Text from:
Committee Report 2 of 10 - House Rpt. 106-286 - DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2000
Associated Bill --H.R.2684
DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2000
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
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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
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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
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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
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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.