What does 2016 hold for federally funded research into the social and behavioral sciences? Will we see new attempts to politically filter what constitutes valuable science? How will legislative calls for transparency, relevancy and open access affect you? Michael Todd, the editor of SAGE Publishing’s Social Science Space website, and Mark Vieth, senior vice president of the Washington lobbying firm CRD Associates, tackle these and other questions in a first of a series of webinars looking at federal support and use of social and behavioral science. Vieth, a longtime staffer in the House of Representatives, is the coordinator of a national Social and Behavioral Science coalition fighting to keep all science reviewed by scientists and funded properly. This conversation takes place shortly after the release of the White House budget proposal, always the starting point for appropriations decisions in the U.S. Congress. This webinar series is sponsored by Social Science Space and SAGE Publishing.

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2. Washington, D.C. and
Social and Behavioral Science:
The Picture for 2016
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3. Mark D. Vieth,
Senior Vice President, CRD Associates
Coordinator, Social and Behavioral Science Campaign
Michael Todd,
Editor, Social Science Space
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4. While we do our best to answer as many questions as we can, time constraints
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the hashtag
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5. Social Science Research in the
Fiscal Year 2017 Budget
By
Mark Vieth
Senior Vice President, CRD Associates
Coordinator, Social and Behavioral Science
Campaign
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6. Summary
• What is the SBE Directorate?
• Funding History of Social Sciences
• Recent Attacks to SBE Funding
• President’s FY17 Budget
• Challenges in 2016 and beyond…
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7. What is the SBE Directorate
• Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences
• One of Six Research Directorates at NSF
• By far the Smallest Funded Directorate!
- Research and Related: $6 billion
- SBE: $272 million in FY16 (4.5%)
- BIO: $744 million in FY16
• Funds 67% of SBS research at universities
• Total Awards FY15: 640 (21% funding rate)
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10. What is the SBE Directorate?
Divisions
• Social and Economic Science (SES)
• Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS)
• National Center for Science and
Engineering Statistics (NCSES)
• Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (SMA)
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11. SBE Grants Under the Microscope
“Funds currently spent by the government on
social science–including on politics of all things–
would be better spent helping find cures to
diseases.”
Former Majority Leader Eric Cantor,
February 5, 2013
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12. SBE Grants Under the Microscope…
“The (Science) Committee is concerned that the
Administration has lost sight of NSF's core mission in
support of the physical sciences when so much funding is
provided for SBE. Several recent studies conducted by
NSF's SBE funding have been of questionable value, and
something our nation can ill-afford. These SBE funds are
better spent on higher priority scientific endeavors that
have demonstrated return on investment for the American
taxpayer.”
Chairman Lamar Smith letter to House Budget Committee, March, 2013
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13. SBE Grants Under the Microscope…
“ As NSF reviews these proposals, a
question they should ask...is how will the
principal purpose of this research project
look in a headline in the New York Times or
in a tweet?”
Rep. John Culberson, R-Tex.,
LA Times Interview, March 4, 2015
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14. SBE Funding: Congressional Activity
• America “COMPETES”
Reauthorization
• Commerce Justice
Science Appropriations
• The “Scientific
Research in the
National Interest Act.”
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15. America “COMPETES”
• Statute governing the National Science
Foundation and other science agencies
• 43% Cut for SBE Directorate
• Approved by House Science Committee on May
8, 2015
• Approved by House May 20, 2015
• Currently before Senate Commerce Committee
• No Action Taken in Senate!
,
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16. CJS Appropriations
• Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act
FY16: Funds NSF
• 16.5% Cut for SBE and Geosciences
• Approved by House on June 4, 2015
• Senate Bill included no cuts
• Final Omnibus Appropriations freezes spending
for SBE at $272 million
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17. “Scientific Research in the
National Interest Act”
• Originally part of America “COMPETES”
Reauthorization
• Requires determination for EACH NSF grant
awarded is “in the national interest”
• Defines “national interest” with several criteria
• Approved by the House on February 10, 2015
• Currently before Senate HELP Committee
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18. FY17 BUDGET: NSF
• President’s Request for NSF: $7.964 billion
- Discretionary $7.564 billion
- Mandatory $ 400 million
• $501 million over FY16 (6.7%)
• Discretionary only a 1.3% increase
• NSF Receives 50,000 proposals annually
- Accepts 12,000
- Rejects 38,000
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19. Discretionary vs. Mandatory
• Discretionary Spending included in annual
appropriations bills (CJS)
• Mandatory approved outside of
appropriations process
• Examples: Social Security, Medicare
• Not Subject to Spending Caps
• Separate Legislation Must be Approved by
Congress
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20. FY17 BUDGET: SBE
• FY17 Budget Request: $288.8 million
- Discretionary: $272.41 million
- Mandatory: $16.36 million
• 6% Increase Mandatory and Discretionary
• Flat Funding Discretionary only
• Entire discretionary increase NCSES
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21. What Next?
• Appropriations: Committees will begin marking
up FY17 spending bills in March.
• Discretionary Spending ceilings already set by
last year’s Budget Agreement.
• Unlikely that Congress will approve a one-time
R&D Mandatory Spending bill.
• Unlikely that Congress will approve additional
discretionary funding for NSF.
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22. Challenges to SBE in 2016
• CJS Appropriations: Cuts or Damaging
Language
• America COMPETES: Possible Action in
Senate?
• “National Interest” Bill: Senate?
• Continued Scrutiny of Individual Grants
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23. The Good News…
• Social Science is strong – our results speak for
themselves!
• ScienceHigher Ed Communities remain united
against picking “winners and losers” in science.
• Inroads with key Republican offices.
• Members of Congress don’t like to vote against
their universities!
• Senate as a bulwark against rash House votes.
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24. …But Stay Vigilant!
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25. While we do our best to answer as many questions as we can, time constraints
may not allow us to answer every question. Thank you for understanding.
Send us your questions!
Send in your questions
via the Question Box
on your screen. →
Using Twitter? Use
the hashtag
#SocialScienceLive.
#SocialScienceLive

26. Webinar recording, slides, and follow-up Q&A will be emailed to you and available on
www.socialsciencespace.com
Thank you!
Mark
Vieth
www.dc-crd.com/
Be sure to check our website for updates on our webinar series!
#SocialScienceLive