Geoscience Policy Monthly Review
august 2014
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congress
House forms bipartisan caucus to bring attention to Arctic policy
August 5, 2014
Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Rep. Don Young (R-AK) recently announced the formation of a new bipartisan caucus designed to bring more attention to Arctic issues in Congress. The caucus, called the Congressional Arctic Working Group (CAWG), also aims to secure U.S. interests in the region.
The move to create the caucus comes a year before the United States prepares to take over the chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2015. The Council serves as a voluntary intergovernmental organization of Arctic States and indigenous groups who work together to address economic and environmental needs relating to the Arctic. The caucus intends to improve the effectiveness of U.S. involvement in the Council in the wake of a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlighting the United States’ lack of a clear strategy and resources for the Council.
Rep. Larsen stressed the need for the United States to shift focus to the Arctic, pointing out that other countries have already begun successfully navigating the Arctic waters for research and economic purposes. Rep. Young echoed those sentiments and emphasized the need to consider Alaskan Native priorities.
Congress most recently considered Arctic policy in a House Transportation Committee hearing titled “Implementing U.S. Policy in the Arctic” and in a bill introduced by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) that would establish an Ambassador at Large for Arctic Affairs.
Sources: E&E News, Government Accountability Office, Representative Rick Larsen
Senate committee passes bill restricting agency conference travel
July 30, 2014
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the Conference Accountability Act of 2014 to limit the travel of federal employees to conferences. The committee passed the bill, S. 1347, introduced by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), on July 30 by voice vote. Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) voted “No.” Dozens of scientific societies announced their opposition to the bill in a letter sent to the committee leadership.
The bill would cap the number of federal employees from one agency allowed to attend any single international conference at 50 people. The head of the agency and the chief financial officer (CFO) would be able to grant exemptions cap if they certify to Congress that the employees’ attendance is in the national interest. The bill also limits an agency’s spending on a single conference to $500,000 unless the CFO and agency head submit an exception to Congress.
S. 1347 would require agencies to post information every quarter regarding conferences attended by agency employees, including details such as itemized expenses. If an agency spends over $50,000 on a conference they must provide a cost-benefit analysis of holding a conference rather than conducting a teleconference. Sen. Levin said the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), an expert agency in cost-benefit analyses, does not know how to conduct these analyses for every conference. Sen. Levin opposed the bill saying that it is overly burdensome and costly.
The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) and 12 of its member societies signed on to the letter opposing the S. 1347 travel restrictions. The scientific societies say conferences create “global awareness of research advances,” allow “rapid dissemination of federally funded research results,” and foster collaboration. They say this bill endangers these conference outcomes and increases administrative costs.
The full Senate could consider this legislation when they return from recess in September.
Sources: Congress.gov, Ecological Society of America, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee