NSF FY2006 Appropropriations
November 11, 2005
Late last week conferees from the Senate's Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) and the House's Science-State-Justice-Commerce (SSJC) Appropriations Subcommittees agreed on FY 2006 appropriations for the National Science Foundation (NSF), along with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
NSF funding is reported below. One important caveat � the conferees included a .28% across-the-board reduction in this bill. The figures below do not include the application of that .28% reduction. Moreover, it is anticipated that a second government-wide across-the-board reduction of between 2-5% may be necessary � which would obviously further reduce the budget levels detailed below.
Within the conference agreement, NSF was provided $5.653 billion, $48 million more than the President's request and $180 million or 3.3% more than last year. This amount is $10 million more than proposed by the House and $122 million more than the Senate number.
For Research and Related Activities, $4.387 billion is provided which is $167 million or 3.9% more than last year and $54 million more than the President's request. This is $10 million more than the House and $42 million more than proposed by the Senate.
The Major Research and Facilities Construction (MREFC) account, is provided at the House and Senate level of $193.35 million.
For Education and Human Resources � NSF's math and science education programs � the conferees have provided $807 million. This is the level recommended by the House, $60 million above the Senate number, $70 million above the President's request and $34 million or 4.2% below last year. The Math Science Partnership program is funded at $64 million - $4 million more than the House or the President's request, but still $15 million less than last year for this program. Beyond the Math Science Partnership program there is a reduction of almost $10 million in other K-12 NSF science education programs.
The bill goes to the House and Senate for final approval and to the President for signature into law.
-- Based on a report by Bridget K. Glynn of Lewis-Burke Associates LLC
