House Science Authorization Bill: NIST Provisions
On May 30, with much partisan rhetoric and rancorous debate, the House of Representatives passed a bill authorizing many of the federal government’s science programs. If enacted, the “Omnibus Civilian Science Authorization Act of 1996" (H.R. 3322) would set FY 1997 priorities and funding caps for NSF, NASA, NIST’s in-house laboratories, NOAA, EPA’s R&D programs, and others. In theory, authorization bills provide guidance to be used by appropriators when they fund federal programs. However, appropriators do not necessarily follow that advice.
H.R. 3322 was sponsored by House Science Chairman Robert Walker (R-PA). During floor debate, numerous amendments were offered. The Science Committee’s Ranking Minority Member, George Brown (D-CA), offered a substitute for the Walker bill that would have brought the priorities and funding levels more in line with President Clinton’s FY 1997 request. Brown’s substitute was rejected, as were most Democratic amendments, as the votes fell mostly along party lines.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
As passed by the House, H.R. 3322 would authorize $280.6 million for NIST’s intramural laboratories. This represents an increase of 8.3 percent from the current FY 1996 appropriation of $259.0 million, and an increase of 3.5 percent from President Clinton’s request of $271.0 million. Within this amount, NIST’s Physics Program would be authorized at $28.1 million, and the Materials Science and Engineering Program at $54.6 million. Construction received an authorization of $105.3 million, equal to the President’s FY 1997 request. The FY 1996 appropriation for construction was $60 million.
In the form in which it was reported out of the Science Committee, Walker’s bill included authorization only for NIST’s core laboratory programs and construction. It did not authorize NIST’s extramural cooperative programs with industry, the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), of which Walker and many Republicans are critical. On the floor, Brown tried to amend the bill to authorize the two extramural programs “for such sums as may be appropriated.” While not specifying any funding levels, this language would give the programs the House’s stamp of approval. However, Rep. Connie Morella (R-MD) offered an amendment to Brown’s amendment, changing it to authorize $90 million for the MEP but not authorizing the ATP, which is more strongly opposed. This version of the amendment passed by voice vote. The FY 1996 appropriation for MEP was $80 million, and the FY 1997 request was $105 million. ATP received an appropriation of $221 million for FY 1996, and the FY 1997 request was $345 million.
