News Briefs

SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Bill Moving in the House

April 18, 2008

On April 16 and 17 the House Science and Technology Committee and the House Small Business Committee marked up a bill to reauthorize SBIR and STTR grants. The bill (H.R. 5789) will probably be voted on during the week of April 21. More...

High-Tech Immigration

April 6, 2008

April 1 is that first day each year that applications for H-1B visas can be submitted. This year, as in the recent past, the number of applications quickly exceeded the quota for the year. More...

Future of Patent Reform Remains Uncertain

March 30, 2008

The fate of patent reform legislation in the present (110th) Congress remains uncertain. More...

OIDA and OSA Representatives Join in Congressional Visits Day

March 13, 2008

On March 5th, OIDA and OSA representatives were among 250 scientists and engineers from about 30 societies and associations who visited offices on Capitol Hill as advocates for increased investments in research in the physical sciences. More...

Administration’s Proposed Budget for FY2009 Fairly Good for Science and Technology

February 8, 2008

This is Budget Week in Washington. More...

Bad News for Science and Technology in FY2008 Appropriations

December 22, 2007

Until this week, the only part of the Federal Government that had received appropriations for Fiscal Year 2008, which began October 1st, was the Department of Defense. More...

New Site Tracks Candidates' Positions on S&T Issues

November 14, 2007

USInnovation.org, a new project of ASTRA, The Alliance for Science & Technology Research in America, is monitoring the positions of the major candidates in the 2008 Presidential race on issues in science and technology. Currently the positions of four Republicans -- Giuliani, Thompson, McCain, and Romney -- and four Democrats -- Clinton, Obama, Edwards, and Richardson -- are being tracked. Other resources related to stimulating and monitoring innovation in the U.S. are also linked from the site. More...

Appropriations updates

November 12, 2007

November 14 update: On November 13, the President signed the DoD appropriations bill (which contains the continuing resolution to December 14) and vetoed the Labor/HHS/Education bill, stating that it exceeded his request for these departments by $10B. More...

Urgent: Patent Reform Legislation Accelerated

September 4, 2007

In late July, patent reform bills were reported by both the House and Senate Judiciary Committees and it now appears that the bills could be brought to the respective floors for debate as soon as the end of this week. Considerable opposition, as well as support, emerged over the congressional recess, and it is not at all clear what may happen when full debate occurs. OIDA recommends that its member companies quickly review the proposed legislation and, if they have concerns, contact their legislators immediately. More...

Congress Passes Landmark Science Bill

August 3, 2007

Who says bipartisanship is dead? Last night, both houses of Congress passed the conference report on H.R. 2272, the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (America COMPETES) Act. The vote in the House was 367-57; the Senate, which earlier passed its version by a vote of 88-8, passed the conference report by Unanimous Consent. The President, who supported many of the bill’s provisions in his “American Competitiveness Initiative” announced in 2006, is expected to sign the bill. More...