Senate Appropriations Committee Report Language: NSF

On July 11, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved H.R. 3666, the VA/HUD/ Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill for FY 1997 (see FYI #105.) Accompanying the bill is a committee report (Sen. Report 104-318), which provides the Committee’s guidance to the agencies funded by the bill. Emphasized in the report’s introduction is the committee action with respect to NSF: “For the National Science Foundation, the Committee recommends $3,275,000,000. While a modest increase of $55,000,000 over the 1996 level and $17,000,000 over the House allowance, it does reflect the Committee’s commitment to support of high-priority basic research and technology development activities, notwithstanding our growing budgetary constraints.” Below are selected quotations from the provisions relating to NSF.

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Account 1996 Approp. (in millions) 1997 Budg. est. House Allowance Senate Report

Total $3,220.0 3,325.0 3,253.0 3,275.0
R&RA 2,314.0 2,472.0 2,431.1 2,432.0
MRE 70.0 95.0 80.0 80.0
E&HR 599.0 619.0 612.0 624.0
Sal/Expenses 132.5 134.3 125.2 134.3

RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES (R&RA)

“The research and related activities appropriation addresses Foundation goals to enable the United States to uphold world leadership in all aspects of science and engineering, and to promote the discovery, integration, dissemination, and employment of new knowledge in service to society.... The Foundation’s discipline-oriented research programs are: biological sciences; computer and information science and engineering; engineering; geosciences; mathematical and physical sciences; and social, behavioral and economic sciences. Also included are U.S. polar research programs, U.S. antarctic logistical support activities, and the Critical Technologies Institute.”

The Senate Appropriations Committee “recommends an appropriation of $2,432,000,000 for research and related activities. This amount is $118,000,000 above the fiscal year 1996 level, $40,000,000 below the budget request, and $890,000 above the House allowance. The reduction recommended by the Committee is a general reduction to be applied at the Foundation’s discretion, subject to normal reprogramming guidelines. The Committee urges NSF to consider actions it might take to enhance the linkages between research and education at both the graduate and undergraduate level.

“The Committee recognizes the need to encourage institutions of higher education to better integrate research and education so that the education and training experience provided to students yields a more broadly trained and better prepared individual for tomorrow’s technology-driven workplace environment. Therefore, the Committee is particularly supportive of the Foundation’s proposal to identify and recognize research-oriented universities which have proven themselves exceptionally adept in linking research and education through innovative programs and activities.

“Similar to the House, the Committee’s recommendation provides the budget request of $50,000,000 for the instrumentation portion of the academic research infrastructure program within this account. The Committee expects that the instrumentation program will continue to be managed as a Foundation-wide activity, along with its cost-sharing requirements, to ensure the program’s visibility, and accessibility for all eligible research and education institutions.”

MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT (MRE)

”...The amount recommended will reflect a reduction of $15,000,000 of the total amount requested in the President’s budget for construction of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory [LIGO] which is not needed at this time to maintain this project’s current schedule.

“The Committee acknowledges that a continued presence at the South Pole is a national priority from both a scientific and geopolitical perspective. This policy objective was recently reconfirmed in the National Science and Technology Council’s report on the U.S. Antarctic Program prepared at this Committee’s request. The Committee remains concerned with both the environmental and safety conditions at the station, noting that a code inspection in 1993 identified over 300 deficiencies. Therefore, the Committee recommends concurrence with the administration’s request of $25,000,000 for the South Pole station safety project. The Committee understands that these funds will be used for the heavy maintenance facility, powerplant upgrade, and fuel storage facilities.

“Of the funds provided in this account, the Committee directs that up to $1,400,000 be available to pay any tariff duties assessed on the Gemini project by the U.S. Customs Service in conjunction with the Gemini North Telescope in Hawaii.... It is...a matter of some concern that U.S. customs duties may be levied on a scientific project sponsored and paid for by that same Government.”

EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES (E&HR)

“The Committee appreciates the Foundation’s focus in its education activities which emphasize K-12 systemic education reform at the State, local, and rural level; undergraduate education reform through the integration of research and education; and graduate student education and training. However, the Committee strongly opposes the administration’s proposal that the informal science education activity be reduced by 28 percent...[and] recommends funding of informal science education activities at $38,000,000 in fiscal year 1997. This modest increase over the current program level will enable the Foundation to expand this very successful activity in reaching a broad cross-section of our population with useful scientific and technical insights.

“The Committee’s recommendation also includes an increase of $3,000,000 for the very successful EPSCoR program which is designed to assist institutions in improving their potential to become successful competitors for basic science grants. The Committee considers funding for EPSCoR at this $39,910,000 level as a very high priority to be sustained in fiscal year 1997.