[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 25, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H5205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 UNIVERSITY RESEARCH REGULATORY BURDENS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Brooks) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Science, Space, and 
Technology Subcommittee on Research and Science Education, I have seen 
Federal overregulation stifle research universities.
  Earlier this year, the National Research Council of the National 
Academies released its report entitled, ``Research Universities and the 
Future of America: Ten Breakthrough Actions Vital to Our Nation's 
Prosperity and Security.'' This report examined Federal regulatory 
burdens on America's research universities.
  On June 27, the Research and Science Education Subcommittee held a 
hearing on that report and whether regulatory red tape stifles 
scientific research. I asked our witnesses how we can enhance 
university scientific research capabilities. Their responses are 
instructive:
  Mr. Chad Holliday, chairman of the National Academies Committee on 
Research Universities testified:

       Federal policymakers and regulators should review the costs 
     and benefits of Federal regulations, eliminating those that 
     are redundant and ineffective, inappropriately applied to the 
     higher education sector, or impose costs that outweigh the 
     benefits to society.

  Dr. John Mason, Auburn University associate provost and vice 
president of research, testified:

       A comprehensive review of policies and regulations is 
     perhaps the most important in this report. Streamlining the 
     process, relieving unnecessary and costly administrative 
     burdens, and coordinating research priorities among disparate 
     Federal agencies will invigorate research universities 
     exponentially.

  Dr. Jeffrey Seemann, Texas A&M University chief research officer and 
vice president for research, testified:

       Federal agencies and Federal regulators must reduce and/or 
     eliminate unnecessary, overly burdensome, and/or redundant 
     regulatory and reporting obligations for universities and 
     their faculty in order to maximize investments more directly 
     into research priorities and allow faculty time to be 
     optimally utilized.

  Dr. Leslie Tolbert, University of Arizona senior vice president for 
research, testified:

       The growing burden of compliance with the increasing 
     numbers and complexity of Federal regulations consumes 
     increasing amounts of time and money, leaving less for more 
     direct support for research.

                              {time}  1020

  Finally, Dr. James Siedow, vice provost for research at my alma 
mater, Duke University, testified that research universities have been 
subjected to a:

       Growing number of research-related compliance regulations 
     that have flowed down from Federal agencies over the past 10 
     to 15 years. In that regard, the research-related and quality 
     assurance costs to Duke between 2000 and 2010 rose over 300 
     percent. This perceived piling on of new reporting 
     requirements has led to negative responses on the part of 
     faculty, who see more and more of their time being committed 
     not to actually carrying out the funded research but to a 
     myriad of mundane administrative duties. The extreme to which 
     some of these regulations have gone of late seems well beyond 
     that needed to accomplish the original regulatory ends.

  Consistent with their views, the National Academies recommended:

       Reduce or eliminate regulations that increase 
     administrative costs, impede research productivity, and 
     deflect creative energy without substantially improving the 
     research environment.

  I asked our witnesses to identify specific regulations to amend or 
repeal. They are preparing their lists. I look forward to receipt of 
their recommendations and working to repeal counterproductive red tape 
that does more harm than good.
  According to the National Academies, if we successfully cut wasteful 
regulations, we:

       can reduce administrative costs, enhance productivity, and 
     increase the agility of research institutions. Minimizing 
     administrative and compliance costs will also provide a cost 
     benefit to the Federal Government and to university 
     administrators, faculty, and students by freeing up resources 
     and time to support education and research effort directly. 
     With greater resources and freedom, universities will be 
     better positioned to respond to the needs of their 
     constituents in an increasingly competitive environment.

  Mr. Speaker, America's research universities are essential to 
America's scientific innovation. If we clear the red tape from their 
path and free them up, they will produce the fundamental research that 
fosters American exceptionalism and, equally important, results in 
economic growth and jobs.

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