NSF Congressional Highlight
Senate Appropriations Committee Provides NSF a 13% Increase for FY 2009

June 19, 2008

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for FY 2009 on Thursday, June 19^th. Overall, the National Science Foundation received $6.854 billion, an increase of $789.10 million, or 13 percent, over the FY '08 Consolidated Appropriations, and equal to the President's request.

Research and Related Activities:
The Research and Related Activities account receives $5.594 billion, an increase of $772.52 million, or 16 percent over the FY '08 Consolidated Appropriations, and equal to the President's request. EPSCoR is provided with $125 million, an increase of $11.5 million over the request. The Plant Genome program is provided with $101.22 million, equal to the request. The Astronomy Division was provided with $252.51 million, an increase of $2.5 million over the President's request, for late-stage design work on the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope project.

Education and Human Resources:
The Education and Human Resources account is funded at the requested level of $790.41 million, an increase of $64.8 million over the FY '08 Consolidated Appropriations. The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program is provided $55 million, an increase of $43.4 million, or 378 percent, over the request.

Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction:
The Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction account is funded at $152.01 million, $4.5 million above the requested level of $147.51 million. The Advanced Technology Solar Telescope was provided with $7 million, $4.5 million above the President's request. The Committee denied the request for use of the account for late-stage design activities.

Agency Operations and Award Management:
The Agency Operations and Award Management account is funded at $300.56 million, $4.5 million below the requested level of $305.06 million, and is $18.8 million, or 7 percent above the FY '08 Consolidated Appropriations.

National Science Board:
The National Science Board is funded at the requested level of $4.03 million.

Office of the Inspector General:
The Office of Inspector General is funded at the requested level of $13.10 million.

NSF FUNDING BY APPROPRIATIONS

(Dollars in millions)

	FY 2008 Enacted	FY 2009 Request	Senate Mark
Research and Related Activities	4,821.47	5,593.99	5,593.99
Education and Human Resources	725.6	790.41	790.41
Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction	220.74	147.51	152.01
Agency Operations and Award Management	281.79	305.06	300.56
National Science Board	3.97	4.03	4.03
Office of Inspector General	11.43	13.1	13.1
Total, NSF	$6,065.00	$6,854.10	$6,854.10

Totals may not add due to rounding.