Senate Action on VA/HUD Bill: NASA and NSF

On this first day of fiscal year 2000, Congress has not yet completed work on the majority of appropriations bills. One of the unfinished bills is H.R. 2684, the FY 2000 VA/HUD appropriations bill. The Senate passed its version of the legislation on September 24, but it differs in many respects from the House version, and these differences need to be reconciled in conference. In the meantime, the programs funded under the bill will continue to operate for now under a three-week stopgap “continuing resolution,” which will keep them operating at FY 1999 levels.

Funding for NASA and NSF in the Senate bill remains unchanged from what was recommended by the Senate Appropriations Committee (see FYIs #135 and #136 ). While both agencies would receive total funding equal to the President’s request, funding for some specific accounts would differ from the request. The biggest impact is to NASA’s Space Science program, which would be cut by $120 million from the request. (Earth Science was funded at the requested level, as was Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications.) There was no debate about funding levels for the two agencies on the Senate floor, and no amendments were offered to restore the space science funding. Senators Christopher Bond (R-MO) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the VA/HUD Appropriations Subcommittee, had the following words about NASA and NSF funding on the Senate floor:

BOND ON NASA: “This bill fully funds NASA at the President’s request of $13.6 billion, including full funding for the international space station and the shuttle. I know NASA was a huge concern for many members of the committee and the Congress as a whole because the House, due to its shortened allocation, was forced to reduce funding by some $900 million. This bill makes a major structural change to the NASA accounts by providing separate funding for the international space station and the space shuttle. We believe this account change is necessary because of NASA’s continuing problems in controlling spending on the space station, especially enhanced by Russia’s unreliability in meeting its obligations as an international partner to the space station. We have, however, provided transfer authority to allow space station funds to be used to meet any needed safety upgrades for the shuttle. The only other major change in NASA funding is we have reduced the funding for space [science] by $120 million from the President’s budget request in part to fund new launch and space transportation technologies designed to reduce the cost of space transportation and to open up commercial opportunities in our universe. Many Members have been interested in this program, and these funds are authorized in both the House and Senate NASA authorization bills.”

BOND ON NSF: “For the National Science Foundation, the bill includes over $3.9 billion, which matches the administration’s request. The NSF allocation is over $250 million more than last year’s enacted level, about a 7-percent increase. The increase in funding continues our commitment and support for our Nation’s basic research and education needs. On a personal note, I was very pleased we were able to meet the President’s request for NSF because of the tremendous amount of exciting and potentially beneficial work that is being funded through the National Science Foundation. Truly, this is a national priority. I only wish more funds were available to add because this is our scientific future. This is the future for our economy, for the well-being of the people of the United States, and for our continued progress. Some of the major highlights of this allocation include $126 million in additional funds for computer and information science and engineering activities, some $60 million for the important Plant Genome Program, and $50 million for the administration’s ‘Biocomplexity’ initiative.”

MIKULSKI ON NASA: “With regard to NASA, I was extremely troubled by the House version of the bill. I was troubled because they cut NASA by $1 billion. At the same time, I was also troubled that the House seemed to focus a lot of those cuts in my own home State.... The Goddard Space Flight Center [in Maryland] is the flagship NASA center for Earth and science research. We want to make sure it continues to be able to do that. With the help of this subcommittee, we know we will continue to have those jobs. They will continue to fix Hubbell, have the next generation space telescope, and provide us with new opportunities in terms of protecting the environment.”

MIKULSKI ON NSF: “I also want to comment on the National Science Foundation. We are so proud of the National Science Foundation. We really do appreciate it, and it is funded at $3.9 billion in the bill, which is an addition of $250 million. What is important about the National Science Foundation is that it was created to respond to be sure that America did not fall behind Russia in science and technology. America continues to lead the world in science and technology, particularly in information technology that has revolutionized the world. This is truly the information age. I appreciate the fact that, working together, we have increased the funding, particularly in those areas that will enhance research and development in the field of information technology.... The funding we have for the National Science Foundation puts the money in the Federal checkbook to make sure that we come up with the new ideas for the new products that will be part of continuing to cross the digital divide.”

House and Senate conferees are expected to meet within the next week. In addition to the large difference in NASA funding, there are other substantial discrepancies between the two versions that will be difficult to work out in conference. One major issue is disagreement over HUD’s rent subsidy program; other potential difficulties are the House’s termination of the Selective Service and President Clinton’s AmeriCorps national service program. Additionally, the White House has indicated opposition to both the House and Senate versions of the legislation.

While the outcome of the House-Senate conference cannot be predicted, it is worth noting that two of the key conferees, Bond and House VA/HUD Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman James Walsh (R-NY), are both supportive of NSF and NASA. Walsh has expressed a wish to find a way to increase funding for these agencies (see FYI #131 ). Yet, according to Congressional Quarterly Weekly, Walsh has said that “things will be difficult in conference committee.... We have different priorities.”