax credits, which might prove difficult for Congress during a time of financial chaos. However, they hope benefits to their industry will flow from Obama’s support of national renewable energy standards and a CO2 cap-and-trade program that should cut CO2 emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and further reduce CO2 by 80% of that level by 2050. The American Chemistry Council (ACC), the chemical industry’s largest
W W W.CE N -O N L IN E .O RG
46
DECE MB E R 1 , 2008
lobbying group, also supports a national energy policy and sees an opportunity for such a policy to help the chemical industry. “In the last Congress, one of the few things that received significant bipartisan support was increasing our country’s energy security by increasing our domestic energy supply,” ACC President and CEO Calvin M. Dooley says. “We’re hopeful that one of the first priorities of the Obama Administration and the congressional leadership will be to put together and advance a comprehensive energy proposal that builds upon the lifting of the moratorium on outer continental shelf oil and natural gas development,” says Dooley, who is also a former Democratic congressman. In July, President Bush lifted a longstanding executive order that banned drilling in most U.S. coastal areas, and a congressional moratorium expired on Sept. 30. Obama has said he would support a limited expansion of offshore drilling if it were part of a compromise that would promote renewable energy and energy conservation.
S H UTTE RSTO C K
second order directing all federal agencies to consider the climatechange-related implications of all their major activities. Those activities range from setting corporate average fuel economy standards for vehicles to selecting a site for a new facility in a low-lying coastal area projected to become increasingly vulnerable to floods. Another group that is calling for action on climate change is Earthjustice. The advocacy organization, which represents other environmental groups in court, is calling on the new Administration to have the Environmental Protection Agency regulate CO2 under the Clean Air Act. In addition, Earthjustice is urging the Obama Administration to reverse a December 2007 decision by current EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson that prevents California from regulating greenhouse gases from new cars and trucks. Another government-wide directive sought by CPR would instruct agencies to protect children from exposure to toxic substances. The group wants Obama FUMING Environmental to order agencies to develop plans Dooley says a nagroups are hoping the to protect children from exposure tional energy policy Obama Administration to several substances or groups should allow coastal will reverse a Bush of chemicals: lead, a neurotoxic states to share in the EPA decision and allow metal in the paint in many older revenues that result California to regulate greenhouse gas dwellings; mercury, a neurotoxic from new offshore oil emissions from vehicles. metal that builds up in the tissue of and gas production, fish caught for food; perchlorate, a make investments in component of rocket fuel; phthaclean-coal technology, lates, which are used as additives in plasand promote greater conservation and tics; fine particulate matter; ground-level energy efficiency. “That’s one area where ozone; and pesticides. we are very hopeful that Congress will act The Government Accountability Office quickly,” he says. (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, also has several specific changes related to INTERLACED WITH any energy policy will the regulation of chemicals, specifically by be climate-change policy. And just what EPA, that it would like the president-elect the new Administration’s policy should be to consider. is the topic of advice given by many enviGAO wants a rule requiring chemical ronmental and public-interest advocacy makers to give EPA the same health and groups. safety data they would provide to the EuroFor instance, the Center for Progressive pean Union under the new REACH regime, Reform (CPR), a think tank that advocates which stands for the Registration, Evalufor greater protections for health, safety, ation & Authorization of Chemicals. GAO and the environment, wants Obama to suggests this change should apply broadly issue a pair of executive orders related to to data submitted to any foreign governglobal warming. One order would require ment on the chemicals a company makes or all federal agencies to measure and report processes in or imports into the U.S. their emissions of greenhouse gases and In addition, GAO wants EPA to require then reduce those releases. CPR suggests a W W W.CE N - O N L IN E .O RG
47
DECE M B E R 1 , 2008
Alkali Metal Amides Selective Deprotonation
M = Li, Na, K
– Non-nucleophilic, hindered amine base – High base strength – High stability – Hydrocarbon and ether soluble – Flexibility: counterion, solvent and packaging
Contact us at: 1-866-426-7263 (US only) +1 724-538-1300 +1 724-538-1260 (fax) www.basf.com/ specialtyalcoholates
[email protected] Partner with us from lab to launch
chemical companies to reassert claims of confidentiality attached to the data they submit to the agency. Currently, once a company claims information—ranging from the names of chemicals to the identity of the company—as proprietary, the data remain protected from public view unless EPA successfully challenges the assertion. GAO says that after several years have passed, the information should automatically become public unless chemical makers again put forth claims of confidentiality. Meanwhile, SOCMA is urging incoming Obama appointees to maintain and strengthen an EPA program that the Bush Administration launched in 2007, SOCMA’s Allmond says. Under the Chemical Assessment & Management Program, EPA plans to assess, by 2012, the risks posed by more than 9,000 chemicals with U.S. production volumes of at least 25,000 lb per year. The effort relies heavily on data that chemical makers are supplying to the agency voluntarily for high-production-volume substances. According to Allmond, SOCMA also plans to work closely with Obama’s EPA
appointees as the agency finalizes a rule to tighten emissions standards at smaller chemical plants that process, use, or produce any of 15 hazardous air pollutants (C&EN, Oct. 6, page 26). SOCMA says the rule, which the Bush Administration proposed in September, would be extremely expensive for many smaller chemical companies. ANOTHER REGULATORY AGENCY that
will undoubtedly be on the Obama agenda is FDA. In the wake of the biggest Salmonella bacteria outbreak in decades, milk products and pet food contaminated with melamine, and adulterated heparin blood-thinning drugs, the Obama Administration is expected to support reform at the agency. Whether that reform is just a small tweak or a complete overhaul of the agency will depend on whom Obama picks as FDA commissioner, observers say. Although most people expect more protection of public health under Obama than under the current Administration, “I don’t think you are going to see a tidal wave,” says William K. Hubbard, former senior associate com-
W W W.CE N -O N L IN E .O RG
48
DECE MB E R 1 , 2008
missioner of FDA and an outspoken critic of the agency since he retired. Regarding food safety, the next Administration is likely to work with Congress to give FDA the authority to recall contaminated food products and provide a traceability system for determining the origin of contaminated food, Hubbard predicts. High on the list of priorities for the next Administration will also be to give FDA more import authority, he adds. Such authority would put more responsibility on the exporter to prove that an exported product is safe. GAO is also calling for action on food safety, citing it as an urgent issue for the next Administration. “Currently, 15 agencies administer over 30 food safety laws,” Lisa R. Shames, director of natural resources and environment at GAO, says in a video message on GAO’s website. “This fragmented system has caused ineffective coordination, inconsistent oversight, and inefficient use of resources.” GAO recommends “comprehensive, uniform, and riskbased food safety legislation; a reconvened Food Safety Council; a results-oriented government-wide performance plan; and a review of alternative organizational food safety structures,” Shames notes. Another priority item identified by GAO involves the National Aeronautics & Space Administration. Specifically, GAO says the Obama Administration must make a decision about whether to retire the space shuttle in 2010 as currently planned or to extend its three-decade-long service. For his part, Obama has pledged to establish a robust and balanced space program but has not disclosed specific details about the shuttle program. One thing Obama has said is that he will establish a National Aeronautics & Space Council. According to the president-elect, the council will “oversee and coordinate civilian, military, commercial, and national security space activities. It will solicit public participation, engage the international community, and work toward a 21st-century vision of space that constantly pushes the envelope on new technologies as it pursues a balanced national portfolio that expands our reach into the heavens and improves life here on Earth.” The next Administration will also need to decide whether existing regulations at multiple agencies are sufficient for dealing with emerging technologies such as nanotechnology, synthetic biology, and genetically engineered food animals. Many
N ASA
GOVERN MEN T & POLICY
people are calling for more government way that’s palatable to include uncertainty oversight of such technologies because of in that conversation, then automatically, their potential risks to human health and you come up with adaptive regulation,” the environment. Observers say they exCaruso said. pect the next Administration to strengthen the federal government’s commitment to ONE PRIORITY that’s sure to find its way environmental, health, and safety research, to the top of the new Administration’s list particularly with respect to nanomaterials is protecting the nation. Making a seamless (C&EN, Aug. 11, page 35). transition from the Bush Administration Denise Caruso, executive director and is essential because “terrorists often try cofounder of San Francisco-based Hybrid to take advantage of transition,” says MatVigor Institute, a nonprofit think tank thew Rojansky, executive director of the dedicated to interdisciplinary and collabPartnership for a Secure America, a bipartiorative problem solving, spoke at a recent san nonprofit center. event about the need for an adaptive reguRojansky tells C&EN that the 9/11 Comlatory system—one that evolves as new mission Act of 2007 includes authorization scientific information becomes available. for a new coordinator for weapons of mass “I would encourage the people who are destruction proliferation and terrorism thinking about science policy in Obama’s that remains unfilled under the Bush AdAdministration to think ministration. He says the Obama Adabout a broader view of ministration should fill that spot. It’s what ‘evidence based’ not enough to merely create a new STILL FLYING Obama means,” Caruso said. title and job description, Rojansky will have to determine Scientists need to think whether the space says. “The critical need is for a top ofmore about uncertainty shuttle will retire in ficial who has the full support of the 2010 as planned or in terms of setting President and the authority to guide whether it will continue policy, she added. “If to carry astronauts into government-wide decisions on fundyou can come up with a space beyond that date. ing and programs,” he adds. CAP also has ideas to improve homeland security. Specifically, CAP published a report in November that identified 300-plus chemical facilities that could cause massive casualties if they were targeted for a terrorist attack or if they experienced an accident (C&EN, Nov. 24, page 10). The report goes on to recommend that action be taken to encourage these facilities to employ safer technologies. Report author Paul Orum pointed out in a teleconference that national security is a priority for Obama. With this in mind, recommendations from Orum’s report might influence the new Administration to push for inherently safer technologies as part of its national security policy to replace the existing interim Department of Homeland Security rules set to expire in October 2009. The wide range of groups coming forward to share their ideas for science-and-technology-related policies that they believe will be on the new agenda shows just how much excitement there is around the U.S. for the new Administration—an Administration that holds the promise of better days for science. ■ W W W.CE N - O N L IN E .O RG
49
DECE M B E R 1 , 2008
