We continue to see threats to social and behavioral science this week, as the House of Representatives considers appropriations legislation for "Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies" -- the bill that includes funding for the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Professional societies, including the American Psychological Association and the Population Association of America, have created action alerts (here and here), urging individuals to oppose any amendments that could adversely affect these agencies as well as the surveys and grant programs they support. Such amendments may propose eliminations or drastic reductions for programs, such as the National Science Foundation's Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) Directorate, or recommend voluntary participation in the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which could lead to lower response rates and increased costs.
AcademyHealth is monitoring the activity surrounding the CJS legislation closely. The "hard science" vs. "soft science" debate unfolding is indicative of what may be to come as Congress considers the Labor-HHS appropriations bill, which includes funding for the National Institutes of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and other health research and data.
We will continue to keep you updated as any new developments arise. To stay informed of the latest news, be sure to join the Advocacy Interest Group Community on AcademyHealth's social networking site, my.academyhealth.org.