The Fine Print on the Commerce Appropriations Bill

The House of Representatives is expected to give its final approval today to the Commerce Department appropriation for FY 1996, followed by the Senate. The bill, H.R. 2076, is almost certain to be vetoed by President Clinton. The following is some of the fine print from the conference report (House Report 104-378) pertaining to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

NIST’s appropriation is broken down into three major categories: Scientific and Technical Research and Services, Industrial Technology Services, and Construction of Research Facilities. The conference committee recommends the following budgets:

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES:

This budget is for NIST’s “core” programs at its laboratories in Maryland and Colorado. Last year’s budget was $247.49 million. The Administration requested $310.70 million, an increase of $63.21 million, or 25.5%.

The conferees recommend an FY 1996 budget of $259.00 million. This is an increase of $11.51 million, or 4.7%, over last year.

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY SERVICES:

One reason the President will likely veto this bill is that it contains no new funding for one of his administration’s major priorities, the Advanced Technology Program (ATP). Seeking to end any new ATP competitions, the report states: "...none of the funds made available under this heading in this or any other Act may be used for the purposes of carrying out additional program competitions under the Advanced Technology Program: Provided further, That any unobligated balances available from carryover of prior year appropriations [in other words, unspent money] may be used only for the purposes of providing continuation grants.” Last year’s ATP budget was $430.4 million. The Administration requested $490.9 million.

Another program under this budget category, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), had a budget last year of $90.6 million. The Administration requested $146.6 million, an increase of $56.00 million, or 61.8%, over last year.

Conferees recommend an MEP FY 1996 budget of $80.0 million. This is a decline of $10.6 million, or 11.7%, from last year.

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW FACILITIES:

The Administration requested $69.91 million. The conference report recommends $60.00 million.

NOTE: While provisions for transferring funds to “appropriate successor organizations” are provided in this act if the Commerce Department is dismantled, the report does not call for dismantlement.