NSF Reauthorization Bill Passes House

H.R. 3254, The National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1994, passed the House on May 4 by a vote of 396-22. The bill approves the programs of the NSF for two years but does not provide funding, which is the responsibility of the corresponding appropriations committee. It bears the imprint of House science committee chairman George Brown (D-California) in its attempt to restrict earmarking, in which congressional appropriators steer funds to academic facilities in their state, rather than awarding funds by merit-based competition.

The bill authorizes $3.15 billion for NSF in fiscal year 1995, which brings it into line with the House’s 1995 budget resolution. This is $50 million less than President Clinton’s request for fiscal 1995. The bill would also shift priorities from the request: It would provide an additional $55 million for NSF’s Academic Facilities Modernization Program, bringing that program’s total to $110 million. Of the areas cut in order to shift funds, Research and Related Activities would be reduced by $93.9 million below the 1995 request. Mathematics and Physical Sciences would receive a cut of $21.4 million from the request, and Geosciences would be reduced $21.8 million from the request. All of these areas, however, would still receive increases over current funding levels.

The bill would authorize $3.23 billion for NSF in fiscal year 1996, with the amount slated for renovation and repair of academic research facilities rising to $150 million.

The bill attempts to discourage institutions from seeking earmarked facilities funding. H.R. 3254 would require that, for any NSF facilities grants awarded after fiscal year 1995, NSF must exclude from consideration institutions that receive federal earmarks after 1994. It also includes language to deter earmarking of any other NSF research grants.

In recognition of the magnitude of the facilities-funding problem, the bill states that “the Federal effort to upgrade academic research facilities must involve a coordinated program among all Federal agencies which sponsor research at academic institutions.” It would require the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop a multiagency plan “to provide financial support to institutions of higher education for the repair, renovation, or replacement of obsolete” research facilities.

An amendment was approved to freeze, for one year, the reimbursement institutions can receive for indirect costs at their fiscal 1994 levels. The bill also requires the Foundation to submit annually to Congress, with each Presidential budget submission, a report containing a three-year strategic plan.

While the bill recognizes a role for the Foundation in improving U.S. economic competitiveness, and directs that funding priority be given to Presidential research initiatives, it reaffirms that “the primary mission of the Foundation continues to be the support of basic scientific research and science education and the support of research fundamental to the engineering process and engineering education.”