The FY 2007 request that the Bush Administration sent to Congress earlier
this year called for a 2.1% reduction in total U.S. Geological Survey
funding (see http://www.aip.org/fyi/2006/027.html
.) Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee voted to keep the percentage
number by which funding would change, but made it instead an increase
of 2.1%. Under this bill, USGS funding would increase 2.1% or $20.8
million from $970.7 million to $991.5 million.
The House Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations
Subcommittee (http://appropriations.house.gov/)
is chaired by Rep. Charles H. Taylor (R-NC); the Ranking Minority Member
is Norman Dicks (D-WA.)
TOTAL USGS FUNDING: Up 2.1% or $20.8 million from $970.7 million
to $991.5 million. The Administration requested $944.8 million.
GEOGRAPHIC RESEARCH, INVESTIGATIONS AND REMOTE SENSING: Down
39.2% or $50.7 million from $129.3 million to $78.6 million. The Administration
requested $76.6 million.
GEOLOGIC HAZARDS, RESOURCES, AND PROCESSES: Up 2.8% or $6.6
million from $235.3 million to $241.9 million. The Administration requested
$217.4 million.
WATER RESOURCES INVESTIGATIONS: Up 1.0% or $2.0 million, from
$211.8 million to $213.8 million. The Administration requested $204.1
million.
BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH: Up 0.4% or $0.7 million, from $174.9 million
to $175.6 million. The Administration requested $172.6 million.
ENTERPRISE INFORMATION: Up 145.1% or $67.4 million from $46.4
million to $113.7 million. The Administration requested $111.2 million.
SCIENCE SUPPORT: Up 4.4% or $3.1 million from $69.3 million
to $72.4 million. The Administration requested $67.4 million.
FACILITIES: Up 0.7% or $0.7 million from $94.8 million to $95.5
million. The Administration requested $95.5 million.
The forthcoming committee report explains the large changes in the
Geographic Research and Enterprise Information funding recommendations
as follows:
"Geographic Research, Investigations, and Remote Sensing .
. . . The large reduction from the enacted [FY 2006 level] is
due to the transfer of funds for the former cooperative topographic
mapping programs to the Federal geographic data coordination subactivity
within the enterprise information activity. The Committee agrees with
Administration efforts to streamline geographic investigations and enhance
national service; this is better accomplished by consolidating geographic
funding in the enterprise activity as recommended in the request."
Also of note in this section is the following language: "The
Committee has fully funded the requested funds, $15,950,000, for the
Landsat Data Continuity Mission, which will place the next generation
Landsat sensor in orbit. Long-term remote sensing data is vital to many
aspects of the government and private sector and is strongly supported
by this Committee. This funding will complement the larger commitment
required by the NASA."
In another area, the appropriators take issue with the Administration.
Under Geologic Hazards, Resources and Processes, the report states:
"The Committee has restored fully the mineral resources program,
including $18,443,000 for research and assessments and $4,500,000 for
minerals information. The Committee strongly disagrees with the proposed
reduction in the Survey's mineral resources program. Minerals and mineral
products are important to the U.S. economy with processed minerals adding
billions of dollars to the economy. Mineral commodities are essential
to both national security and infrastructure development. Mineral resources
research and assessments are a core responsibility of the Survey. The
Committee does not agree that objective data on mineral commodities
can be generated in the private sector and the Committee importunes
the Administration to not propose this program elimination again."
For information on the FY 2007 USGS request see http://www.usgs.gov/budget/2007/
Enlarge text
Shrink text
Print
E-mail
Digg this
Del.icio.us
Furl