House Science Committee Marks Up NSF Reauthorization Bill
It was approaching midnight on June 28 when the House Science Committee completed about 40 minutes of consideration of H.R. 1852, the National Science Foundation Authorization Act. Already weary from the long and sometimes difficult mark ups of the EPA, DOE, NOAA, space station, and NIST authorization bills, the committee went through this legislation at a more rapid pace. When they were finished, NSF funding authorization levels remained the same as those in the subcommittee bill (see FYI #83) although several policy and structural changes were made.
The committee adopted by voice vote several changes in the original bill language that were offered by House Science Committee Chairman Robert Walker (R-PA). Among them was a requirement that NSF reduce its seven Assistant Directors by one. This is widely viewed as being aimed at the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate. An amendment offered by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) to give NSF more flexibility in its reorganization was defeated by voice vote.
Also contained in the Walker package of changes was a requirement that the OSTP Director “prepare a report analyzing what steps would be needed to (1) reduce by 10 percent the proportion of Federal assistance to institutions of higher education that are allocated for indirect costs; and (2) reduce the variance among indirect cost rates of different institutions of higher education.”
The committee also agreed to language sponsored by Chairman Walker to reduce the attractiveness of earmarking. The NSF director is instructed to exclude from consideration for NSF awards “any person who received funds...after fiscal year 1995, from any Federal funding source for a project that was not subjected to a competitive, merit-based award process. Any exclusion from consideration pursuant to this section shall be effective for a period of 5 years after the person receives such Federal funds.”
Two amendments that would have directly or indirectly changed the authorization levels in the NSF bill, similar to those offered during the committee’s consideration of earlier bills, were not offered. Under this legislation, total NSF funding is not to exceed $3.126 billion for FY 1996 and $3.1714 billion for FY 1997. Current year funding is $3.264 billion. The Clinton Administration requested $3.360 billion for fiscal year 1996.
Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) offered an amendment to change the name of NSF to the National Science and Engineering Foundation. This was rejected by a roll call vote of yes - 16, no - 22. Chairman Walker voted no; Ranking Minority Member George Brown (D-CA) did not vote.
It is not known when this bill will go to the House floor. The House VA, HUD, Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, which provides actual funding for NSF, is scheduled to mark up its bill shortly after Congress returns from its July 4 recess.
