NewsLanguage in new spending bill could pave way to federal funding for work on gun violenceMarch 23, 2018 ScienceNews In a ScienceNews article about the new federal spending bill for the rest of fiscal year 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received clarification that the organization is not barred from studying gun violence. Dr. Megan Ranney said the clarification is meaningless when “The issue has been, and continues to be, lack of appropriations for research.”