Movement on Appropriations Bills
As the Senate prepares to leave today for its August recess, with the House to follow suit in a week, both chambers continue to make progress on their fiscal year 1999 appropriations bills. The 13 appropriations bills, which provide funding for all government programs and agencies, must be completed before the beginning of the new fiscal year on October 1.
The House, on July 29, passed its VA/HUD/Independent Agencies Appropriations bill. The following day, the Senate passed its version of the Defense Appropriations bill. These bills have now been passed by both chambers, and are ready for a conference to reconcile differences in the House and Senate versions. A conference was scheduled to begin today on the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, which funds the Department of Energy’s civilian R&D programs, but it is unlikely to be completed before Members of Congress return in September.
The House debate on the VA/HUD bill, which provides funding for NASA and NSF, took place over two weeks. Amendments were defeated which would have cut funding for both agencies. Rep. Tim Roemer (D-IN), a space station opponent, offered an amendment to reduce the NASA budget by $1.6 billion and terminate the space station. It failed on a 109-323 vote. This leaves the bill’s funding of NASA at the House Appropriators’ recommendation of $13,328 million, with station funding of $2,100 million. The Senate version of the VA/HUD bill would provide NASA with $13,615 million.
Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC) tried to reduce the NSF research budget by $270 million (see FYI #108 for more on his concerns.) His amendment was defeated on a voice vote. Another amendment, by Rep. Bruce Vento (D-MN), would have reduced NSF funding by more than $100 million to increase funds for an emergency food and shelter program. However, Vento withdrew his amendment without offering it. Total NSF funding in the House bill remains at $3,697 million, with Research and Related Activities (R&RA) receiving $2,815 million. The Senate bill would give NSF $3,644 million, with $2,725 million going to R&RA.
The VA/HUD bill faces a potential veto threat from President Clinton for various reasons, including language pertaining to the Kyoto Treaty on global climate change, and elimination of funding for AmeriCorps, Clinton’s national service program.
The Senate is scheduled to return from recess on September 7; the House plans to return on September 8.
