Members of Congress have tremendous power over the conduct and support
of the nation's research enterprise, through appropriating the funds, authorizing
programs, and carrying out oversight activities. Yet the policymakers on Capitol
Hill often get little input from their constituents about science policy or budgets.
Those Members with probably the biggest impact on science programs are the appropriators.
They are responsible for writing the bills that provide funding for federal departments
and agencies. There are 13 appropriations subcommittees in each chamber
of Congress. Within the jurisdiction of these subcommittees, R&D
agencies often have to compete for funding with other priorities, such as veterans'
and housing programs.
Authorization bills provide funding caps or guidelines for federal
programs. In theory, authorizing legislation is supposed to provide guidance
for appropriators. In reality, appropriators do not always heed the authorizers,
and authorization bills are often not passed in a timely manner, if at all. However,
authorization bills, even in draft form, still can have an influence on funding
for a project or agency.
There are several major appropriations and authorization committees or subcommittees
in each chamber that have jurisdiction over most federal programs tracked by
FYI. To get information on committee chairs, rosters, hearing schedules and legislation,
or to determine if your representative or senators sit on a certain committee,
please see the (sub)committee web sites below. To find the name of your representative,
see http://www.house.gov/.
(Please be aware that many of the URLs run more than one line.)
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3:
House
Defense Appropriations Subcommittee
House Armed Services Committee
Senate
Defense Appropriations Subcommittee
Senate Armed
Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION:
House
Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations Subcommittee
House
Science Subcommittee on Research
Senate
Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee
Senate Commerce
Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space
NASA:
House
Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations Subcommittee
House
Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics
Senate
Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee
Senate Commerce
Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY:
House
Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee
House
Science Subcommittee on Energy
Senate
Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee
Senate Energy and Natural Resources
FOR AUTHORIZATION OF DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION:
House Armed Services Committee
Senate Armed
Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
NIST:
House Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations Subcommittee:
House
Science Subcommittee on Environment, Technology and Standards
Senate
Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee
Senate Commerce
Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:
House
Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittee
House Education and the Workforce
Committee
Senate
Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittee
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Committee
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY R&D:
House
Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee
House Science Committee
Senate
Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Audrey T. Leath
Media and Government Relations Division
American Institute of Physics
fyi@aip.org
301-209-3094
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