On March 11, 2021, Congress enacted the latest COVID-19 relief package—the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319). The package includes $600 million for the National Science Foundation and $150 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, but it does not include research relief provisions at the levels requested by the scientific community.

AIBS joined a coalition of more than 130 scientific, academic, and agricultural stakeholders in urging newly confirmed Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack to increase public investment in food and agricultural research and development (R&D) programs.

On March 1, 2021, the American Institute of Biological Sciences joined forces with the Natural Science Collections Alliance and Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC) in highlighting to lawmakers the value of mobilizing biodiversity specimens and data in spurring new scientific discoveries.

The Public Policy Report has been released. The report provides analysis and communication on important issues in the scientific community.

On February 27, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, largely along party lines, with two Democrats voting against the measure.

The U.S. Senate has confirmed President Biden’s nominees for Agriculture and Energy Secretary.

Committees in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate with jurisdiction over science have announced the leadership for their subcommittees.

AIBS is pleased to announce that Shyla Cooks and Karl Palmquist have been selected as the 2021 AIBS Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award (EPPLA) recipients. The EPPLA recognizes graduate students in the biological sciences who are demonstrating an interest and aptitude for working at the intersection of science and policy.

The Public Policy Report has been released. The report provides analysis and communication on important issues in the scientific community.

Lawmakers are now working to craft a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 pandemic relief package—the blueprint for which was adopted by both chambers of Congress on February 5, 2021 in the form of a budget resolution.