From: rsherme@diamond.nswc.navy.mil (Russel Shermer (R43))
Newsgroups: sci.research
Subject: fyi #118 : Status of Science Funding Bills
Date: 2 Sep 92 19:54:05 GMT
Organization: NAVSWC DD White Oak Det.

Posted for:
Public Information Division
American Institute of Physics
Contact:  Richard M. Jones
Phone: (202) 332-9661
Email: fyi@aip.org



Thirty Days to New Fiscal Year: Status of Science Funding Bills

FYI No. 118, September 1, 1992


The new fiscal year begins on October 1.  When Congress returns to
work next week it must finalize twelve appropriations bills and
send them to President Bush for his signature.  Below is the status
of two important bills to the physics community which will provide
fiscal year 1993 funding for the National Science Foundation, NASA,
and the Department of Energy:


NSF, NASA:

The final shape of this bill remains the most uncertain.  On July
29, the House passed H.R. 5679, the VA, HUD, Independent Agencies
Appropriations bill.  After extensive debate the House voted 237 to
181 to provide $1.7 billion for Space Station Freedom.  This bill
went on to the Senate Appropriations Committee, which has completed
its own version of the legislation.  The full Senate is expected to
vote on H.R. 5679 the week of September 7.  Work on a final bill -
the conference report - should be completed in mid to late
September.

As it now stands, the two versions of the bill differ in funding
levels for the NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.  Both versions provide
much less money than the administration requested, with the Senate
bill containing $36.5 million more than the House legislation.
Appropriated amounts for Research and Related Activities are almost
identical.  The Senate bill contains more money for Academic
Research Facilities and Instrumentation, and Education and Human
Resources.  For additional information about the NSF portions of
the two bills, see FYIs #102 and 112.

NASA figures in the bill also differ, and will have to be hammered
out by the conference committee.  The space agency is going to
receive significantly less than the administration's request.  The
Senate bill, as it now stands, would provide $519.8 million more
than the House version for NASA.  The Senate committee provides
$375 million more for the space station than does the House bill.
For additional information, see FYIs #103, 113, and 114.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The vote by the full Senate on the Senate
Appropriations Committee's draft bill will be taken next week.  An
amendment will probably be offered to delete funding for the space
station, although this is not expected to be successful.  A
conference committee will then produce the final version of H.R.
5679, which should be passed by the House and Senate without much
dispute.


DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY:

In contrast to the VA, HUD, Independent Agencies Appropriations
bill, both the full House and Senate have passed differing versions
of H.R. 5373.

An area of major disagreement is over funding for the
SUPERCONDUCTING SUPER COLLIDER.  The House voted in mid-June to
close down the SSC.  The Senate, in early August, provided $550
million for the project.  A conference committee, which should
convene in the near future, will have to arrive at a final figure.
Since the House Appropriations Committee supports the SSC, the
compromise figure will be as high as the conference committee feels
it can win approval for in the House.  Sentiment seems to be
turning in favor of the SSC in the House, and it appears likely
that the project will receive continued funding in the new fiscal
year.

The FUSION funding level is $4.7 million higher in the House bill
than in the Senate version.  The Senate bill provides $10 million
more for HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS than does the House legislation to go
to the Fermilab main injector.  NUCLEAR PHYSICS receives $54.4
million more in the House bill than in the Senate legislation.

For further information, see FYIs #81, 82, 83, 84, 108, 109, 110,
and 111.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:  The next step calls for a conference committee
to resolve the differences in funding levels.  Especially important
will be the final funding level for the SSC.  Expect an impressive
amount of wheeling and dealing when the House is asked to reverse
itself and approve hundreds of millions of dollars for the SSC in
the conference report.


###############
Public Information Division
American Institute of Physics
Contact:  Richard M. Jones
(202) 332-9661
##END##########
From: alexa@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Alexander Anger)
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 02:39:16 GMT
Subject: Re: Was Fabrikant a big pain?
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Rosa, CA