Initial Federal Budget and Infrastructure Proposal Include Strong Investments in Workforce Research and Services
Over the last several weeks, the Biden Administration has rolled out a series of legislative proposals that include calls for significant investments in research and workforce provisions of interest to I-O psychologists that span from support for dislocated workers to policing reform. It is now up to Congress to consider the measures and work out the details of a final bill. Even if the measures do not pass, these proposals are useful guides for the Administration’s early priorities for federal investments. So far, there is a lot for SIOP members to like.
On March 31, President Biden unveiled the $2.25 trillion “American Jobs Plan.” The first part of his infrastructure proposal to help the U.S. recover from the coronavirus, grow the economy, combat climate change and reduce racial inequities. The second part will focus on “human” infrastructure, such as expanding access to education and healthcare, and is expected in the coming months. Of interest to SIOP, the proposal takes an expanded definition of “infrastructure” and includes a strong focus on the workforce, recommending new sector-specific training initiatives for dislocated workers; support for underserved communities, including evidence-based violence prevention efforts; workforce initiatives for formerly incarcerated individuals; and an expansion of employment rights for workers with disabilities. The measure also strongly supports union jobs and collective bargaining protections. The plan is largely comprised of high-level bullet points and it will be up to Congress to provide legislative language in the months ahead.
On April 9, President Biden released an initial outline of his long-awaited budget, providing Congress with some guidance on the Administration’s fiscal priorities for 2022. The outline provides top level funding for some agencies, with a more detailed budget expected sometime in May. Of interest to SIOP researchers, the proposal asks for a $1.7 billion increase to the National Science Foundation (NSF) and includes significant support to increase participation in STEM from underrepresented groups, including “research on successful recruitment and retention methods.” In addition, funding for the Department of Justice (DOJ) would be used to institute “racial sensitivity and implicit bias training and additional support for hate crime training and police innovation programs.” This newsletter will provide a full budget breakdown when a final budget is released.
Congress Begins Reauthorization of the National Science Foundation
As Congress is due to reauthorize the National Science Foundation (NSF) this year, both the House of Representatives and the Senate have begun working on legislation to do so. While differences remain in their respective legislative frameworks, both focus on broad themes of utilizing research and development to increase domestic competitiveness, making STEM education and careers more accessible to underrepresented groups, and creating a new Directorate within NSF to focus on technology transfer. Of specific interest to I-O psychology, the House’s NSF for the Future Act directs NSF to ensure the participation of social, economic, and behavioral science researchers in cross-cutting programs. The House legislation also instructs the NSF Director to award grants to study the current STEM workforce and “the factors that influence growth, retention, and development of that workforce.” The Senate has recently reintroduced their NSF reauthorization bill, the Endless Frontier Act, which includes a requirement that the Directors of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and NSF, along with their counterparts in other federal research agencies, conduct a report on ways science, research, and innovation can support the national security strategy. Included in the legislation is a requirement that the report assess how federal support can be used to expand workforce development and employment systems, as well as strategies for upskilling workers. As Congress continues to work on reauthorizing the NSF over the course of the year, Lewis-Burke will be sure to monitor for issues of relevance to I-O psychology.
Funding Opportunity: NSF Announces Racial Equity in STEM Education Program
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Education and Human Resources Directorate (EHR) recently announced the Racial Equity in STEM Education Program. Through this program, NSF will support bold and transformative fundamental and applied research on racial inequality and systemic racism in STEM fields. Proposals must be led by or developed with communities that are impacted by systemic racism and their experiences must be central to the proposal for it to be competitive. Competitive proposals will utilize both research and practice, including but not limited to activities such as building theory, testing approaches and interventions, establishing authentic partnerships, changing organizational structural behavior, and focusing on cultural and social components of systemic racism and their implications. Research can focus on a number of STEM education contexts, including K-12, undergraduate, graduate, and informal STEM education as well as STEM workplaces.
The first application deadline for this program is July 13, 2021. It is recommended applicants submit a one-page concept paper to EHRRacialequityPD@nsf.gov ahead of submitting a proposal.
Health and Wellbeing Advocacy Area Holds Introductory Meetings with Congressional Committees
The SIOP Health and Wellbeing Advocacy Area held several introductory meetings with senior staff on the House Oversight and Reform Committee Government Operations Subcommittee and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Government Operations and Border Management Subcommittee. The meetings focused on issues facing the federal workforce as employees begin to return to in-person work. SIOP member and leader of the Healthcare Advocacy Area Dr. Cristina Banks discussed with staff how I-O psychology can help federal agencies lay out a comprehensive strategy as they begin returning to work after more than a year working remotely. The Committees are considering drafting legislation that will instruct the federal government on how to return to in-person work, and staff were welcoming of SIOP’s expertise in this space. In addition, committee staff also asked about using I-O to better recruit and retain employees as part of the federal workforce. SIOP will continue to be a resource to congressional staff as committees begin considering various pieces of legislation relating to these issues.
Publication Type
Washington InfO
Topic
Government Relations