House Appropriations Recommendations on NSF

Major Research Equipment, Education As explained in FYIs #89 and 90 , the House Appropriations Committee has released its report (105-175) on the VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill, H.R. 2158. While this report language is not binding, and is subject to change following a conference with the Senate Appropriations Committee later this year, it provides important insight into the thinking of the House appropriators. Selections from the report language on Major Research Equipment, and Education and Human Resources, follow:

MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT:

The Appropriations Committee provided the full request for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory, the Polar Cap Observatory, and the Millimeter Array. As explained in the selection below, the committee substantially increased the funding for the South Pole Station:

U.S. ANTARCTIC PROGRAM: “The National Science Foundation established the U.S. Antarctic Program External Panel in 1996 and gave the Panel the task of examining the Antarctic Program from both a scientific as well as a facilities point of view. The Panel completed its work in early 1997 and issued its final report in April....” The Panel’s principal conclusion is “that the South Pole Station needs to be replaced soon for economic, safety and operational reasons and that modest upgrades are needed at Palmer and McMurdo Stations.”

“After reviewing the report of the Panel, the Committee endorses the conclusions reached by the Panel and agrees with its principal recommendations. The Committee appreciates the time and effort expended by the members of the Panel and places great value on their expertise and recommendations. However, the Committee believes that full funding of the South Pole Station replacement and other improvements in Antarctica, rather than incremental funding as proposed by the Panel, could lead to more efficient management of the refurbishment efforts. The Committee has therefore recommended providing $115,000,000 in fiscal year 1998 for construction and refurbishment of facilities in Antarctica. When combined with program savings from logistics operations over the next five years, this amount will result in total funding of $145,000,000 available for the optimized’ South Pole Station and infrastructure improvements at McMurdo and Palmer Stations. The Committee directs the Foundation to highlight logistics savings when they are expected to materialize so that future funding for the refurbishment can be traced to those savings.”

EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES:

The Committee increased the administration’s request by $7,000,000 to $632,500,000. Selections from the report follow:

SYSTEMIC INITIATIVE: “The National Science Foundation has made considerable progress with its state, urban, and rural systemic initiatives designed to promote reform of K-12 math and science education.... The Committee believes each program should be sustained as appropriate and in particular, the Urban Systemic Initiative should be fully funded in fiscal year 1998. The funding level for the initiative should take into consideration its role in the recently announced excellent performance of U.S. students in 4th grade math and science.” See FYI #84 .

ALLIANCE FOR MINORITY PARTICIPATION AND SUMMER SCIENCE CAMPS: “The Committee notes the national model which the Alliance for Minority Participation program has become for producing minority scientists and engineers. This very important national initiative should be sustained, as well as the K-12 programs that serve as feeders to it.”

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM: “Although only established within the past few years, the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program is viewed as crucial to ensuring a highly competent technical workforce. ... The Committee encourages continued growth of this important activity. In order to foster this growth, the Committee has provided an additional $2,000,000 for the program in fiscal year 1998.” The committee requested that NSF pay particular attention to transportation workers.

TEACHER PREPARATION: "...the Committee strongly urges the National Science Foundation to strengthen and significantly expand its math and science teacher preparation programs.”

TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION: “The National Science Foundation 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.”

DOCTORATE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING DEGREES: “The Committee remains concerned about the low number of doctorate science and engineering degree recipients from under-represented minority populations. To address this critical science and engineering human resource issue, the Committee directs the Foundation to develop a comprehensive plan for graduate education of under-represented minorities. While the report of this plan should be provided to the Committee by February 1, 1998, $5,000,000 is provided for the initiation of an effort designed to improve the production of science and engineering doctorates drawn from these under-represented groups.”