Appropriators Complete NIST, NIBIB, Education Budgets
As explained in FYI #157
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY:
The FY 2004 budget cycle saw a continuation of the struggle over the Advanced Technology Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. While both the Bush Administration and the House of Representatives supported dramatic cuts leading to the termination of ATP, the final bill provides funding to keep the program in place. First, the numbers:
The conferees made a significant reduction in overall NIST funding. After adjusting the conference report number for the required 0.59% across-the-board-reduction, the institute’s budget for FY 2004 is $624.4 million. This is a cut of 11.8% or $83.1 million from last year’s budget of $707.5 million. The Bush Administration requested $496.8 million.
All FY 2004 numbers have been adjusted for the required 0.59% reduction.
NIST:SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES
This budget contains funding for the NIST laboratories and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program. After subtracting out the $5.7 million for the award program, the remaining budget for the laboratories for FY 2004 is $336.7 million. This is a cut of 4.3% or $15.2 million from last year’s laboratory budget of $351.9 million. The Administration requested $381.8 million.
NIST:INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
Advanced Technology Program: The conferees provided $178.1 million for this program. This is essentially flat funding for this program, as last year’s budget was $178.0 million. The Administration requested $27 million to cover only “administrative and other expenses needed to terminate” this program. The conference report states: “The conference agreement does not include a $50,000,000 new program as proposed by the Senate for ATP focused competitions on homeland security technologies. The conferees agree that a focused competition on homeland security technologies should be held out of the $60,700,000 provided for new awards.”
Manufacturing Extension Partnership: The conferees provided $39.4 million for this program. This is a cut of 62.8% or $66.5 million from last year’s budget of $105.9 million. The Administration requested $12.6 million.
NIST:CONSTRUCTION OF RESEARCH FACILITIES
Conferees provided $64.6 million for “the construction and major renovations of the NIST campuses at Boulder, Colorado, and Gaithersburg, Maryland.” The Administration requested $69.6 million. The report states: “The conference agreement provides sufficient funding to complete the new Advanced Measurement Laboratory in Gaithersburg, Maryland and the conferees expect occupancy by 2005. The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language proposed by the Senate regarding a facilities improvement plan.”
Other parts of the omnibus bill contains funding levels and in one case, program direction, for other research accounts.
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: NIBIB and ROADMAP INITIATIVE
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BIOMEDICAL IMAGING AND BIOENGINEERING: The bill provides $287.2 million (adjusted) for NIBIB for FY 2004. This is an increase of 3.2% or $8.9 million from last year’s budget of $278.3 million. The Administration requested $282.1 million. There was no policy report language pertaining to NIBIB.
NIH ROADMAP INITIATIVE: As reviewed in /fyi/2003/130.html
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: MATH AND SCIENCE PARTNERSHIPS:
The conference agreement provides $149.1 million for this program in FY 2004. This is an increase of 48.5% or $48.7 million from last year’s budget of $100.4 million. The Administration requested $12.5 million. There was no policy language in the conference report. The National Science Foundation also has a Math and Science Partnership Program; the FY 2004 budget for the foundation’s program is $139.2 million.