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NSF Congressional Update
November 6, 1997

President Signs into Law Congress' 5% Increase For NSF's Fiscal Year 1998 Budget

On October 27, 1997, the President signed into law the FY 1998 VA, HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act. This appropriation act includes funding for NSF as well as for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Veterans Administration, NASA, EPA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and numerous other independent agencies.

For NSF, the act provides a total appropriation in this bill of $3.429 billion. This is an increase of 5% or $159 million over the FY 1997 level and $62 million more than the request for FY 1998.

For the Research and Related Activities Appropriations account, the act provides $2.546 billion, an increase of almost 5% or $114 million more than last year and $31 million more than the request. House and Senate conferees agreed to provide an additional $40 million above the current $20 million level, to support an expanded plant genome research program. The conferees also agreed to provide $1 million for the U.S.-Mexico Foundation.

In addition to this appropriation, instead of providing the $10 million request for Next Generation Internet, the conferees included report language directing NSF to credit to the research and related activities account $23 million from the domain name registration activity's intellectual infrastructure fund -- which currently has a balance just over $30 million. The conferees have directed that the $23 million be used support NSF activities in the interagency Next Generation Internet program in FY 1998.

For the Major Research Equipment account, the act provides $109 million -- $29 million more than last year and $24 million more than the request. Of this amount, $70 million is provided towards the rehabilitation of the South Pole Station in the Antarctic. The conferees deferred support for the proposed Polar Cap Observatory. Instead, they called for NSF to submit a report on the proposed project. The conference agreement also provides the $9 million requested to begin the Millimeter Array radio telescope, $26 million for LIGO construction, and an additional $4 million to support technology enhancement and other related construction expenses associated with the Gemini telescope project.

For Education and Human Resources, the conferees agreed to provide $632.5 million. This is $14.5 more than the FY 97 level and $7 million more than the request. The conferees have included additional funds for the Advanced Technological Education program and minority graduate and undergraduate initiatives.

The table below provides a summary of the FY 1998 appropriations process.

RRA-Research and Related Activities
EHR - Education and Human Resources
MRE - Major Research Equipment
S&E; - Salaries and Expenses
OIG - Office of Inspector General

REQ - FY 1998 NSF Budget Request
HAUTH - House passed FY98-99 NSF Authorization Bill (H.R. 1273)
SAUTH - Senate FY98 NSF Authorization Bill (S. 1046)
CAUTH - Conference Agreement on NSF Authorization Bill
HAPPR - FY98 House VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2158)
SAPPR - FY98 Senate VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2158)
CAPPR - FY98 Appropriations Conference Agreement (H.R. 2158 - P.L. 105-65)

See also:

• Previous Updates
• Information From Previous Congresses

 
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