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NSF Section of VA-HUD and Independent Agencies
Appropriations Conference Report H.Rept. 105-769
National Science Foundation
RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES
Appropriates $2,770,000,000 for research and related
activities instead of $2,815,000,000 as proposed by
the House and $2,725,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Bill language is included which provides a limitation
of $257,460,000 for Polar research and operations
support. The conferees have also included bill language
which prohibits the expenditure of funds after September
30, 1998 for activities associated with the administration
of the Internet.
Specific bill language which provided $50,000,000 for
a comprehensive research initiative on plant genomes
for economically significant crops as proposed by
the Senate has not been included, however, the conferees
have included $50,000,000 for such an initiative within
the overall research program funded through this account.
This amount represents an increase of $10,000,000
above the budget request.
The conferees note that the amount provided the research
and related activities account represents an increase
of nearly $225,000,000, or eight percent, over the
comparable fiscal year 1998 level. The Foundation
is expected to spread this increase across all research
directorates in a proportional manner consistent with
the budget proposal. Within this framework, the Foundation
is expected to make every effort to maximize resources
for the Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences programs.
The conferees also note that the GLOBE program has
been provided up to $2,000,000.
For the U.S. Arctic Research Program, the conferees
have provided up to $22,000,000, an increase of up
to $12,500,000 above the budget request. These additional
funds are intended to support ongoing and planned
high priority research in the Arctic region, including
appropriate logistic needs. Prior to the obligation
of these additional resources, the conferees expect
the Foundation to provide a detailed spending plan
on the use of these funds. Such plan should be submitted
as part of the fiscal year 1999 operating plan.
The conferees have not included provisions as contained
in the Senate report which created three new research
centers for applied molecular biology and which provided
funds to establish three new centers under the KDI
program. The conferees believe that support for doctoral
I and doctoral II institutions (as classified by the
Carnegie Foundation) is critical if the nation is
to fully develop its human resources with respect
to science and engineering research. The conferees
recognize that NSF support for these institutions
currently exceeds $150,000,000 or about eight percent
of the total NSF research budget. Nevertheless, the
conferees expect the NSF to take all appropriate steps
to enhance the resources available for doctoral I
and II institutions, including taking steps to ensure
that all directorates below the NSF-wide average increase
grants for these institutions to achieve no less than
this eight percent level. Moreover, the conferees
direct the Foundation to review the need for the establishment
of new centers to meet the purposes as proposed by
the Senate, and review the desirability and feasibility
of establishing a new and separate pool of resources
to benefit doctoral I and II institutions. The conferees
expect these reviews to be completed and submitted
to the Committees on Appropriations no later than
April 1, 1999.
The conferees believe that the ''Grand Challenges''
identified in the National Research Council's recent
report, ''Opportunities in Ocean Science,'' contains
valuable perspectives on the benefit derived by broad
coordinated research investigations. The NSF director
shall communicate the findings of the report, and
counsel with The National Ocean Leadership Council
and the Office of Management and Budget, to define
ocean science initiatives that will help realize the
economic and environmental benefits described in the
report.
Within amounts provided in this account, $1,500,000
is for continued operation of the RaDiUs database
program. The conferees note that this database may
represent a useful tool in the analysis of all research
and development expenditures throughout the Federal
government, and request the Foundation to report by
May 1, 1999 on its assessment of the value and usefulness
of this program. The amount provided is in addition
to other amounts provided to the Foundation for CTI
services.
MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT
Appropriates $90,000,000 for major research equipment
as proposed by the House instead of $94,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Included within this amount
is $9,000,000 for the Millimeter Array, $22,000,000
for the Large Hadron Collider, $20,000,000 for Polar
support aircraft upgrades, and $39,000,000 for continued
maintenance and construction of new facilities in
Antarctica.
EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES
Appropriates $662,000,000 for education and human resources
instead of $642,500,000 as proposed by the House and
$683,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conferees
have included bill language renaming the Alliances
for Minority Participation (AMP) Program after retiring
Congressman Louis Stokes. The purpose of the AMP Program
is to build partnerships among different kinds of
institutions of higher education for the express purpose
of attracting and retaining minority students in academic
programs that lead to degrees in science and engineering.
Congressman Stokes has been equally committed to building
partnerships and alliances throughout his distinguished
career. It is therefore fitting that this program
which embodies these important principles be redesignated
the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation
Program.
Within the amount provided, $46,000,000 is for the
Informal Education Program, and an increase of $10,000,000
above the budget request is provided for the EPSCoR
program.
The conferees have provided $13,500,000 through the
education and human resources account for education
reform initiatives targeted to underrepresented populations
served through the nation's historically black colleges
and universities (HBCUs). Of these amounts, $7,500,000
shall be allocated for graduate level activities,
and $6,000,000 for undergraduate activities under
the UPUR program established in House Report 105-297.
The undergraduate funds are to be augmented with an
additional $2,000,000 from the research and related
activities account for a total UPUR program level
for fiscal year 1999 of $8,000,000.
For fiscal year 1998, $6,000,000 was provided for this
program by the NSF instead of $12,000,000 as intended
by the conferees. As a result, fewer institutions
were given the opportunity to compete for available
resources. It is the intent of the conferees that
all eligible institutions, including those which were
granted awards in fiscal year 1998, be given equal
opportunity to compete for funds provided for fiscal
year 1999. It is also the intent of the conferees
that awards be of sufficient size so as to meet the
needs of the competing institutions. However, it is
not the intent of the conferees that NSF establish
either a minimum or a maximum award size in the determination
of grant recipients. Rather, each application should
be judged on its merits without regard to its proposed
cost. Finally, the Foundation is urged to indicate
in its fiscal year 2000 budget submission how it intends
to sustain the UPUR initiative at appropriate funding
levels.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriates $144,000,000 for salaries and expenses
as proposed by the House instead of $136,950,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
Appropriates $5,200,000 for the Office of Inspector
General as proposed by the House and the Senate.
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