(This legislative update has been assembled by the UH System Office of Governmental Relations and edited by the UH Office of University Relations as a service to the UH System community.)
Members of Congress returned to Washington on Monday, July 10, with only a little more than three weeks before their next scheduled recess, which will last until after Labor Day. While the House, and to a lesser extent the Senate, has completed more work than usual at this time of year on the 13 annual appropriations bills, the lack of sufficient funding included in the bills for many Administration and Congressional priorities foretell a busy September and October as members of Congress and the President try to work out their differences.
At this time, the funding levels for research and development at the major science agencies vary greatly. Overall funding for the Department of Defense, for example, has fared very well, with increases over the President's requested levels for basic and applied research.
On the other hand, science programs at the Department of Energy have not received as much funding as many advocates had hoped in the House bill, and Senate appropriators have warned that their funding levels may be even lower when they mark-up their version on Thursday.
Similarly, many are disappointed in the current funding provided for the National Science Foundation, which in the House bill received a 4.3 % increase versus the President's requested 17.3 %. NASA science supporters are generally very upbeat about increases larger than 8 % over FY 2000 for Space Science, Earth Science, and Life and Microgravity Sciences in the House bill.
Despite the variations in how science agencies are faring, it is possible to view the current situation in a favorable light. As in recent years, it is expected that funding will rise, possibly to near requested levels, by the time the bills are finalized and sent to the President in September or October. Therefore, it is likely that many of the funding shortfalls will be at least be addressed in the endgame as Congress and the Administration push for their respective priorities.
Below are more specific updates on the current status of various science agencies:
National Science Foundation
Current Status: VA-HUD-Independent Agencies bill passed by the House; No Senate action.
The House provided NSF $4.064 billion for FY 2001, an increase of $167.1 million, or 4.3 %, over the FY 2000 appropriation, and a decrease of $508.1 million from the President's budget request. Within NSF, the Research and Related Activities (RRA) account is provided $3.136 billion, an increase of $169.7 million over FY 2000 appropriation, but $405.0 million below the President's request. The report language accompanying the RRA section of the bill states that the Subcommittee used the same percentage increases, relative to the overall RRA increase, as outlined in the President's budget request.
The House provided the Education and Human Resources (EHR) account $694.3 million, a decrease of $2.29 million from FY 2000 and a decrease of $34.7 million from the President's request.
The Major Research Equipment (MRE) account, which provides funding for the construction of major research facilities, is provided $76.6 million, a decrease of $18.4 million from FY 2000 and a decrease of $61.9 million from the President's request.
The only amendment affecting NSF to the original Committee bill during floor consideration in the House transferred $18 million from NSF's polar programs account to a HUD program providing housing for the homeless.
Below is specific funding information on divisions and projects within the RRA, EHR, and MRE accounts:
RRA
Biological Sciences: $449.9 million (+$35.5 million vs. FY 2000)
Computer and Information Science and Engineering: $439.4 million (+51.0 million vs. FY 2000)
Engineering: $411.0 million (+$29.2 million vs. FY 2000)
Geosciences: $523.8 million (+$36.0 million vs. FY 2000)
Mathematical and Physical Sciences: $802.1 million (+$44.5 million vs. FY 2000)
Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences: $157.6 million (+$11.5 million vs. FY 2000)
U.S. Polar Research Programs: $201.9 million (+$11.5 million vs. FY 2000)
U.S. Antarctic Logistical Support Activities: $62.6 million (Identical to FY 2000 appropriation)
Integrative Activities: $87.2 million (-$42.0 million vs. FY 2000)
EHR
Educational System Reform: $109.5 million (-$3.9 million vs. FY 2000)
Innovative Partnerships/EPSCoR: $48.4 million (-$11.5 million vs. FY 2000)
Elementary, Secondary, and Informal Education: $191.5 million (+$7.11 million vs. FY 2000)
Undergraduate Education: $110.9 million (-$5.4 million vs. FY 2000)
Graduate Education: $84.5 million (+$6.3 million vs. FY 2000)
Human Resource Development: $81.9 million (+$4.6 million vs FY 2000)
Research, Evaluation, and Communication: $67.7 million (+$6.2 million vs. FY 2000)
MRE
Millimeter Array: $6.0 million (-$2.0 million vs. FY 2000)
Large Hadron Collider: $16.4 million (+$.5 million vs. FY 2000)
South Pole Station: $13.5 million (+$8.1 million vs. FY 2000)
Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation: $28.2 million (+$20.5 million vs. FY 2000)
HIAPER: $12.5 million (+$2.5 million vs. FY 2000)
Note: The Subcommittee did not provide funding for two new projects included in the President's budget request: EarthScope (Requested funding: $17.44 million) and the National Ecological Observatory Network (Requested funding: $12 million). The Subcommittee also did not provide funding for an additional Terascale Computing System (Requested funding: $45 million), stating that it wished to wait for the first Terascale Computing System, funded in FY 2000, to be completed and evaluated.
National Institutes of Health
Current Status: Labor-HHS-Education bill passed by both the House and Senate; no conference date set.
The House bill provides an increase of $1 billion for NIH, for a total of $18.8 billion in FY 2001, which is equal to the President's budget request. The House has expressed a desire to provide a larger increase for NIH if the funds were to become available. The Senate bill provides an increase of $2.7 billion, for a total of $20.5 billion for FY 2001. Given the increases provided to NIH in recent years, it is likely that, in the final conference bill sent to the President, NIH will receive the much higher Senate funding level. Below are the funding levels for the various NIH institutes (Note: House figures reflect the House report's hope that additional funding will be allocated to allow for a 15%, or $2.7 billion, increase):
National Cancer Institute
FY 2000: $3.31 b
Request: $3.51 b
House: $3.79 b
Senate: $3.80 b
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
FY 2000: $2.03 b
Request: $2.14 b
House: $2.32 b
Senate: $2.33 b
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
FY 2000: $269.2 m
Request: $284.2 m
House: $309 m
Senate: $310 m
National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases
FY 2000: $1.14 b
Request: $1.21 b
House: $1.32 b
Senate: $1.32 b
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
FY 2000: $1.03 b
Request: $1.08 b
House: $1.19 b
Senate: $1.19 b
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
FY 2000: $1.78 b
Request: $1.91 b
House: $2.06 b
Senate: $2.07 b
National Institue of General Medical Sciences
FY 2000: $1.35 b
Request: $1.43 b
House: $1.55 b
Senate: $1.55 b
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
FY 2000: $859.3 m
Request: $904.7 m
House: $984.3 m
Senate: $986.1 m
National Eye Institute
FY 2000: $450.1 m
Request: $473.9 m
House: $514.7 m
Senate: $516.6 m
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
FY 2000: $442.7 m
Request: $468.6 m
House: $506.7 m
Senate: $508.3 m
National Institute on Aging
FY 2000: $687.9 m
Request: $725.9 m
House: $790.3 m
Senate: $794.6
National Institute of Arthritis & Musculoskeletal & Skin Diseases
FY 2000: $349.5
Request: $368.7
House: $400 m
Senate: $401 m
National Institute on Deafness
FY 2000: $263.7 m
Request: $278 m
House: $301.8 m
Senate: $303.5
National Institute on Nursing Research
FY 2000: $89.5 m
Request: $92.5 m
House: $102.3 m
senate: $106.8 m
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
FY 2000: $293.2 m
Request: $308.7 m
House: $349.2 m
Senate: $336 m
National Institute on Drug Abuse
FY 2000: $687.4 m
Request: $725.5 m
House: $788..2 m
Senate: $790.0 m
National Institute of Mental Health
FY 2000: $974.7 m
Request: $1.03 b
House: $1.11 b
Senate: $1.12 b
National Human Genome
FY 2000: $335.9 m
Request: $357.7 m
House: $386.4 m
Senate: $385.9 m
National Center for Research Resources
FY 2000: $675.1 m
Request: $714.2 m
Hosue: $832 m
Senate: $775.2 m
National Center for Commplementary and Alternative Medicine
FY 2000: $69 m
Request: $72.4 m
House: $78.9 m
Senate: $100.1 m
Fogarty International Center
FY 2000: $43.3 m
Request: $48 m
House: $50.3 m
Senate: $61.3 m
National Library of Medicine
FY 2000: $215.2 m
Request: $230.1 m
House: $256.3 m
Senate: $256.9 m
Office of Director
FY 2000: $282 m
Request: $308.9 m
House: $342.3 m
Senate: $352.2 m
Buildings and Facilities
FY 2000: $125.4 m
Request: $148.9 m
House: $178.7 m
Senate: $148.9 m
Total NIH
FY 2000: $17.75 b
Request: $18.81 b
House: $20.51 b
Senate: $20.51 b
Note: The House and Senate have approved the final Military Construction appropriations bill, which will be sent to the President for his signature. The bill includes a Department of Health and Human Services provision that reverses a provision included in the FY 2000 Labor-HHS- Education bill that would have delayed funding of $3 billion in NIH funding until September 29, the last day of the fiscal year. This reversal will allow NIH to award funds throughout the year in the normal pattern.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration:
Current Status: VA-HUD-Independent Agencies bill passed by the House; No Senate action.
The House provided NASA $13.7136 billion, $112.8 million above FY 2000 and $322 million below the President's request of $14.035 billion. Within NASA, the House provided the Office of Space Science $2.378 billion, $20 million less than the President's request, but an increase of $186 million over the FY 2000 level of $2.193 billion.
The House provided the Office of Earth Science $1.405 billion for FY 2001, matching the President's budget request. However, this funding level represents a reduction of $37.6 million from the FY 2000 funding level of $1.443 billion. NASA has stated that the reduction is due to the cycle of satellite construction and does not represent a reduction in the science programs.
Department of Energy:
Current Status: Energy and Water bill passed by the House; Senate Subcommittee mark-up scheduled for July 13.
The House provided a total of $17.3 billion for the Department of Energy, $686.5 million above the FY 2000 level but $852.8 million below the President's request. Science programs received $2.83 billion, $43.3 million above the FY 2000 level but $320 million below the President's request. Below are specific funding levels for various Office of Science programs:
High Energy Physics: $714.7 million, $6.8 million above the FY 2000 level and equal to the President's request.
Basic Energy Sciences: $791 million, $7.9 million above the FY 2000 level but $224.8 million below the President's request. The decrease is due primarily to maintaining the Spallation Neutron Source at the FY 2000 levels of $100 million, $161.9 million below the President's request.
Fusion Energy Sciences: $255.0 million, $5.0 million above the FY 2000 level and $7.7 million above the President's request.
Advanced Scientific Computing Research Initiative: $137 million, $5 million above the FY 2000 level but $44.9 million below the President's budget request.
Department of Defense:
Current Status: Defense appropriations bill passed by both the House and Senate; no conference date set.
Most university-based research is funded through the Department's "6.1" or basic research accounts. Agency-wide, these 6.1 accounts would receive $1.283 billion in the Senate and $1.301 billion in the House (FY 2000 funding: $1.161 billion). The individual services would receive the following basic research funding levels:
Army: $212 million in the Senate; $202 million in the House (FY 2000 level: $204 million)
Navy: $397 million in the Senate; $397 million in the House (FY 2000 level: $374 million)
Air Force: $208 million in the Senate; $224 million in the House (FY 2000 level: $214 million)
Defense-wide: $466 million in the Senate; $478 million in the House (FY 2000 level: $368 million)
The much larger applied research accounts at DoD—the so-called "6.2" programs—would receive $3.617 billion in the Senate and $3.403 billion in the House (FY 2000 level: $3.410 billion). The individual services would receive the following applied funding levels:
Army: $730 million in the Senate; $765 million in the House (FY 2000 level: $791 million)
Navy: $645 million in the Senate; $598 million in the House (FY 2000 level: $622 million)
Air Force: $644 million in the Senate; $632 million in the House (FY 2000 level: $597 million)
Defense-wide: $1.597 billion in the Senate; $1.408 billion in the House (FY 2000 level: $1.400 billion)