First Information: FY 2016 House Funding Bill for NASA, NIST, NOAA, NSF

The House Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee meets tomorrow to consider its FY 2016 funding bill. The subcommittee issued a three-page release this morning providing summary information on the 100-page draft bill.

The release quotes Subcommittee Chairman John Culberson (R-TX): “This is a tough budget year, but this bill ensures our law enforcement officers have the resources they need to protect our lives and property. It also makes important scientific research a top priority. Breakthroughs in these areas are vital to America’s future economic growth.”

The subcommittee had $1.3 billion more to appropriate for FY 2016 than it did this year. This amount - $51.4 billion – is $661 million less than the Administration’s request for all of the departments and agencies funded by this wide-ranging bill.

Proposed funding for science agencies follows. Dollar and percentage changes will appear in a future FYI when the committee releases additional figures.

NASA:
The FY 2015 appropriation was $18,010.2 million
The FY 2016 request is $18,529.1 million, an increase of $518.9 million or 2.8 percent
The release states the bill provides $18.5 billion, noting“$519 million above the FY 2015 enacted level.”

Science
The FY 2015 appropriation was $5,244.7 million
The FY 2016 request is $5,288.6 million, an increase of $43.9 million or 0.8 percent
The release states the bill provides $5.2 billion “$7 million below the 2015 enacted level. This includes funding above the President’s request for planetary science to ensure the continuation of critical research and development programs.”

Exploration
The FY 2015 appropriation was $4,356.7 million
The FY 2016 request is $4,505.9 million, an increase of $149.2 million or 3.4 percent
The release states the bill provides $4.8 billion “$403 million above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. This includes funding to continue the development of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and Space Launch System flight program, and to continue progress in the commercial crew program.”

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY:
The FY 2015 appropriation was $863.9 million
The FY 2016 request is $1,119.7 million, an increase of $255.8 million or 29.6 percent
The release states the bill provides $855 million “$9 million below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. Within this total, important core research activities are funded at $675 million to help advance U.S. competitiveness, innovation, and economic growth, and to improve cyber security.”

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION:
The FY 2015 appropriation was $5,448.9 million
The FY 2016 request is $5,982.6 million, an increase of $533.7 million or 9.8 percent
The release states the bill provides $5.2 billion “$274 million below the enacted level. Within this total, the National Weather Service is funded at $968 million – $4 million above the President’s request. The bill also includes full funding for the continuation of the current Joint Polar Satellite System weather satellite program and the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite program to help maintain and improve weather forecasting to warn communities about potentially devastating natural disasters.”

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION:
The FY 2015 appropriation was $7,344.2 million
The FY 2016 request is $7,723.6 million, an increase of $379.3 million or 5.2 percent
The release states the bill provides $7.4 billion “an increase of $50 million above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. This funding is targeted to programs that foster innovation and U.S. economic competitiveness, including funding for research on advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, neuroscience and STEM education.”

Much more information about this bill will be contained in the forthcoming committee report, providing program funding levels and guidance. A copy of the 100-page draft bill was released.