In Context: Congressional Support for DOE Physics, FY 1991-1996

In the year since the 1994 congressional elections there has been continual discussion about the effects which a reduction in federal spending would have on physics-related programs. With the recent passage of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, it is possible to put into historical context how this Congress has reacted to Department of Energy requests for physics research programs.

The below figures provides the percentage of the DOE request which Congress provided for Basic Energy Sciences, Fusion Energy, High Energy Physics, and Nuclear Physics research programs. The years shown are fiscal years; congressional action occurred the year before.

BASIC ENERGY SCIENCES (provides funding for materials sciences and other physics-related research, in addition to research in other areas):

1991 90.6%
1992 107.0%
1993 105.6%
1994 100.0%
1995 100.8%
1996 97.6%

FUSION ENERGY:

1991 84.6%
1992 100.0%
1993 94.4%
1994 100.0%
1995 100.0%
1996 66.7%

HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS (Does not include SSC; terminated in FY 1994):

1991 100.0%
1992 95.7%
1993 97.2%
1994 100.0%
1995 104.0%
1996 97.3%

NUCLEAR PHYSICS:

1991 100.0%
1992 103.5%
1993 85.0%
1994 109.6%
1995 111.3%
1996 94.8%