House Appropriations Committee Report Language: NSF

Accompanying H.R. 3666, the FY 1997 VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill is a committee report (104-628.) This report, will not carrying the full force of law, provides strong guidance about how FY 1997 funding is to be spent by the National Science Foundation. It also provides an explanation of the committee’s recommendations. Selections from the report language pertaining to NSF follow. See FYI #88 for specific budget numbers.

RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES:

H.R. 3666 provides $2,422.0 million. This is $108.0 million above the current budget, but $50.0 million less than the administration’s request.

“The Committee recommendation includes approval of the National Science Foundation proposal to include within the Research and Related Activities account, $50,000,000 for acquisition of instrumentation which was previously funded in the Academic Research Infrastructure account. Taking into consideration the increase to this account caused by the transfer of instrumentation funds, the remaining increase of $108,000,000 would have represented a growth of approximately 5% over the fiscal year 1996 level. While this is not an excessive amount of growth, and while the Committee remains a strong supporter of scientific research, the Committee cannot fund the budget request within its current allocation of budget authority and outlays. The reduction recommended by the Committee is taken without prejudice and is to be allocated by the Foundation in accordance with internal procedures, subject to approval by the Committee.”

MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT:

H.R. 3666 provides $80.0 million. This is $10.0 million above the current budget, but $15.0 million less than the administration’s request.

“The Committee recommendation for LIGO funding [$55 million] is the same amount that was projected as a fiscal year 1997 requirement when the fiscal year 1996 budget was presented to the Congress. The amount recommended is $15.0 million below the request in the fiscal year 1997 budget, but based upon information provided with the fiscal year 1996 budget and briefings provided by the program managers the reduction should have no effect on the program schedule.

Citing the recent National Science and Technology Council report on the Antarctic (see FYI#82), the committee report language states: “The Committee acknowledges the conclusions contained within the report and provides $25,000,000 for correcting critical health, safety, and environmental issues at the current South Pole station while awaiting further information from the NSF on how it will structure a long-term solution to the problems of the current station. The Committee recommends that the funds provided be used for the heavy maintenance facility, power plant upgrade, and fuel storage facilities.”

ACADEMIC RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE:

“The Committee agrees with the President’s budget proposal to transfer the instrumentation portion of this program to the Research and Related Activities account and provide no funding for buildings and facilities.”

EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES:

H.R. 3666 provides $612.0 million. This is $13.0 million above the current budget, but $7.0 million less than the administration’s request.

“The Committee recommendation includes a reduction of $2,000,000 in the grants for graduate fellowships and $5,000,000 from undergraduate curriculum development.”

Systemic Initiative: NSF “has made considerable progress with its state, urban, and rural systemic initiatives designed to promote reform of K-12 math and science education. Early results show significant math and science student achievements in NSF funded sites. The Committee believes each program should be sustained as appropriate and in particular, the Urban Systemic Initiative should be fully funded in fiscal year 1997.”

Advanced Technological Education Program: “The Committee is pleased that the Foundation has forged effective partnerships with the relevant local scientific and technical business sector to further expand the scope and significance of the program. The Committee encourages continued growth of this important activity.”

Teacher Preparation: "...the Committee strongly urges” NSF “to strengthen and significantly expand its math and science teacher preparation programs.”

Technology Education: NSF “is urged to increase its investments in research and development that undergird learning technologies and their application in math, science, engineering, and technology education sites at the K-12, two year and community colleges, and undergraduate levels.”

EPSCoR: “The Committee is pleased” with NSF’s EPSCoR, and makes a number of specific recommendations about the future direction of its program.

Informal Science Education: “The Committee is concerned with the nearly 28% reduction in funding for Informal Science Education. In many instances, science education received through exposure to museums, parks, libraries, television and community groups is the most important spark to stimulate greater interest in science. The Committee has not been able to add money to this account, but encourages the National Science Foundation to reevaluate the priorities which caused the current sub-allocation of Education and Human Resources funding to determine if the cut of 28% in this program is justified.”