FY 2008 USGS Budget Increases 1.9%
The Consolidated Appropriations Act increases the U.S. Geological Survey’s budget by 1.9 percent for FY 2008. Funding changes for individual activities ranged from a cut of 3.1 percent to an increase of 4.8 percent. Appropriators also designated $7.4 million for global climate change research.
The language below is from the Explanatory Statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act. Note that funding amounts in the the quoted sections from the Explanatory Statement do not reflect an across-the-board rescission of 1.56 percent, which explains the variance between FYI’s figures and those in the Statement.
A Department of the Interior FY 2008 budget summary for the USGS is available at: http://www.doi.gov/budget/2008/08Hilites/BH051.pdf
Introductory language in the Explanatory Statement states: “The House and Senate Appropriations Committees note that this statement remains silent on many directives or instructions which were included in the House Report (H. Rpt. 110-187) or the Senate Report (S. Rpt. 110-91) accompanying this bill. The House or Senate report language that is not changed by this statement should be treated as approved when administering the appropriations included in this Division” See http://thomas.loc.gov/cp110/cp110query.html for links to these committee reports.
OVERALL USGS:
The FY 2007 budget for USGS was $988.1 million.
The Bush Administration requested $975.0 million for FY 2008.
The House Appropriations Committee recommended $1,032.8 million, an increase of 4.5 percent or $44.7 million.
The Senate Appropriations Committee recommended $1,009.9 million, an increase of 2.2 percent or $21.8 million.
The FY 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act provided $1,006.5 million, an increase of 1.9 percent or $18.4 million (after an adjustment was made for the rescission.)
GEOGRAPHIC RESEARCH, INVESTIGATIONS, AND REMOTE SENSING:
The FY 2007 was $80.2 million
The Bush Administration requested $75.00 million.
The House Appropriations Committee recommended $80.0 million, a cut of 0.3 percent or $0.2 million.
The Senate Appropriations Committee recommended $78.5 million, a cut of 2.1 percent or $1.7 million.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act provided $77.7 million, a cut of 3.1 percent or $2.5 million.
The Explanatory Statement language follows: “A total of $1,000,000 is provided for the national cooperative geographic information system mapping effort. Funding for geographic analysis and monitoring follows the House recommendation to include $3,000,000 for the multi-hazard initiative and restore ongoing geographic research which was slated for reduction in the budget request. The Senate recommendation for a priority ecosystems program increase is not included.”
GEOLOGIC HAZARDS, RESOURCES AND PROCESSES:
The FY 2007 budget was $237.0 million
The Bush Administration requested $222.1 million.
The House Appropriations Committee recommended $249.8 million, an increase of 5.4 percent or $12.8 million.
The Senate Appropriations Committee recommended $243.3 million, an increase of 2.7 percent or $6.3 million.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act provided $243.5 million, an increase of 2.7 percent or $6.5 million.
The Explanatory Statement language follows: “The recommendation increases funding above the request for earthquake hazards and the multi-hazard initiative within geologic hazards assessments by $2,000,000, and $500,000 above the request for both volcano hazards and the global seismographic network. Geologic landscape and coastal assessments funding includes the $1,000,000 increase above the request recommended by the House for national cooperative mapping and a total of $1,000,000 for the ocean action plan. The Appropriations Committees continue strong support for the multi-hazards initiative and encourage its continuation and enhancement. Note that the amended bill provides full support for the minerals assessment program despite the Administration’s irresponsible proposal to decrease or eliminate funding for this important Federal program.”
WATER RESOURCES INVESTIGATIONS:
The FY 2007 budget was $214.9 million
The Bush Administration requested $212.5 million.
The House Appropriations Committee recommended $223.5 million, an increase of 4.0 percent or $8.6 million.
The Senate Appropriations Committee recommended $224.1 million, an increase of 4.3 percent or $9.2 million.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act provides $220.5 million, an increase of 2.6 percent or $5.6 million.
The Explanatory Statement follows: “Funding is provided for the following projects mentioned in the House or Senate recommendations: $350,000 for the Memphis aquifer study (TN, MS, AR); $200,000 for the Hood Canal dissolved oxygen study (WA); $300,000 for the San Pedro partnership (AZ); $500,000 for the Long-term Estuary Assessment Group (LA); and $500,000 for the US-Mexico Aquifer Assessment Act (NM). A general increase of $1,500,000 over the request is included for the national streamflow information program and the multi-hazard initiative. Funding for hydrologic networks and analysis includes the Senate recommended $1,000,000 for the ocean action plan, $500,000 for Lake Champlain toxic materials study (VT), and $500,000 for Hawaii water monitoring. The Federal-State cooperative water program is increased by $1,464,000 over the request for a total funding level of $63,845,000. The water resources research institutes allocation is $6,404,000 as recommended by the House and Senate.”
BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH:
The FY 2007 budget was $175.7 million
The Bush Administration requested $181.1 million.
The House Appropriations Committee recommended $187.1 million, an increase of 6.5 percent or $11.4 million.
The Senate Appropriations Committee recommended $182.1 million, an increase of 3.6 percent or $6.4 million.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act provides $179.9 million, an increase of 2.4 percent or $4.2 million.
The Explanatory Language follows: “Overall funding for biological research and monitoring is $143,514,000, an increase of $5,442,000 over the fiscal year 2007 level. Specific project or program funding levels include: $1,500,000 for the new healthy lands initiative; $2,779,000 for Pacific Northwest forest biology as provided in fiscal year 2007; $2,000,000 for contaminant/endocrine biology research; $150,000 for anadromous fish research equipment (MA) as recommended by the House; $43,900,000 for the overall wildlife, terrestrial and endangered species research effort as provided in fiscal year 2007; $500,000 for Great Lakes research vessel infrastructure (WI) as recommended by the House; $500,000 to support the San Francisco salt ponds restoration (CA) recommended by the Senate; and $800,000 recommended by the Senate for Leetown Science Center (WV) molecular biology research. Funds are not provided for the Senate recommendations for the Fish and Wildlife Service science excellence program or the Leetown endocrine research. The National Biological Information Infrastructure effort receives a $500,000 increase over the request for a total of $6,849,000. The Cooperative research units funding is $16,430,000, a $1,000,000 increase over the request.”
ENTERPRISE INFORMATION:
The FY 2007 budget was $111.8 million
The Bush Administration requested $112.1 million.
The House Appropriations Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee recommended the requested $112.1 million, an increase of 0.3 percent or $ 0.3 million.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act provided $110.4 million, a cut of 1.3 percent or $1.4 million. There was no Explanatory Statement language.
SCIENCE SUPPORT:
The FY 2007 budget was $67.8 million
The Bush Administration requested $68.2 million.
The House Appropriations Committee recommended $68.7 million, an increase of 1.4 percent or $0.9 million.
The Senate Appropriations Committee recommended the Administration’s request, an increase of 0.6 percent or $0.4 million.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act provided $67.2 million, a cut of 0.9 percent or $0.6 million. There was no Explanatory Statement language.
FACILITIES:
The FY 2007 budget was $95.4 million
The Bush Administration requested $101.6 million.
The House Appropriations Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee recommended $101.6 million, an increase of 6.5 percent or $6.2 million.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act provided $100.0 million, an increase of 4.8 percent or $4.5 million. There was no Explanatory Statement language.
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH INCREASE:
This is a new line item in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which provided $7.4 million.
The Explanatory Statement language noted: “The amended bill includes a general program increase of $7,500,000 instead of $10,000,000 as proposed by the House. The funds should be allocated for high priority research efforts, and up to $2,500,000 should be used by the Survey to establish the National Global Warming and Wildlife Science Center. The Survey is directed to notify the Committees on Appropriations of its allocation of global climate change research funds within 60 days of enactment.”