NSF & Congress
Congressional Highlights

NSF CONGRESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS - 108th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION

November 23, 2004
Congress Reduces NSF Budget to $5.47 Billion
The National Science Foundation (NSF), suffering its first budget cut in years, will operate at 1.9% below FY 04 spending levels. The Foundation is funded at $5.47 billion, $105 million below last year and $232 million below the FY 05 request. Full Highlight

September 22, 2004
Senate Appropriators Recommend Three Percent Increase for NSF
On Tuesday, September 21, 2004, the Senate Appropriations Committee marked-up its FY 05 VA, HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations bill. The bill provided NSF with $5.74 billion, $167 million (3%) over the FY 04 appropriated level, and $278 million (5%) over the House Committee approved levels. Full Highlight

July 20, 2004
House VA, HUD Appropriators Recommend Two Percent Decrease for NSF
On Tuesday, July 20, 2004, the House Appropriations VA/HUD Subcommittee marked-up its FY 05 VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Appropriations bill and provided NSF with $5.47 billion, $111 million (2%) under the FY 04 appropriated level. Full Highlight

July 13, 2004
NSF's Ocean Science Research "Waved" in House Hearing
Dr. Margaret S. Leinen, Assistant Director for the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Geosciences Directorate appeared before the House Committee on Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans on Tuesday, July 13, 2004. The hearing entitled, "Ocean Observing Systems in the United States," examined the Federal government's collective investment in ocean science research, considering the need and timeliness of a large-scale integrated ocean monitoring system. Full Highlight

July 7, 2004
House Hearing on Federal Information Technology Research: NSF's Freeman Computes
On July 7, 2004, Dr. Peter Freeman, the Assistant Director for Computer and Information Science and Engineering at the National Science Foundation (NSF) appeared before the House Committee on Government Reform's Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations, and the Census. The hearing entitled, "Defining Federal Information Technology Research and Development: Who? Where? What? Why? and How Much?," was opened by Chairman Adam Putnam (FL-12). The hearing examined Federal government investments in information technology (IT) research and development (R&D) across agencies, academia and industry. Full Highlight

June 24, 2004
NSF Engineer Shakes Senate with Earthquake Testimony
On Thursday, June 24, 2004, Dr. Galip Ulsoy, Director of the Division of Civil and Mechanical Systems at the National Science Foundation (NSF) testified before the Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The hearing centered on the reauthorization of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) Reauthorization Act of 2003 (H.R. 2608). Full Highlight

June 24, 2004
NSF Economist Speaks on Science & Technology Globalization Trends at Senate S&T Caucus Briefing
NSF Resource Analyst, Dr. Alan Rapoport, presented a series of significant science and technology (S&T) indicators at a Senate Science and Technology Caucus and American Chemical Society (ACS) briefing today. Entitled, "Science and Technology Globalization: Its Impact in the United States," the briefing explored US S&T competitiveness, research and development (R&D) investments, and workforce trends. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), representing the bi-partisan caucus, opened the briefing. Both emphasized the importance of the U.S. S&T enterprise to our nation's 21st century economy as well as the significance of monitoring important trends and policies ensuring global dominance in this area. Full Highlight

February 26, 2004
NSF Acting Director Arden Bement Testifies in Senate
On February 26, the newly arrived acting Director of NSF, Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr., testified before the Senate VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee on the NSF budget request for FY 2005. Testifying before the panel with Dr. Bement were Dr. John Marburger, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and Dr. Warren Washington, Chairman of the National Science Board. Full Highlight

February 11, 2004
House Science Committee Holds Hearing on FY05 Budget Request
On February 11, Dr. Colwell testified before the House Science Committee on NSF's FY 2005 budget. Testifying before the Committee were OSTP Director John Marburger, Director Colwell, Homeland Security Under Secretary for S&T Charles McQueary, Commerce Under Secretary for Technology Phil Bond, and DOE Office of Science Director Ray Orbach. Full Highlight

January 26, 2004
President Signs Consolidated Spending Bill; NSF Budget Rises to $5.57 Billion for FY2004
On January 23, President Bush signed into law a $328-billion spending bill that includes $5.57 billion for the National Science Foundation. The President's action came one day after the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 65 to 28. Full Highlight

NSF CONGRESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS - 108th CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

December 2, 2003
President Signs Continuing Resolution; Omnibus Conference Report for FY 04 Filed in the House
President Bush signed a continuing resolution on Friday, Nov. 21 that will allow the government to operate through January 31, 2004. On Tuesday, November 25, the Omnibus Conference Report for FY 04 was filed in the House. Although the House is scheduled to vote on the measure during the week of December 8, the Senate is not anticipated to take up the measure until Congress resumes in January. Full Highlight

September 4, 2003
Senate VA, HUD Appropriators Recommend 5.2 Percent Increase for NSF
On Wednesday, September 4, the Senate Appropriations Committee marked-up its FY 04 VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Appropriations bill and provided NSF with $5.585 billion, which is $275.8 million (5.2 percent) over FY 03, but $54 million under the House approved level. Within that increase the Research and Related Activities Account will grow from $4.056 billion to $4.220 billion, a $164.15 million (4 percent) increase. Full Highlight

July 15, 2003
House VA, HUD Appropriators Recommend 6.2 Percent Increase for NSF
On Thursday, July 15, the House VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee marked-up its FY 04 bill and provided NSF with $5.689 billion which is $329.1 million (6.2 percent) over FY 03. Within that increase the Research and Related Activities Account will grow from $4.056 billion to $4.306 billion, a $249.9 million (6.2 percent) increase. The Office of Polar Programs is increased by $25.07 million over the request to $355 million to accommodate unusual ice conditions in recent years. Individual Directorate funding levels are provided in the table below. Full Highlight

April 10, 2003
House Appropriators Hear NSF's FY 04 Request
On April 10 the House VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee heard testimony from Dr. Rita Colwell, Director of NSF, on the agency's budget request for FY 04. The Committee expressed disappointment in the request, given the fact that the FY 03 appropriation provided NSF with funding that approached the request (the FY 04 is only 3.2% above the '03 appropriated level). Dr. Colwell pointed out that the requested level was 9% above the previous request, which was used as a comparison due to the delay in the passage of the omnibus appropriations act, and that the level provided for NSF was a notable increase; more than double the rate of increase for the entire rest of the Federal government's discretionary accounts. Full Highlight

March 20, 2003
House Science Committee Holds Hearing on H.R. 766, The Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003
On Wednesday, March 19, 2003, the House Science Committee held a hearing to examine federal nanotechnology research and development activities and to consider H.R. 766, The Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003, which would authorize these programs. Full Highlight

February 14, 2003
Final Action Completed on Omnibus Appropriations for FY03
Congressional leaders reached agreement on the FY 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Act, a spending bill to fund much of the Federal government for the fiscal year that began last October. The NSF appropriation would be more than $5.3 billion. Full Highlight

February 13, 2003
House Science Committee Holds Hearing on FY04 Budget Request for R&D
On February 13, the House Science Committee held a hearing to examine the Federal budget for research and development for fiscal year 2004. Testifying were: Dr. John H. Marburger, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Dr. Rita R. Colwell, Director of the National Science Foundation, Dr. Samuel W. Bodman, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Commerce, and Robert G. Card, Undersecretary of the Department of Energy. Full Highlight

January 27, 2003
Senate Passes Omnibus Appropriations Bill
On Thursday, January 23, the Senate passed an FY 03 Omnibus Appropriations bill that included the 11 appropriations bills yet to be signed into law. To accommodate a variety of funding increases and still stay within the President's overall domestic discretionary spending limit required an initial 1.6 percent across the board cut, followed by a second 1.3 percent cut from all agencies. Full Highlight

For past years' highlights, see NSF & Congress Archive.