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IP: NSF Bill
From: David Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>
Date: Fri, 6 Oct 1995 18:16:51 -0400
FYI The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Science Policy News Number 139: October 6, 1995 H.R. 2405: National Science Foundation Provisions Next week the House of Representatives will consider H.R. 2405, the Omnibus Civilian Science Authorization Act of 1995. Title I of this bill, known as the "National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1995" provides a number of important indicators of the direction and level of NSF's future science and technology programs. As stated in FYI #138, passage of this bill is not assured, and it only permits, but does not provide, actual program funding. It will, however, if passed by the House, represent a clear picture of the attitudes of the House of Representatives toward the National Science Foundation. Congress is nearing completion of the VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill for FY 1996, which provides the actual money (see FYIs #127, 130, and 131.) See FYI #138 for further information on the relative importance of this legislation. FUNDING: Unlike other programs authorized by this bill, H.R. 2405 authorizes the National Science Foundation for both FY 1996 and FY 1997. For FY 1996, this bill authorizes a total of $3,126.0 million. The Administration requested $3,360.0 million. The House version of the FY 1996 NSF appropriation is $3,160.0 million, the Senate appropriated $3,200.0 million. In the fiscal year just completed, NSF's budget was $3,263.7 million. Looking ahead to FY 1997, H.R. 2405 authorizes a 1.5%, or $45.4 million increase, in the total NSF budget to $3,171.4 million. Despite this increase, the FY 1997 authorization level will be less than the FY 1995 budget. An important component of NSF's total budget is spending for Research and Related Activities. H.R. 2405 authorizes $2,226.3 million in FY 1996, increasing 2.7%, or $59.9 million, to $2,286.2 million in FY 1997. The FY 1995 Research and Related Activities budget was $2,280.0 million; the Administration requested $2,454.0 million for FY 1996. The House and Senate versions of the NSF appropriations bill cut $200 million and $160 million (respectively) from the Administration's FY 1996 request. If enacted, this bill would put the above ceilings on NSF appropriations in FY 1996 and FY 1997. NSF MISSION: Section 111 of this bill states: "The Congress finds that...the primary mission of the Foundation continues to be the support of basic scientific research and science education and the support of research fundamental to the engineering process and engineering education; and the Foundation's efforts to contribute to the economic competitiveness of the United States should be in accord with that primary mission." EDUCATIONAL IMPACT: Section 131: "The Congress finds that-- (1) Federal research funds made available to institutions of higher education often create incentives for such institutions to emphasize research over undergraduate teaching and to narrow the focus of their graduate programs; and (2) National Science Foundation funds for Research and Related Activities should be spent in the manner most likely to improve the quality of undergraduate and graduate education in institutions of higher education." "The impact that a grant or cooperative agreement by the National Science Foundation would have on undergraduate and graduate education at an institution of higher education shall be a factor in any decision whether to award such grant or agreement to that institution." This bill gives the NSF director until the end of this year to submit an implementation plan of this policy to Congress. ACADEMIC RESEARCH FACILITIES MODERNIZATION: Section 203: "The Director shall give priority to institutions or consortia that have not received such funds in the preceding 5 years, except that this sentence shall not apply to previous funding received for the same multiyear project." EARMARKING: Section 134: "The Director shall exclude from consideration for awards of financial assistance made by the Foundation after fiscal year 1995 any person who received funds...from any Federal funding source for a project that was not subjected to a competitive, merit-based award process. Any exclusion from consideration...shall be effective for a period of 5 years after the person receives such Federal funds." INDIRECT COSTS: Section 125: "The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in consultation with other relevant agencies, shall prepare a report analyzing what steps would be needed to -- (1) reduce by 10 percent the proportion of Federal assistance to institutions of higher education that are allocated for indirect costs; and (2) reduce the variance among indirect cost rates of different institutions of higher education, including an evaluation of the relative benefits and burdens of each option on institutions of higher education." The report is to be sent to Congress, assuming the bill is signed into law, by December 31, 1995. NSF REORGANIZATION: The bill directs the NSF director to eliminate one of NSF's Assistant Directors and thereby one of its seven divisions. ANNUAL REPORT: Section 121 calls for the NSF director, at the time of the annual budget submission, to provide a report to the president and the Congress. This report will "contain a strategic plan, or an update to a previous strategic plan, which -- (A) defines for a three-year period the overall goals for the Foundation and specific goals for each major activity of the Foundation... (B) describe how the identified goals relate to national needs and will exploit new opportunities in science and technology." Criteria for assessing progress in meeting these goals is required. "Particular emphasis" is to be given "to major multi-agency research and education initiatives." ############### Richard M. Jones Public Information Division American Institute of Physics fyi () aip org (301) 209-3095 ##END########## ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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