DOE FY 1996 Appropriations Bill Mark-Up; DOE Authorization Bill

Today the House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its FY 1996 bill, cutting over-all DOE funding by 6%, or $940 million, from current year spending. This is 11% below the administration’s FY 1996 request. Subcommittee chairman John Myers (R-IN) stated, “While the reduction to the Department of Energy appears significant, it is targeted to the DOE bureaucracy and those activities for which private industry support is more appropriate. The subcommittee’s support for basic research is continued in this measure.” A statement released by the committee notes that “the bill...respects pending authorization levels under development by various jurisdictional committees of the House.” The appropriations subcommittee recommends a 22%, or $718 million, reduction (as compared to FY 1995) in Energy Supply, Research and Development Activities (which includes the fusion program) for a total FY 1996 budget of $2,597 million. The General Science and Research Activities budget increases almost $7 million to $991 million. DOE requested $1,017 million for this budget. Details of this bill will be reported as they become available.

The appropriations bill marked up today by Myers’ subcommittee was to be guided by the authorization levels in the Department of Energy Civilian Research and Development Act of 1995. This authorizing legislation will next be considered by the full House Science Committee, and then the House. The outlook in the Senate is unknown. Below are authorization levels (i.e., maximum spending levels) for some of the physics-related programs in this bill. In all cases, the administration requests were higher than the FY 1995 budget. Note also that there is considerable detail that cannot be reported because of space limitations.

Under the category of ENERGY RESEARCH:

Fusion Energy: FY 1995 - $368.4 million. Subcommittee recommendation - $229.1 million.

Basic Energy Sciences: FY 1995 - $733.9 million. Subcommittee recommendation - $765.9 million. Note that under this heading are Operating Expenses for Materials Sciences. FY 1995 funding for Materials Sciences is $272.3 million. The subcommittee recommendation is $333.6 million.

University and Science Education: FY 1995 - $69.6 million. Subcommittee recommendation - zero.

Under the category of GENERAL SCIENCE AND RESEARCH:

High Energy Physics: FY 1995 - $642.1 million. Subcommittee recommendation - $674.1 million.

Nuclear Physics: FY 1995 - $331.5 million. Subcommittee recommendation - $290.1 million.

Program Direction: FY 1995 - $10.4 million. Subcommittee recommendation - $8.4 million.

Total for General Science and Research: FY 1995 - $984.0 million. Subcommittee recommendation - $972.7 million.