Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee Passes Appropriations Bill with Bipartisan Support

The Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee recently released its latest appropriations bill for fiscal year 2019 (FY19), which includes funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The bill passed the subcommittee with bipartisan support, and will next be considered by the full Senate. In addition to funding key federal research efforts, the legislation places a strong emphasis on combatting the opioid crisis. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee summed up the legislation’s priorities in stating, “This bill dedicates much needed resources to combat the opioid crisis support law enforcement, promote scientific research and grow small business in Vermont and across the country.”

The legislation provides a $301 million boost to NSF, proposing an FY19 total of $8.1 billion. This number includes $6.56 billion for research and research facilities, which is a $222 million increase over current FY18 totals. NSF’s education and training programs also received a $13 million boost over FY18 amounts, with an FY19 proposed total of $915 million.  This $13 million increase will fund roughly 715 additional research and education grants, and 8,300 more scientists, technicians, teachers and students than the FY18 totals.

NIST received an overall funding total of $1.04 billion, a $161 million decrease from FY18. The bill also provides $15 million for the National Network of Manufacturing Institutes and $140 million for the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program.

NASA received a $587 million boost above FY18 levels, coming in at $21.3 billion. In contrast to the administration’s proposal, key education programs continue to receive funding. The Education program is renamed “Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Opportunities,” and under it the Minority University Research and Education Project received $33 million in funding, the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology received $21 million, and the Space Grant received $44 million.

To view the bill in full, click here:  https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/115th-congress/senate-report/275/1?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Appropriations%22%5D%7D&r=2&overview=closed