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NSF Section of VA-HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations
Conference Report H.Rept. 106-286
Below is the text of the NSF section of the House Appropriations
Committee report that accompanies the House's version
of our FY 2000 appropriations bill. This bill has
been reported from committee and is expected to be
acted upon by the full House in early September. The
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee is expected to
act on its version of this appropriations bill in
early September as well. At the end of the NSF section
of the report, an excerpt from the "additional views"
filed by Representative David Obey -- the ranking
minority member of the House Appropriations Committtee
-- is included.
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
| Fiscal year 2000 recommendation |
$3,646,825,000 |
| Fiscal year 1999 appropriation |
$3,671,200,000 |
| Fiscal year 2000 budget request |
$3,921,450,000 |
| Comparison with fiscal year 1999 appropriation |
-$24,375,000 |
| Comparison with fiscal year 2000 request |
-$274,625,000 |
The National Science Foundation was established in
1950 and received its first appropriation of $225,000
in 1951. The primary purpose behind its creation was
to develop a national policy on science, and support
and promote basic research and education in the sciences
filling the void left after World War II.
The Committee recommends a total of $3,646,825,000
for fiscal year 2000. This recommendation is a decrease
of $24,375,000 below last year's appropriation and
$274,625,000 below the President's budget request.
Of the amounts approved in the following appropriations
accounts, the Foundation must limit transfers of funds
between programs and activities to not more than $500,000
without prior approval of the Committee. Further,
no changes may be made to any account or program element
if it is construed to be policy or a change in policy.
Any activity or program cited in this report shall
be construed as the position of the Committee and
should not be subject to reductions or reprogramming
without prior approval of the Committee. Finally,
it is the intent of the Committee that all carryover
funds in the various appropriations accounts are subject
to the normal reprogramming requirements outlined
above.
RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES
| Fiscal year 2000 recommendation |
$2,778,500,000 |
| Fiscal year 1999 appropriation |
$2,770,000,000 |
| Fiscal year 2000 budget request |
$3,004,000,000 |
| Comparison with fiscal year 1999 appropriation |
+$8,500,000 |
| Comparison with fiscal year 2000 request |
-$225,500,000 |
The appropriation for Research and Related Activities
covers all programs in the Foundation except Education
and Human Resources, Salaries and Expenses, NSF Headquarters
Relocation, Major Research Equipment, and the Office
of Inspector General. These are funded in other accounts
in the bill. The Research and Related Activities appropriation
includes United States Polar Research Programs and
Antarctic Logistical Support Activities and the Critical
Technologies Institute, which were previously funded
through separate appropriations. Beginning with fiscal
year 1997, the President's budget provided funding
for the instrumentation portion of Academic Research
Infrastructure in this account.
The Committee recommends a total of $2,778,500,000
for Research and Related Activities in fiscal year
2000, an increase of $8,500,000 above last year's
funding level and a decrease of $225,500,000 below
the budget request. The Committee's recommendation
includes the following program levels which it expects
the Foundation to adhere to: (1) Biological Sciences,
$391,000,000; (2) Computer and Information Science
and Engineering, $312,670,000; (3) Engineering, $369,000,000;
(4) Geosciences, $473,000,000; (5) Mathematical and
Physical Sciences, $735,000,000; (6) Social Behavioral
and Economic Sciences, $138,000,000; (7) U.S. Polar
Research Programs, $183,000,000; (8) U.S. Antarctic
Logistical Support Activities, $62,600,000; and (9)
Integrative Activities, $114,230,000.
Within the amount provided to the Computer and Information
Science and Engineering directorate, $35,000,000 is
to support individual and team research projects consistent
with H.R. 2086, the Networking and Information Technology
Research and Development Act, which, as introduced,
authorizes a sizable increase for Information Technology
(IT) research over the next five fiscal yerars. Budget
constraints make it impossible for the Committee to
provide the funding level as provided in H.R. 2086
or the full budget request for this new initiative
without adversely disrupting funding in all other
program areas. Nevertheless, the Committee believes
$35,000,000 is a significant down-payment towards
what it expects will be a long-term, comprehensive
research program in this important field of computing
and information technologies.
Included in the amount provided to the new Integrative
Activities directorate is $35,000,000 for the new
Biocomplexity Initiative; $50,000,000 for Major Research
Instrumentation; $25,000,000 for Science and Technology
Centers; and $4,230,000 for the Science and Technology
Policy Institute. Although acknowledging the funding
flexibility afforded the Foundation through its use
of the Opportunity Fund, the Committee has, for fiscal
year 2000, included no funds for this activity. Should
the NSF find it necessary to pursue funds for ``emergency''
research needs at any time during the fiscal year,
the Committee will make every effort to respond to
appropriate reprogramming requests as quickly as possible.
MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT
| Fiscal year 2000 recommendation |
$56,500,000 |
| Fiscal year 1999 appropriation |
$90,000,000 |
| Fiscal year 2000 budget request |
$85,000,000 |
| Comparison with fiscal year 1999 appropriation |
-$33,500,000 |
| Comparison with fiscal year 2000 request |
-$28,500,000 |
This account provides funding for the construction
of major research facilities that provide unique capabilities
at the cutting edge of science and engineering.
The Committee recommends a total of $56,500,000 for
the major research equipment account for fiscal year
2000. This appropriation reflects the budget request
levels of $8,000,000 for the Millimeter Array, $15,900,000
for the Large Hadron Collider, $12,000,000 Polar support
aircraft upgrades, $5,400,000 for continued construction
of the new South Pole Station, and $7,700,000 for
the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation.
As outlined under the Research and Related Activities
account, the Committee has included $35,000,000 for
new research related activities consistent with the
Information Technology Initiative (IT). The Committee,
however, is not prepared at this time to commit resources
to the construction of a single site, five teraflop
computing facility as requested in the budget submission.
The Committee has taken this action, without prejudice,
due to budget constraints and other, higher priority
pressures on available financial resources. The Committee
expects to consider this request in future year budget
submissions and would hope to have the benefit of
any new IT research that may be available to assist
during those forthcoming deliberations.
Finally, the Committee has provided $7,500,000 to begin
production of the High-Performance Instrumented Airborne
Platform for Environmental Research (HIAPER). The
Committee recognizes the atmospheric science community's
need for such a new high-altitude research aircraft,
and notes that this aircraft has gone through a multiple-year
review and selection process prior to its approval
and endorsement by the National Science Board. Upon
its completion, this aircraft will be available to
support outstanding research opportunities over the
next 25 to 30 years.
EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES
| Fiscal year 2000 recommendation |
$660,000,000 |
| Fiscal year 1999 appropriation |
$662,000,000 |
| Fiscal year 2000 budget request |
$678,000,000 |
| Comparison with fiscal year 1999 appropriation |
-$2,000,000 |
| Comparison with fiscal year 2000 request |
-$18,000,000 |
The Foundation's Education and Human Resources activities
are designed to encourage the entrance of talented
students into science and technology careers, to improve
the undergraduate science and engineering education
environment, to assist in providing all pre-college
students with a level of education in mathematics,
science, and technology that reflects the needs of
the nation and is the highest quality attained anywhere
in the world, and extend greater research opportunities
to underrepresented segment of the scientific and
engineering communities.
For fiscal year 2000, the Committee recommends $660,000,000,
a decrease of $2,000,000 below last year's appropriated
level and a decrease of $18,000,000 below the budget
request. The Committee's proposal includes the following
program funding levels: (1) Educational System Reform,
$114,200,000; (2) Experimental Program to Stimulate
Competitive Research (EPSCoR), $48,410,000; (3) Elementary,
Secondary and Informal Education, $193,520,000; (4)
Undergraduate Education, $103,540,000; (5) Graduate
Education, $69,650,000; (6) Human Resource Development,
$73,680,000; and (7) Research, Evaluation and Communication,
$57,000,000.
The Committee has provided the budget request for the
HBCU UP initiative. However, the Committee strongly
encourages the Foundation to take all appropriate
steps to increase funding, through both the Education
and Human Resources and the Research and Related Activities
accounts, to support enhanced education and research
opportunities at additional HBCU institutions.
The Committee views the Advance Technological Education
program as crucial to ensuring a highly competent
technical workforce. The Committee is pleased that
the Foundation is using a portion of the H1 B visa
receipts along with effective partnership with the
relevant, local scientific and technical business
sector to further expand the scope and significance
of the program.
The Committee believes that it is important to promote
agricultural and related environmental awareness through
improved curriculum and materials development targeted
at the K 12 level of education. Recent reports by
the National Research Council, the Farm Foundation,
and other organizations have highlighted the need
for improved education efforts in this vital area
for all students. The Committee urges the Foundation
to actively encourage and to provide appropriate support
for competitive proposals that will improve agricultural
and environmental literacy, promote critical thinking
and problem solving skills, and improve the quality
of agricultural and environmental education materials
being used by K 12 teachers in our Nation's schools.
Such efforts should be coordinated with similar efforts
to be undertaken by the Department of Agriculture,
particularly as it incorporates several years of effort
developed by the National Resource and Conservation
Services to prepare an agro-ecosystem curriculum for
teachers focusing on land, food, and people.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
| Fiscal year 2000 recommendation |
$146,500,000 |
| Fiscal year 1999 appropriation |
$144,000,000 |
| Fiscal year 2000 budget request |
$149,000,000 |
| Comparison with fiscal year 1999 appropriation |
+$2,500,000 |
| Comparison with fiscal year 2000 request |
-$2,500,000 |
The Salaries and Expenses activity provides for the
operation, support and management, and direction of
all Foundation programs and activities and includes
necessary funds that develop, manage, and coordinate
Foundation programs.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $146,500,000
for salaries and expenses, a decrease of $2,500,000
from the President's budget request and an increase
of $2,500,000 over last year's appropriated level.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
| Fiscal year 2000 recommendation |
$5,325,000 |
| Fiscal year 1999 appropriation |
$5,200,000 |
| Fiscal year 2000 budget request |
$5,450,000 |
| Comparison with fiscal year 1999 appropriation |
$125,000 |
| Comparison with fiscal year 2000 request |
-$125,000 |
This account provides National Science Foundation audit
and investigation functions to identify and correct
management and administrative deficiencies which could
lead to fraud, waste, or abuse.
For fiscal year 2000, the Committee has recommended
$5,325,000 for the Office of Inspector General. This
amount is $125,000 above last year's funding level
and is a decrease of $125,000 below the budget request.
Excerpt related to NSF issued by Rep. David
Obey in the Minority Views contained within the House
VA HUD Appropriations Subcommittee Report
National Science Foundation
One of the most insidious reductions reflected in
this bill is the one for the National Science Foundation.
The committee's recommendation is $275 million below
the President's request, reducing the Foundation to
less than the amount provided in 1999. It is difficult
to predict exactly how and where a reduction of this
magnitude in our nation's premier science agency will
be felt. But everyone should be able to understand
and appreciate the comment of the NSF Director after
hearing of the committee's recommendation: "We are
able and ready to do 21st century science and engineering--but
we can not do it on a 20th century budget."
One program that would be especially damaged under
the committee's action is the Administration's Information
Technology for the 21st Century Initiative. The National
Science Foundation is leading a six-agency multi-year
effort to prepare the groundwork for continued American
leadership and innovation in computing and software
systems. The committee's recommendation to provide
only $35 million of the $146 million requested for
the initiative will delay investment in fundamental,
long-term information technology research. With the
information technology industry employing millions
of Americans and contributing $700 billion to the
U.S. economy, this action is terribly shortsighted.
Another troubling reduction that would result from
the committee's recommendation is the 30 percent cut
in the Foundation's biocomplexity initiative designed
to study the interdependencies among elements of specific
environmental systems.
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