NSF and NASA Funding Bill Advances
The first solid indication about the general outlines of the fiscal year 1994 National Science Foundation and NASA budgets was provided on May 27 by the House VA, HUD, Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. The subcommittee marked-up (or drafted) its version of the fiscal year 1994 spending bill. This $68.31 billion legislation will be considered by the full House Appropriations Committee after the Congress returns next week; action by the entire House should occur shortly thereafter.
The following is known about this bill:
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION:
The subcommittee recommended an increase of about 11% for NSF, for a total budget of $3.024 billion. The Clinton Administration requested a 16% increase, which counts the now-dead supplemental request.
(Last year, this subcommittee gave NSF a 1.5% increase. The Bush Administration requested about 18%; the foundation eventually received a 6.3% increase in its budget for the current fiscal year.)
Research and Related Activities funding would increase 10% to $2.045 billion. The administration’s request (including the stimulus package) was 18%.
Education funding would increase 17% over this year’s budget to $570 million. The administration’s request totaled 14%.
Academic Research Facilities and Instrumentation was funded at the requested level of $55 million. This is an increase of 10% over current funding.
After full House consideration of the bill, which is unlikely to change the NSF component, the Senate will start its deliberations. Historical trends are uncertain about what the Senate might do: in 1990 and 1992, the Senate provided more money for NSF than did the House, in 1991 it provided less.
NASA:
The closely-watched Space Station Freedom budget was set by the subcommittee at $1.85 billion, down from the $2.3 billion requested by the administration. Appropriations subcommittee chairman Louis Stokes reportedly wants to remain “flexible” on station funding, undoubtedly awaiting next week’s design announcement. This figure is close to the $1.9 billion level recommended by House science committee chairman George Brown. Last year, the Senate was considerably more generous to the station than was the House. Tough floor fights are anticipated over station funding. Current year station funding is $2.025 billion.
