Senate Report Language: Major Research Equipment, Academic Research Infrastructure
Accompanying the Senate version of H.R. 4624 is a report providing the Senate Appropriations Committee’s views and recommendations. A section of the report on the National Science Foundation outlines subcommittee chairwoman Barbara Mikulski’s (D-MD) and her colleagues’ views on funding for Major Research Equipment, and Academic Research Infrastructure -- which includes the establishment of a new program. Final funding levels and report language will be decided upon by a conference committee comprised of Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.
MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT:
The Senate bill significantly increases funding “for the construction of major research facilities that provide unique capabilities at the cutting edge of science and engineering. These construction projects were formerly funded through the research and related activities appropriation.”
“For fiscal year 1995, the Committee recommends an appropriation of $150,000,000 for major research equipment, a new accounting category for fiscal year 1995. This amount is $80,000,000 above the budget request and $45,000,000 above the House allowance.”
The committee provides the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) with $35,000,000 in FY 1994 funding that was rescinded, as well as an additional $24,000,000 above the request “toward the completion of the LIGO construction. The agency may not obligate these funds earlier than May 1, 1995.” The report warns, “The Committee continues to be concerned about ongoing management problems at one of the two sites for the LIGO Program, especially in light of concerns expressed by the chief financial officer of the Foundation, and directs the Foundation to provide its complete reorganization plan for LIGO with the fiscal year 1995 operating plan. In addition, the Committee directs that no fiscal year 1995 funding for LIGO shall be obligated until the new management plan has been approved by the National Science Board. The Committee directs the Foundation to submit a progress report and updated cost estimates for LIGO by November 15, 1994.”
The report language is more favorable towards the GEMINI telescopes, providing an additional $21,000,000 above the administration’s request “to complete the total funding requirement for construction of the GEMINI telescopes.” The report continues, “The Committee’s recommendation also includes a total of $41,000,000 for the GEMINI telescopes. This amount is sufficient to fully fund the balance of the U.S. commitment to this international project. GEMINI has successfully overcome a number of difficult obstacles in its development. The Committee has been advised that GEMINI is now moving forward in an effective manner and represents a model for international scientific collaboration.”
ACADEMIC RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE
Congress has greatly increased funding for this spending category above recent administration requests. The Senate bill continues this trend: “The Committee recommends an appropriation of $300,000,000 for academic research infrastructure. This amount is $190,000,000 above the fiscal year 1994 level, $245,000,000 above the budget request, and $200,000,000 above the House allowance.”
“The Committee recommends the following changes from the budget request:
"+$55,000,000 for the standard NSF Facilities and Instrumentation Modernization Program. This will make for a total program level for the regular program of $110,000,000, the same as the 1994 level. Funds should be divided evenly, as in past years, between facilities and instrumentation activities. The Foundation should provide up to 20 percent of both activities for small colleges and universities, and those that predominantly serve traditionally underrepresented groups in science and engineering.”
"+$190,000,000 for an interagency Facilities and Instrumentation Modernization Program. These funds are available from September 1, 1995 through August 31, 1996. Their release is contingent upon two criteria: the submission of a plan by the administration on or before September 1, 1995, which outlines a 5-year Federal strategy for this NEW INITIATIVE [capitalization added], run by the NSF, but including all Federal science mission agencies in the selection of proposals for funding; and a subsequent budget submission in the fiscal year 1996 budget that requests new funds, within the NSF budget, for the initiative above the $190,000,000 provided here. Should either condition not be met, the Committee will likely rescind the funds for this new initiative.”
The committee report provides the following rationale: “Estimates by NSF show that the backlog of instrumentation needs exceeds $2,500,000,000 and the need for repair and renovation of academic research facilities ranges from $6,800,000,0000 to $8,100,000,000. The Committee strongly believes that the Foundation must be the lead agency in an interagency effort to revitalize the Nation’s research infrastructure. Further, the Committee also strongly believes that modernizing the research infrastructure requires both facilities improvements and acquisition of state-of-the-art research instrumentation.”
In a more critical tone, the report continues, “The Committee is aware that the National Science and Technology Council has begun discussions toward a plan for an interagency program to address these needs. This effort follows more than 8 years of study by the Office of Science and Technology Policy where, although the urgency of this problem was recognized, no plan for a solution was developed. This continuing lack of action has delayed any possibility to begin a coordinated interagency program until fiscal year 1996 or later.
“In addition, the Committee directs the Foundation to reassess the extent of our national academic infrastructure needs, and to use this information in its work with the National Science and Technology Council. The Foundation should submit this assessment in a formal report to the Committee, hereafter, on an annual basis, with the first such report due on May 1, 1995.”
