Increase in US science funding edges closer

A key US Senate committee has passed a version of the America Competes Reauthorisation Act of 2010 (see  Chemistry World  , July 2010, p7) that will see the US National Science Foundation, Department of Energy Office of Science, and National Institute of Standards and Technology on a 10 year budget-doubling programme. The bill must now be passed by the US Senate before it can finally be signed into law. 

Old and new agree on UK science budget cuts 

In a letter to George Osbourne, UK chancellor of the exchequer, Andrew Miller, chair of the new House of Commons Science and Technology Committee stated that his new committee were in agreement with the former committees' objections to the planned spending cuts on science. He said that cuts would undermine both the past government's investments in science, and the economic recovery. 

US climate legislation scaled back

The US Senate has abandoned plans for a wide-ranging climate bill that would cap US greenhouse emissions and impose carbon taxes, due to lack of senator support. A narrower energy bill will now be pushed for focusing on boosting the energy efficiency of the country's homes and vehicles. 

Go Figure 

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The increase in recalls of prescription and over the counter drugs in the US in 2009 compared to 2008, according to the  Gold Sheet   - a monthly publication that covers the US Food and Drug Administration's regulatory and enforcement activity.