One Month to Go: Outlook on Key Appropriations Bills

Congress returns to work next week, with roughly one month left to pass thirteen appropriations bills. The outlook for most science and technology programs is promising, an exception being concern about funding for DOD basic research.

Defying predictions earlier in this year of deadlock, the appropriations process has moved quickly this summer. Appropriations committees have written all but one of the thirteen bills (for the District of Columbia), with the House and Senate having cleared many of them. Among the reasons for this success are the earlier budget deal that settled overall spending limits, more money than expected, a healthy distribution of spending on pet projects, and tight discipline by the chairmen of both appropriations committees. Add to this congressional fears about another government shutdown.

An important part of the annual appropriations cycle is the conference committee. This is composed of key members of the appropriate subcommittees, and meets behind closed doors to resolve differences in funding levels or program direction in the two versions of a bill. The goal of the conference committee is to write a final bill that both chambers vote on, to be then sent to the president.

Three of the four appropriations bills followed by FYI- defense, energy, and VA/HUD - have reached the conference committee stage, although the committees themselves have not formally met. The commerce appropriations bill has not cleared the House floor. In general, recommended R&D funding levels are higher than many expected. An analysis by the American Association for the Advancement of Science found total federal R&D spending for FY 1998 would increase 2.8 - 2.9%. This analysis calculated an increase in nondefense R&D of 4.4 - 4.6%, and an increase of 3.4 - 4.9% in basic research (in all three cases, the range being due to different outcomes in each chamber.) See the AAAS site for further information: http://www.aaas.org/spp/dspp/rd/rdwwwpg.htm

There are controversies surrounding each bill that have to be resolved, raising a veto threat in some cases:

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE (H.R. 2267/S. 1022): Congressional Republicans and the Administration disagree over the use of sampling in the upcoming census. Last spring, Republicans attempted to block sampling through the flood relief bill, and are generally conceded to have lost public opinion after the president vetoed the bill. It is now thought that this battle will be put off until next year. Congress avoided a fight with the Administration over the Advanced Technology Program, as both chambers continue funding for it in the new fiscal year. Senate Appropriations Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) is very averse to any program termination through the appropriations process.

DEFENSE (H.R. 2266/ S. 1055): As previously reported, the House-passed bill provides considerably less for basic research than the Senate bill (see FYI #97 ), a number that must be resolved in the conference committee. Much larger controversies surround Bosnia and additional B-2 stealth bombers.

ENERGY AND WATER (H.R. 2203/S. 1004): Recommended levels for fusion energy sciences, high energy physics, nuclear physics, and basic energy sciences are at least as high as the administration’s request in each chamber’s bills. While these numbers will be resolved, larger issues concern water project funding and nuclear weapons programs.

VA/HUD (H.R. 2158/S. 1034): Both bills would fund NASA almost at or above the requested level. Both bills also provide NSF funding at or above the request, with the House bill being more favorable. One of the major areas to be resolved concerns HUD’s subsidized housing program.

All attention on Capitol Hill now focuses on getting the appropriations bills passed by the start of the new fiscal year on October 1. Meanwhile, on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, work is progressing on the administration’s request to be submitted to Congress next February -- a continuation of the never-ending budget cycle.