Senate Committee Trims NSF, Increases NASA Funding

By a vote of 25-0 yesterday, the full Senate Appropriations Committee sent to the floor its version of H.R. 2491, the VA, HUD, Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 1994. Although the all-important committee report containing funding instructions and recommendations for NSF and NASA (and all the other agencies under this bill’s jurisdiction) will not be available until next week, the following is known:

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION:

The Senate bill reduces NSF’s fiscal year 1994 budget by $39.3 million, or 1 percent, from the House version of H.R. 2491. Under the Senate bill, NSF would receive a 9 percent increase over the current year, rising to $2,981.9 million (current year: $2,733.6 million; FY 1994 request: $3,180.2 million.)

Research and Related Activities funding under the Senate bill is $105 million less than the House figure, totaling $1,940.0 million (current year: $1,859.0 million; FY 1994 request: $2,204.8 million.)

Education and Human Resources funding under the Senate bill is $569.6 million, the same as the House figure (current year: $487.5 million; FY 1994 request: $556.1 million.)

Facilities and Instrumentation funding under the Senate bill is $125.0 million, $70 million over the House figure (current year: $50 million; FY 1994 request: $55 million.)

NASA:

The Senate bill provides NASA with $14.6 billion for FY 1994. This is $100 million over the House version of H.R. 2491, and $300 million over the current year. The Clinton Administration requested $15.3 billion.

Space Station Freedom would receive about $1.94 billion under the Senate bill. The House voted to provide the station with $2.1 billion. Current year funding is $2.025 billion. Determining how much NASA needs in fiscal year 1994 for the station is unclear because its final design is still under consideration. NASA’s redesign team had estimated funding of $2.26 billion would be required for the design NASA is working with; the Office of Management and Budget announced in June its intention to freeze spending over the next five years at a level of $2.1 billion.

If all of this is uncomfortably vague, compounding the situation are reports that the $154 million reduction in station funding made by the Senate was at the Clinton Administration’s request. This money would be allocated to other NASA Research and Development accounts, although this work would be used in the development of the station. Perhaps this will be made clearer with the release of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s report next week.

Making the situation even more complicated are worries by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland) and other station supporters about reports of Russian involvement in the station. Her bill prevents NASA from spending $946 million on the station until January 31, 1994. This will give Congress a chance to look at the final station redesign, due by November 1, and determine what Russia’s role in the new station will be.

Finally, Senator Dale Bumpers (D-Arkansas) is pushing his amendment to terminate station funding when the bill is taken up by the full Senate, now expected to be next week. A recent vote count was 40-33 in favor of station funding, but that was taken before the Mars Observer and NOAA-13 satellite incidents. Earlier this year, the House approved station funding by a vote of 220-196. Last year the Senate approved funding for Freedom by a vote of 63-34.