NSF Congressional Highlight
House Appropriations Committee Recommends 10% Increase for NSF

July 12, 2007

The House Appropriations Committee passed the fiscal year 2008 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill and provided $6,509 million for the National Science Foundation (NSF). The appropriation is $80 million (1.2%) above the President's request and $591.84 million (10%) above the FY 2007 Continuing Resolution.

The Research and Related Activities (R&RA) account was provided $5,139.7 million, or $8 million (0.2%) above the request and $372 million (7.9%) above the FY 2007 Continuing Resolution¹. The increase includes an accounting adjustment of $102 million for the transfer of the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program into the RR&A account from the Education and Human Resources (EHR) account. The $8 million increase is specified to enhance components of the EPSCoR program.

The bill also states that NSF's Biological Sciences, Geosciences, and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences directorates should be given increases comparable to the other directorates. The Committee also specified that $10 million will support a new program dedicated to transformational research.

The EHR account is funded at $822.6 million. The account appropriation is $72 million (9.6%) above the request and $124.6 million (17.9%) above the FY 2007 Continuing Resolution¹. The $72 million increase is directed to the following activities: the Robert Noyce Scholarship Program ($36 million); the Math and Science Partnership program ($20 million); Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education ($2 million); and undergraduate and graduate student support, proportionally distributed among the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation, the Tribal Colleges and Universities program, and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate program ($4 million). The language also includes a provision for a new climate change education activity funded at $10 million.

The Committee provided the requested $244.7 million for the Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction account. The appropriation is $53.9 million, or 28.2%, above the FY 2007 Continuing Resolution.

The Agency Operations and Award Management account² was provided the requested level of $285.6 million, which is $37.4 million, or 15 % above the FY 2007 Continuing Resolution.

The bill funds the National Science Board (NSB) and the Office of Inspector General at the requested levels of $4 million and $12.4 million, respectively. The bill allows NSB funding to be available for two years, and it states that funds should be available for the appointment of technical and professional personnel on leave of absence from academic, industrial or research institutions.

NSF Funding by Appropriations

(Dollars in Millions)

	FY 2007 Estimate	FY 2008 Request	House Mark
Research and Related Activities1	4,768.0	5,131.7	5,139.7
Education and Human Resources1	694.7	750.6	822.6
Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction	190.9	244.7	244.7
Agency Operations and Award Management2	248.3	285.6	285.6
National Science Board	4.0	4.0	4.0
Office of Inspector General	11.4	12.4	12.4
Total, NSF	$ 5,917.2	$ 6,429.0	$ 6,509.0

Totals may not add due to rounding.

¹ Total funding for the FY 2008 Research and Related Activities (RR&A) and Education and Human Resources (EHR) Accounts reflect a transfer of Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program funding ($102 million) from the EHR Account to the RR&A Account. Use "Back" to return to text.

² Formerly termed Salaries and Expenses. Use "Back" to return to text.

See also:

• NSF & Congress Archive