1) CAPITOL HILL WATCH

• House Explores Increased Use of Nuclear Power
• New Democrats Look Beyond Trade Fights
• NASA Aeronautics Program Faces Challenges to Meet Future Air Travel Demands
• House Science Subcommittee Approved SBIR Bill
• Senator Alexander Warns of $750 Million ITER Default
• Congress Reintroduces ‘Orphan Works' Copyright Measures
• The Challenges of E-Waste Disposal

2) WHITE HOUSE & EXECUTIVE AGENCY WATCH

• FERC Proposes Reliability Standards, Adopts Penalty Notice Policy for Violations
• White House Honors Math & Science Teachers

3) REPORTS, SPEECHES & DOCUMENTS OF NOTE

• Government Accountability Office
• National Science Foundation
• Education and Tech Entrepreneurship

4) U.S. COURTS ACTIVITY

5) U.S. STATES WATCH

• Iowa Budget Supports STEM, Continues Investment in Power Fund

6) AWARDS & GRANTS

7) CONFERENCES, FELLOWSHIPS, PROGRAMS & INTERNSHIPS FOR ENGINEERS, and STUDENTS and SCHOLARS OF ENGINEERING

8) LATEST IEEE-USA & IEEE ACTIVITIES

• IEEE-USA Annual Meeting: Texas Engineer Receives IEEE-USA's Highest Honor, One of 24 IEEE-USA Award Recipients
• IEEE-USA's Recent Policy Communications
• IEEE-USA Public Policy Priority Issues - 110th Congress, 2d Session (2008)
• Track IEEE-USA's Progress
• IEEE-USA In The News

9) OTHER ITEMS OF POSSIBLE INTEREST

1) CAPITOL HILL WATCH

• House Explores Increased Use of Nuclear Power

23 APR: The House Science and Technology Committee held a hearing to explore the potential for nuclear power as an increased source of electricity in the U.S.

"Nuclear energy has all the properties and benefits our world needs to successfully combat global climate change and meet our energy needs," said Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-CA). "Nuclear energy is one of the cleanest energy sources known to mankind, ... If we are to truly harness this great technology and solve our environmental problems, we must make a commitment to nuclear research and development as well as the production of new nuclear facilities."

Companies over the last nine months have filed nine license applications with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to build a total of 15 new nuclear reactors in the U.S. No new reactors have been built in the U.S. in over 20 years, largely due to high up front costs and uncertainties that deter investments in such facilities.

Witnesses at the hearing highlighted the environmental and strategic benefits of nuclear energy and pointed to ways Congress can support the development of new nuclear power plants. Robert Van Namen, Senior VP of Uranium Enrichment at USEC, said American companies are at a disadvantage. "Domestic fuel companies constructing new facilities face stiff competition in a market dominated by foreign, vertically integrated firms, many of which benefit from the financial and political support of their governments."

The industry has stressed a need for strong federal incentives to build new plants. Incentives authorized within the last three years include: loan guarantees for new nuclear plants; cost-overrun support; a production tax credit; and a joint government-industry cost-shared program to help utilities prepare for a new licensing process. However, it is expected that currently authorized loan guarantees will only cover the first 4-6 new plants.

Representing the largest owner and operator of commercial nuclear power plants in the U.S., Marilyn C. Kray, Vice President of Exelon Nuclear and President of NuStart Energy Development, highlighted the challenges a company faces when attempting to build a new nuclear plant. These impediments include lack of confidence in a long-term solution for used fuel disposal, and lack of public confidence in nuclear power.

Despite these challenges, Ms. Kray was optimistic about the future prospects for nuclear energy, saying "Trends in worldwide energy use, increases in fossil fuel costs, and the need to limit greenhouse gas emissions present the nuclear industry with the opportunity to play an increasing role in meeting our increasing need for electricity [but] while there are a number of challenges to realizing the full potential of nuclear power, I am confident that those challenges can be successfully managed."

• New Democrats Look Beyond Trade Fights

Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), chairman of the Democratic Caucus, is trying to reinvigorate his own New Democrat faction and is nudging the group toward a pro-business agenda with a technology focus. Former White House aide Emanuel is a leading member of the New Democrat Coalition, a group at odds with more-liberal Democrats and, on the other end of the political spectrum, out of step with the more conservative Blue Dog Coalition. He points to the March election of Illinois democrat Bill Foster as evidence that New Democrats are on a good course. Foster campaigned on more federal incentives for research, tougher border security, flexibility on skilled-worker visas and funding for Illinois research laboratories in his effort to succeed former Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.)

Emanuel called for a "comprehensive approach" to creating strategies for workforce, tax code and lab resources issues. For the 58 members of the New Democrats, that means regrouping around Silicon Valley priorities after capitulating to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in the recent Colombia trade fight. Emanuel said he is helping to negotiate a proposal to both tighten border security and expand the number of H-1B visas for foreign skilled workers. He also has been trying to salvage a $9 billion extension of the research and development tax credit.

Both efforts are difficult. Liberal Democrats favor a more comprehensive approach to immigration, and the Blue Dogs insist on revenue-raising offsets for the cost of any tax breaks. Emanuel also wants the New Democrats to adopt promotion of electronic health records as a signature issue, despite the reservations of some Democrats who view the effort as threatening patient privacy. And he emphasizes incentives to fast-growing industries such as high technology, biotechnology, financial services and online businesses.

• NASA Aeronautics Program Faces Challenges to Meet Future Air Travel Demands

1 MAY: The House Committee on Science and Technology Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing to examine NASA's current aeronautics R&D program, and discussed the actions necessary to address the nation's airline woes.

"There are very few federal enterprises over the past one hundred years that have contributed so powerfully to America's economy and enhanced our nation's quality of life – and our security – than NASA's aeronautics research and development program," said Ranking Member Tom Feeney (R-FL). "As should be expected, this industry and aerospace technology has evolved over time, especially over the last three decades.

"Aeronautics is not a mature industry, and therefore, any number of new technologies that enable cleaner, quieter, more fuel efficient aircraft will make a telling difference between success and failure. We cannot afford to cede our leadership to foreign suppliers."

Despite consistent declines in funding for NASA's aeronautics program for a major portion of the decade, NASA has long been a major source of aeronautical R&D with application in both civil and military systems. In 2005, NASA began restructuring its aeronautics program to move towards a program focused on more fundamental research. Additionally, NASA is part of the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO) – an initiative that also includes the Department of Transportation, Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) – which is developing the Next Generation Air Transportation System. NextGen is intended to transform the existing air traffic control system to accommodate projected growth in air passenger rates over the next decade.

Dr. Jaiwon Shin, NASA's Associate Administrator of the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, emphasized the growing importance of finding technological solutions to help facilitate NextGen and smooth the way for increased global demand for air travel. "Growth in the air transportation system is vital to the well being of our nation," Shin said.  "In the next two decades we must find ways to make advances that improve aircraft and system efficiency, reduce aviation's impact on the environment and allow more people to utilize air travel in ways that are more significant than all the gains realized over the last three decades."

Also testifying were: Carl J. Meade, Co-Chair of the Committee for the Assessment of NASA's Aeronautics Research Program, National Research Council, National Academies; and Preston A. Henne, Senior Vice President of Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation.

For information on the IEEE-USA Committee on Transportation and Aerospace Policy (CTAP) - chartered to contribute to the formulation of sound aeronautics and astronautics technology legislation, regulation and policy in the United States - please visit: http://ieeeusa.org/volunteers/committees/ctap/index.html

• House Science Subcommittee Approved SBIR Bill

16 APR: The Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation approved H.R.5789, the Science and Technology Innovation Act of 2008. H.R. 5789 reauthorizes the Small Business Investment Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs; both regarded as successful programs for promoting the growth of cutting-edge, high-tech small business in the United States. However, because some committee members objected to the expedited process by which the bill was brought before the Committee, H.R.5789 will not go before the full Committee, as is customary with regular order. Instead, the bill will be merged with similar legislation coming out of the House Small Business Committee before going to the full House for consideration.

Subcommittee Ranking Member Phil Gingrey (R-GA) supports both programs but objected to the subcommittee hearing process, "The SBIR and STTR programs were created to provide critical funding to small companies so they could conduct R&D that they otherwise would not be able to afford. Unfortunately, our Members who are not on this Subcommittee will not have the chance to make improvements to this bill before it moves to the House floor. The Science and Technology Committee has jurisdiction over a large portion of these programs, and I am disappointed that we did not follow regular process in passing this important piece of legislation."

Members offered numerous amendments to improve the legislation, one of which adds a section requiring priority be given to SBIR and STTR applications from rural areas.

• Senator Alexander Warns of $750 Million ITER Default

9 APR: During a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) warned Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice that the United States might be liable to a $750 million default clause in the ITER agreement.

In 2007, the Administration requested $160 million for ITER for the U.S. contribution to the project. Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act in December stating: "$0 for the U.S. contribution to ITER, and $10,724,000 for Enabling R&D for ITER," later stating, "Funding may not be reprogrammed from other activities within Fusion Energy Sciences to restore the U.S. contribution to ITER."

Alexander addressed his comments to Rice, saying "I want to ask you if you can help us out of an embarrassing mistake, ...we are in a situation where the whole world is talking about climate change, where we have clean air problems in the United States, … the Tennessee Valley Authority alone, in our region, says it will need the equivalent of a new coal plant every year or more or a new nuclear plant every year and a half.

"And along comes this idea of fusion, which is a longer term idea, but nevertheless, we, along with the European Union and China and India and Japan and South Korea and Russia, agreed to enter into an international project.

"We have agreed to pay for nine percent of the $1.1 billion cost, that 80 percent of the hardware will be built in the United States, shipped over there. So it is friendly to us on jobs. And the president requested $160 million for this last year, which would have kept our commitments.

" [However], we are left with, number one, this embarrassing mistake …we are not doing what we agreed to do in order to help the world do this problem.

"And the second thing, the deal we made said that if we don't put in our $160 million, we might get charged $750 million.

"...[W]ouldn't it be wiser for us to live up to our commitment, ... rather than back down from something we've agreed to do and cost us potentially $750 million a year?

Rice gave the empty response, "Yes. On ITER, Senator, we are very supportive of this project. We believe that it is a great example of high level international cooperation on some of the more promising scientific potential breakthroughs of our time and we'll have many of the benefits that you talked about.

The House and Senate Appropriations Committees are readying their versions of a supplemental funding bill, including additional current year funding for the DOE Office of Science. Alexander and other senators urged Senate appropriators stating: "ITER is a multinational scientific project and has been one of the Office of Science's top priorities for the last several years. The President's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2008 included $l60 million for the project. It is imperative that Congress appropriate supplemental funding for ITER as soon as possible to keep our commitments to our international partners, keep this important project on track, and avoid losses in scientific talent among U.S.-based employees working on ITER."

Read the letter that IEEE-USA sent to congressional appropriators urging restoration of FY 2009 funding for the U.S. contribution to the ITER project.

• Congress Reintroduces ‘Orphan Works' Copyright Measures

Both the House and Senate reintroduced legislation aimed at updating laws governing "orphan works." A similar 2006 proposal died after it was incorporated into a larger package that attempted to streamline digital music licensing. Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and House Judiciary Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property Subcommittee Chairman Howard Berman (D-Calif.) sponsored the pair of bills, intended to protect those who use images, music, and video after conducting unsuccessful searches for owners of the copyrighted material.

Under the slightly different bills, if copyright owners make themselves known and if users have performed a diligent search, owners would be entitled to reasonable compensation. A user would not be liable for full statutory damages in those cases, but if a "good faith" search is not performed, they could face up to $150,000 in fines. A safe-harbor provision is included for libraries and archives.

The Association of American Publishers and others in the publishing field have pushed for congressional action for several years; Register of Copyrights Marybeth Peters also championed the effort. Photographers and illustrators have opposed the changes. American Society of Media Photographers General Counsel Victor Perlman said his members have limited resources to pursue unauthorized users of their work and they rely on revenue from licensing and selling prints.

• The Challenges of E-Waste Disposal

The House Science and Technology Committee recently explored issues related to the management of waste electronic equipment (e-waste). Ralph Hall (R-TX) said, "The shear volume of electronic equipment that ends up the nation's disposal facilities not only takes up a significant amount of expensive disposal space, it also contributes to the amount of hazardous pollution found in landfills. When not properly handled, studies show that the components of some e-waste can be sources of toxins and carcinogens.

"There is no easy solution to this issue, and it requires the cooperation of state and federal governments, the electronics industry, the recycling industry and individual consumers."

The House passed H.R.2850 in 2008 (Green Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2008, a bill promoting the development of green chemicals and products that do not produce harmful toxins) to help with this problem. However, no federal law or regulation exists to govern the disposal of consumer electronic products in the United States.

Hearing witnesses highlighted the challenges in addressing the vast quantities of consumer waste and offered strategies for improving e-waste disposal – e.g. the need for consumers to be educated about the different options available when an e-product is discarded. The hearing also emphasized the concept of producer responsibility when designing these products.

Electronic companies acknowledge their role in the need for better designs of products to make recycling easier and safer. "Sony believes that it is the individual manufacturer's responsibility to assure that any product that bears its name is properly recycled using the highest standards possible at the end of the product's life," said Michael Williams, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Sony Electronics Incorporated.

IEEE has addressed the e-waste issue through the Standards Association. In May 2006 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and IEEE-SA announced a new voluntary environmental performance standard to help large computer buyers make environmentally sound purchases. Developed with the U.S. EPA, a group of manufacturers, environmentalists, and purchasers initiated IEEE 1680TM, 'Standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products.'

'Determining which computers are environmentally preferable is a challenge for companies, government agencies and other organizations, ' said Jeff Scott, an EPA waste division director. 'This standard will change the marketplace and measurably reduce the environmental impacts of computers. It is an excellent example of government, industry, environmentalists and academics collaborating to address an issue and improve the environment.'

According to the EPA, IEEE 1680 is the first U.S. standard to supply environmental guidelines for institutional purchasing decisions involving desktop and laptop computers and monitors. It offers criteria in eight categories - materials selection, environmentally sensitive materials, design for end of life, end-of-life management, energy conservation, product longevity and life-cycle extension, packaging, and corporate performance. The  standard encourages manufacturers to design their products to be used longer, be more energy efficient, easier to upgrade and recycle, and contain less hazardous materials.

For information on the EPA's Cycling program, visit: http://www.epa.gov/ecycling/

For information from IEEE, visit: http://www.ieee.org/portal/site/emergingtech/index.jsp?techId=622

2) WHITE HOUSE & EXECUTIVE AGENCY WATCH

• FERC Proposes Reliability Standards, Adopts Penalty Notice Policy for Violations

19 APR: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) further refined its electric reliability program by adopting administrative policy for FERC review of notices of penalty filed by the Commission-certified electric reliability organization (ERO), and by proposing to adopt six modified reliability standards from the ERO.

FERC designated the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) as the nation's electric reliability organization in 2006. Five of the six proposed reliability standards relate to interchange scheduling and coordination, while one pertains to transmission loading relief procedures. FERC also proposes to approve NERC's interpretation of five specific requirements of Commission-approved reliability standards. FERC approved each standard involved in this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, in Order No. 693.

• White House Honors Math & Science Teachers

2 MAY: Ninety-nine educators from around the country have been awarded the annual Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for 2007. The teachers, who each get a certificate and $10,000 educational
grant to be used over a three-year period, were recognized during a ceremony hosted by National Science Foundation Director Arden Bement. While in Washington for a week, the teachers visited the White House and met a NASA astronaut as well as members of Congress and the Bush administration to discuss hot topics in math and science teaching.

In 1983, the Education for Economic Security Act established the award which is administered by the National Science Foundation and given annually to math and science teachers across the United States who make outstanding contributions to their students and schools.

To see a list of names, visit: http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=111502&govDel=USNSF_51

3) REPORTS, SPEECHES & DOCUMENTS OF NOTE

• Government Accountability Office

Nanotechnology: Better Guidance Is Needed to Ensure Accurate Reporting of Federal Research Focused on Environmental, Health, and Safety Risks. GAO-08-402, March 31.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-402
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08402high.pdf

NASA: Challenges in Completing and Sustaining the International Space Station, by Cristina T. Chaplain, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, House Committee on Science and Technology. GAO-08-581T, April 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-581T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08581thigh.pdf

• National Science Foundation

The latest results from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program show not only improved proficiency among all elementary and middle school students, but also a closing of the achievement gaps between both African-American and Hispanic students and white students in elementary school math, and between African-American and white students in elementary and middle-school science.

• Kauffman Foundation Study: Education and Tech Entrepreneurship

A new Kauffman Foundation study punctures some myths about the founders of technology-based entrepreneurial companies, contradictions the stereotype of tech firm-founders as young hot-shots who have the energy and the stamina to survive the grueling start-up days. However, the study finds that most technology firm founders are middle-aged with extensive experience in key business and technology disciplines. The study surveyed 652 US-born technology firm executives to assess their backgrounds and life experiences. Findings include:

A founder's median age is 39.

-- Ninety two percent hold bachelor's degrees, while 31-percent hold master's degrees, and 10-percent hold a Ph.D.
-- Founders attended a wide variety of schools, but top-level research institutions, such as Harvard, MIT, Penn State, and Stanford, were most prevalent on the list.
-- Forty-five percent of surveyed entrepreneurs founded their companies in the state where they attended college.
-- Top states for home grown firms included California, Michigan, and Texas. Meanwhile, Maryland, Indiana, and New York did a poor job of retaining these technology entrepreneurs.

4) U.S. COURTS ACTIVITY

5) US STATES WATCH

• Iowa Budget Supports STEM, Continues Investment in Power Fund for Alternative Energies

The Iowa legislature approved Governor Chet Culver's proposal to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields within the state's higher education system, allocating $4 million for the Mathematics and Science Education Collaborative Initiative.

In collaboration with the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa led the collaboration with the goal to improve math and science performance of Iowa students, prepare more high quality math and science teachers for Iowa's schools, and promote statewide collaboration and cooperation. The governor proposed $5 million for STEM support during his Condition of the State Speech earlier this year. UNI outlined several projects underway to support the initiative including:

--The Regents Mathematics and Science Education Institution located at UNI;
--Star Math and Science Majors to Teaching, an initiative that addresses teacher shortage by recruiting students into math and science teaching;
--Science and Math Teacher Real World Interns, a summer internship program in the private and public sector for math and science teachers;
--Wider implementation of Project Lead the Way across Iowa, which targets math and science curriculum and student recruitment to math and science careers; and
--Community college STEM instructor preparation and updates to address the shortage of math and science instructors at community colleges.

The General Assembly also approved the Iowa Power Fund; the second installment of $25 million in is scheduled for FY 2009. The $100 million fund invests in private sector renewable and alternative energy industries.

6) AWARDS & GRANTS

• AAAS Grant Site

The American Association for the Advancement of Science has a service called GrantsNet Express.  Each week GrantsNet will provide a listing of science funding opportunities from private foundations and organizations, and new U.S. government grant announcements in the sciences. AAAS will send GrantsNet by e-mail to AAAS member subscribers. The weekly emails will include: — New science funding programs, divided into opportunities for postdocs/graduate students and undergraduates — Submission deadlines for funding opportunities scheduled in the upcoming week — New listings of funding for science-related research.

• National Science Foundation

For information on NSF Engineering (ENG) Active Funding Opportunities, visit: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_list.jsp?org=ENG

7) CONFERENCES, FELLOWSHIPS, PROGRAMS & INTERNSHIPS FOR ENGINEERS, and STUDENTS & SCHOLARS OF ENGINEERING

22 MAY: 2008 National Summit on American Competitiveness, Chicago, IL

8) LATEST IEEE-USA & IEEE ACTIVITIES

• IEEE-USA Annual Meeting: Texas Engineer Receives IEEE-USA's Highest Honor, One of 24 IEEE-USA Award Recipients

26 APR: Jean Eason of Fort Worth, Texas, received IEEE-USA's highest honor during the IEEE-USA Annual Meeting in Indianapolis. Eason was presented the Robert S. Walleigh Distinguished Contributions to
Engineering Professionalism Award "for long-term leadership and accomplishments in IEEE-USA professional activities." She is the first woman so honored.

Eason was one of 24 award recipients recognized for their professionalism and technical achievements, as well as literary contributions to public awareness and understanding of the engineering profession in the United States.

Eason, a senior member of the IEEE, has held numerous leadership positions within IEEE-USA, including vice president, professional activities in 2005-06. She spent 15 years working in avionics systems
design and now works as a consultant on specialized applications for small businesses, and in technical communications and documentation.

Robert S. Walleigh, an IEEE member electrical engineer, worked for the National Bureau of Standards -- now the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) – for more than 35 years. He retired as a senior adviser for international affairs in 1979. He worked the next 18 years as an
IEEE-USA senior specialist. IEEE-USA first presented the award in 1978 and renamed it the "Robert S. Walleigh Distinguished Contributions to Engineering Professionalism Award" in 2000.

IEEE-USA's distinguished awards are administered under its Awards and Recognition Committee and approved by the IEEE-USA Board of Directors. The nomination deadline for 2008 awards is 31 July 2008. For additional information, go to http://www.ieeeusa.org/volunteers/committees/awards/, or
contact Sandra Kim at sandra.kim@ieee.org.

• IEEE-USA's Recent Policy Communications

25 APR: Letter to House and Senate Appropriations Leaders urging funding of the NIST Technology Innovation Program as authorized in the American COMPETES Act.

23 APR: Coalition letter to House and Senate energy appropriators urging $12 million in FY09 funding for the DOE Nuclear Science Talent Expansion Program as authorized in the America COMPETES Act.

16 APR: STEM Education Coalition letter to House and Senate Commerce, Justice and State appropriators supporting the budget request for the National Science Foundation's Math and Science Partnership Program and Noyce Scholarships.

Read a full listing of IEEE-USA lobbying activities on our web site at: http://ieeeusa.com/policy/policy/index.html

• IEEE-USA Public Policy Priority Issues - 110th Congress, 2d Session (2008)
  

The updated public policy priorities list is available online at: http://ieeeusa.org/policy/issues/index.html

• Track IEEE-USA's Progress

For the latest IEEE-USA Annual Report, go to: http://www.ieeeusa.org/about/annual_report/2006.pdf

For the IEEE-USA Strategic & Operational Plan, go to:

http://www.ieeeusa.org/volunteers/strategicplan/index.html

Many newly approved position statements are now available online at: http://ieeeusa.com/policy/positions/index.html

• IEEE-USA In The News

For more IEEE-USA in the News items, see: http://ieeeusa.org/communications/inthenews/default.asp.

• Its election Year!!

Make sure that you're a part of the solution. Register to vote: http://www.engineeringthevote.org/register.asp

Given the many urgent scientific and technological challenges facing America and the rest of the world, the increasing need for accurate scientific information in political decision making, and the vital role scientific innovation plays in spurring economic growth and competitiveness, NPR calls for a public debate in which the U.S. presidential candidates share their views on the issues of The Environment, Health and Medicine, and Science and Technology Policy. http://sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php

9) OTHER ITEMS OF POSSIBLE INTEREST

None at this time.

Top of Page | What's New@IEEE | IEEE-USA

What's New @ IEEE-USA's Eye on Washington highlights important federal legislative and regulatory developments that affect U.S. engineers and their careers. In addition to this biweekly newsletter, subscribers receive legislative bulletins and action alerts on IEEE-USA priority issues, including: retirement security, employment benefits, research & development funding, computers and information policy, immigration reform, intellectual property protection and privacy of health/medical information.

You can change your IEEE-USA Eye on Washington subscription status by using the forms at http://www.ieeeusa.org/communications/emailupdates/default.asp

Copyright © 2008, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.  Permission granted to copy for personal use or for non-commercial republication with appropriate attribution.

Updated: 07 May 2008