Senate Subcommittee Completes Work on NSF and NASA Budgets

The Senate is moving ahead of the House in the appropriations process. As previously reported, work on the FY 1999 budgets for the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense is well underway. Add to this the Tuesday mark-up of the VA, HUD, Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill for FY 1999. Early reports suggest that the outlook is quite promising for the National Science Foundation and NASA.

Senator Christopher S. Bond (R-Missouri) won voice approval from his subcommittee for a bill providing a 6.3% increase for the National Science Foundation, and essentially flat funding for NASA. This $92.3 billion bill, funding many programs ranging from the VA to EPA, is up 4% over the current year after allowing for adjustments. House action is scheduled for June 18.

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION:The National Science Foundation, under the subcommittee’s bill, is slated for a $215 million increase. This is 6.3% over the current year, although $129 million less than what the President requested. In his opening remarks, Bond commented, “NSF is an investment in the future and this additional funding is intended to reaffirm the strong and longstanding support of this Subcommittee to scientific research and education.”

The Research and Related Activities account would increase $179 million next year, a 7.0% increase. The administration had requested an 11.8% increase. Bond’s subcommittee voted for specific increases in plant genome research, arctic logistics support, information technology research centers, additional Science and Technology Centers, and undergraduate support. FY 1999 Education and Human Resources spending would increase by the amount the administration requested: $50 million, or 7.9%. Under the bill, EPSCoR, informal science education, and undergraduate support would increase over the administration’s request.

The subcommittee approved the administration’s request for Major Research Equipment of $94 million. It denied funding for the Polar Cap Observatory, which NSF describes as “a multi-instrumented, ground-based observatory located within the Earth’s northern polar cap.” It was to be fully operational by 2001.

The budget for NSF Salaries and Expenses was kept at this year’s level, denying a 5.1% increase the administration had sought.

NASA:Under the subcommittee’s bill, the agency’s budget would be $150 million over the President’s request, although the recommended $13.615 billion budget is $33 million less than the current year.

Following future science spending should be easier under a new budget structure recommended by the subcommittee. The current “Science, Aeronautics and Transportation” account would be split into a “Science and Technology” account and an “Aeronautics, Space Transportation, and Technology” account. “Science and Technology” spending would be set at $4.26 billion, which is $105 million above the request. The subcommittee made several adjustments that we will report in a future FYI.

The subcommittee established a separate account for the space station. In his opening remarks at the subcommittee’s mark-up, Bond said, “we have included a new account for the International Space Station to ensure that Congress and this subcommittee gets honest figures for the ISS from the Administration.” Bond cited a recent independent review that estimates a much higher construction figure for the station. Details on the space station will be included in a forthcoming FYI.

All and all, the subcommittee’s action on NSF and NASA was quite favorable. It was a good start for a bill that has a long way yet to go before it reaches the President’s desk.