|
|
|
|
NSF Congressional Update
107th Congress
September 12, 2002
Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
Reports Out NSF Authorization Bill
On Thursday, September 5, 2002, the Senate Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee reported
out S. 2817, "The National Science Foundation Doubling
Act." The bill provides for a doubling of the NSF
authorization levels over the next five fiscal years,
from $4.8 billion in FY 2002 to $9.8 billion in FY
2007. Specifically, the bill authorizes the following
funding levels:
- 15 percent annual increases overall.
- 16 percent annual increases in the Research and
Related Activities account.
- 15 percent annual increases in the Education and
Human Resources account.
- 10 percent annual increases in the Major Research
Equipment and Facilities, Salary and Expenses,
and Inspector General accounts.
In addition to the funding levels, the bill provides
policy guidance on a number of NSF activities, including:
- Authorizing Math and Science Partnerships between
institutions of higher education and local school
districts by competitive grants for three years,
and by a formula grant program for two years.
- Authorizing a systemic secondary school initiative
with priority given to serving high-poverty communities
to promote scientific and technological literacy.
- Providing for multi-year "Tech Talent" competitive
grants to institutions of higher education to
increase the number of students studying toward,
and receiving, undergraduate degrees in science,
math, engineering, and technology disciplines.
- Calling for an NSF conducted review and assessment
of the major research instrumentation program,
followed by submittal to Congress of the reviews
findings and recommendations.
- Requiring NSF to provide specific numerical rankings
of Major Research Equipment and Facilities candidates,
including the relative priority for funding, for
inclusion with future budget requests.
- Requiring an annual report on NSF's facilities
management plans, including proposed construction,
repair and upgrades, including full life-cycle
cost information.
- Providing for the National Science Board to directly
appoint NSB staff, rather than delegating this
authority to the Director of NSF as has been the
practice since the Foundation was established.
The bill will be referred to the Senate Commerce, Science
and Transportation Committee which expects to schedule
a markup in late September.
See also:
|
|
|
|
