Congress has taken a significant step toward pressing pause on White House regulations that would fundamentally change how the federal government funds research and a wide range of other activities.
As part of a Continuing Resolution (CR) that will keep the government open beyond the election through December 11, the U.S. Senate passed a CR that also prohibits the White House from implementing the regulation during the life of the CR. It also prohibits the enforcement of the regulation if it is implemented before the CR becomes law. The House of Representatives, which passed the original version of the CR, must now pass the version as amended by the Senate.
The White House said, in what is called a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP), that the President’s senior advisers would recommend that he sign the CR—even though the CR would temporarily block implementation of a major administration policy objective. SAPs play an important role in Congress because knowing what a president would do in advance of a vote can influence how members of Congress will vote.
496,606 comments were submitted during the comment period, opposing and supporting the regulation. While the draft regulation is viewed as anti-life science research, opposition extends well beyond the life science community. The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) joined 81 other national organizations in sending a letter to Congressional leadership asking that Congress stop the regulation. That letter also references a letter sent to the White House from 1,930 organizations opposing the regulation.
About the Author:
Kevin M. Wilson serves as Chief Policy Officer for the American Society for Cell Biology. He's worked as the Legislative Director for U.S. Congressman Robert Weygand (D-RI) and as a Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI). He has a BA in Politics and American Government from the Catholic University of America. Email: kwilson@ascb.org
