FYI Number 83: June 29, 2001

Appropriations Language on FY 2002 DOE S&T Spending

The House of Representatives completed its consideration yesterday of the FY 2002 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill, H.R. 2311. Accompanying this bill is a committee report detailing the House Appropriations Committee's recommendations on how the money should be spent next year. While this report language does not have the force of law, it is guidance that is usually not ignored. The Senate bill and accompanying report are scheduled for consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee during the second week of July.

The full text of the House Appropriations Report, H.Rpt. 107- 112 can be accessed here. Selections from this report follow. Note that the quoted comparisons to the current FY 2001 budgets in the committee report seem at variance with those shown in DOE's own "Budget Highlights" document, due to accounting differences. The current year budgets as shown in the DOE document are provided in brackets, and these figures, according to senior officials, are the ones that should be used for comparisons. These figures are only shown for each program's total budget, and not its components.

"The Committee is very supportive of most of the research conducted by the Department's Office of Science, but funding constraints preclude significant increases this fiscal year. The Committee recommendation is $3,166,395,000, an increase of $6,505,000 over the budget request and $13,946,000 less than the fiscal year 2001 funding level." [DOE shows the FY 2001 figure as $3,155,454,000.]

HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS:

"The Committee recommends $716,100,000 for high energy physics, the same as the budget request and $10,030,000 less than fiscal year 2001. [DOE shows the FY 2001 figure as $712,001,000.]

"Research and technology.-- The Committee recommendation for research and technology in high energy physics is $247,870,000, the same as the budget request and $13,150,000 more than provided in fiscal year 2001.

"Facility operations.-- The Committee recommends $456,830,000 for facility operations, the same as the budget request and $2,180,000 less than fiscal year 2001. This amount includes $244,739,000 for Fermilab and $125,078,000 for the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center to provide for full operation of these facilities.

"Construction.-- The Committee recommendation for construction of the Neutrinos at the Main Injector project at Fermilab is $11,400,000, the same as the budget request."

NUCLEAR PHYSICS:

"The Committee recommendation for nuclear physics is $361,510,000, $1,000,000 more than the budget request, but $8,380,000 less than provided in fiscal year 2001. Additional funds are provided for university research in nuclear physics."[DOE shows the FY 2001 figure as $360,508,000.]

BASIC ENERGY SCIENCES:

"The Committee recommendation for basic energy sciences is $1,006,705,000, $2,000,000 more than the budget request and a reduction of $6,665,000 from fiscal year 2001. For purposes of reprogramming during fiscal year 2002, the Department may allocate funding among all Operating accounts within basic energy sciences. [DOE shows the FY 2001 figure as $991,679,000.]

"Spallation Neutron Source.-- The Committee recommends the requested amount for construction of the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), $276,300,000. This represents an increase of $16,800,000 compared to fiscal year 2001. The Committee appreciates the recent improvements made in the management of this project, but cautions the Department to maintain a close watch on the various components of the SNS being produced by other national laboratories.

"Intense Pulsed Neutrino Facility.-- The Committee recognizes the value of such a facility in conjunction with the Spallation Neutron Source, but budget constraints preclude funding an intense pulsed neutrino facility in fiscal year 2002.

"Nanoscale Science Research.-- The Committee supports the creation of several regional nanoscale science research centers consistent with the September 1999 recommendations of the Interagency Working Group on Nanoscience, Engineering and Technology of the National Science and Technology Council. The Committee also supports the efforts of the Department to seek the active involvement of the academic community in the development of these centers. However, the Committee reminds the Department that its efforts to involve universities must reach broadly and openly rather than selectively. Consistent with existing policies for current user facilities, discussions regarding the characteristics and equipment to be provided in these planned nanoscience user facilities should be open to all U.S. universities via published notice, workshops, and other formal mechanisms. The external users of the Department's resources must be determined through the competitive peer-review process. Any partnership arrangements between the involved national laboratories and academic institutions, or any other non-federal partners, must follow procedures to ensure full and open competition, as required by section 309 of this Act. . . ."

FUSION ENERGY SCIENCES:

"The Committee recommendation for fusion energy sciences is $248,495,000, $6,505,000 less than the fiscal year 2001 funding level but the same as the amended budget request. The Committee concurs with the National Energy Policy's assessment of the potential for fusion energy, but funding constraints prevent additional research funding at this time. The Committee has also provided $25,000,000 in the inertial confinement fusion program for high average power lasers which is complementary to the work performed in fusion energy sciences." [DOE shows the FY 2001 figure as $248,493,000.]

BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH:

"The Committee recommendation for biological and environmental research is $445,880,000, an increase of $2,910,000 over the budget request but $55,380,000 less than in fiscal year 2001. [DOE shows the FY 2001 figure as $482,520,000.]

"This amount includes $19,470,000, the same as the budget request, to continue the Microbial Cell Project and to initiate the Genomes to Life program. The National Institute for Global Environmental Change (NIGEC), which is integrated throughout the Environmental Processes subaccount, is funded at the requested funding level of $8,763,000." " Joint Genome Institute.-- The Committee recommendation provides the requested amount for the Joint Genome Institute, $57,200,000. . . . " "Construction.-- The Committee recommendation includes $11,405,000, an increase of $1,405,000 over the budget request, to complete the construction of the Laboratory for Comparative Functional Genomics at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. . . . "

FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE:

"The Committee has provided $10,000,000 for a new Facilities and Infrastructure program to improve the facilities and infrastructure at the Department's science laboratories. The Administration's budget proposal included no funding for this program. These funds should be used to reduce the backlog of maintenance and infrastructure upgrades and dispose of excess facilities.

"The Committee is aware of the need for funding a facilities and infrastructure program, but is concerned the Department does not have in place a facilities management structure to ensure the funds are used to address those items which will have the greatest impact on reducing long-term costs and risk. The Department is to provide a semi-annual report to the Committee on the status of the facilities and infrastructure program. . . ."

In a different section of the committee report is extensive language on RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES. The Bush Administration proposed large reductions in the FY 2002 budget. The report states:

"A budget amendment of $39.1 million restored funding in some but not all of these renewable energy programs. Again, there is no clear rationale provided to explain the selective budget cuts, and no sense that the Department is conducting an integrated program with a well-defined scheme for measuring success. There is also no apparent coordination between the budget request, which was submitted to Congress in April 2001 and amended in early May 2001, and the National Energy Policy, which was released shortly after submission of the amended budget request. The total Committee recommendation for renewable energy resources is $376,817,000, an increase of $100,164,000 over the amended budget request and $1,032,000 over fiscal year 2001 funding. . . . . ." [DOE shows the FY 2001 figure as $373,179,000.]

Richard M. Jones
Public Information Division
American Institute of Physics
fyi@aip.org
(301) 209-3095

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