H.R. 2405: National Institute of Standards and Technology Provisions

Tomorrow the House of Representatives will consider H.R. 2405, the Omnibus Civilian Science Authorization Act of 1995. Title VI of this bill, known as the “American Technology Advancement Act of 1995" pertains to the Department of Commerce technology programs. As compared to other sections in this bill covering the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and NASA, this title is notable for its brevity. In this case, the absence of bill language is highly significant, as this translates into no authorization for the Advanced Technology Program. Under House rules, appropriations (the real money) are not supposed to be made without authorization legislation, although in many instances House members agree to override this constraint.

As stated in FYIs #138 and 139, passage of this bill is not assured, and it only permits, but does not provide, actual program funding. It will, however, if passed by the House, represent a clear picture of the changing and in some cases unfriendly sentiments of the House of Representatives to some NIST programs. Congress is nearing completion of the Commerce Appropriations Bill for FY 1996, which as it now stands is certain to be vetoed by the President.

FUNDING:

Section 602 of H.R. 2405 authorizes $275.6 million for the “Scientific and Technical Research and Services of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.” There are a total of ten different categories of intramural spending under this section, the total authorization for which is $272.18 million. The Clinton Administration requested an FY 1996 budget for these programs of $310.70 million. The House version of the FY 1996 Commerce appropriations bill provides $263.0 million; the Senate bill provides $222.74 million.

Various laboratory programs fared quite differently under the authorization bill the House will be considering tomorrow. For instance, both the Physics ($28.08 million) and Materials Science and Engineering ($54.31 million) program authorization levels are the same as that which the Administration requested. Both the Chemical Science and Technology and Computer Systems program authorizations are significantly below the budget request. Construction of Research Facilities, in a different category, was authorized at $62.06 million compared to the $69.91 million request.

No where in this bill is the Advanced Technology Program mentioned, a deliberate action by the House Science Committee (see FYI #89.) Although authorization is permitted for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program under certain circumstances, no dollar figure is given in this bill.