National Science Foundation Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987
PL 99-383 (H.R.4184), enacted 08/21/1986

PUBLIC LAW 99-383—AUG. 21, 1986 
100 STAT. 813 
Public Law 99-883 
99th Congress 
An Act 
To authorize appropriations to the National Science Foundation for the fiscal year 
1987, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may 
be cited as the "National Science Foundation Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 1987". 
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 2. (a) There are authorized to be appropriated to the National 
Science Foundation, for fiscal year 1987, the sums set forth in the 
following categories: 
(1) Mathematical and Physical Sciences, $489,870,000. 
(2) Engineering, $172,470,000. 
(3) Biological, Behavioral, and Social Sciences, $270,500,000. 
(4) Geosciences, $298,150,000. 
(5) Scientific, Technological, and International 
Affairs, 
$47,030,000. 
(6) Computer and Information Science and Engineering, 
$122,980,000. 
(7) Program Development and Management, $78,000,000. 
(8) United States Antarctic Program, $117,000,000. 
(9) Science and Engineering Education, $89,000,000. 
Ot)) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, from the 
amount authorized under subsection (a)— 
(1) not less than $33,430,000 is authorized only for purposes of 
the Social and Economic Sciences Division; 
(2) not less than $49,870,000 is authorized only for purposes of 
the Behavioral and Neural Sciences Division; 
(3) not less than $89,060,000 is authorized only for the pur-
poses of the Astronomical Sciences Division; and 
(4) not less than $11,500,000 is authorized only for the pur-
poses of the College Science Instrumentation Program. 
AVAILABILITY 
SEC. 3. (a) Appropriations made under authority provided in sec-
tions 2 and 5 shall remain available for obligation for periods 
specified in the Acts making the appropriations. 
(b) To the extent that the total amount appropriated to carry out 
program activities specified in this Act is less than the total amount 
authorized to be appropriated for such activities under this Act, all 
such authorized amounts for such activities or their subactivities 
shall be reduced proportionally. 
OFFICIAL EXPENSES 
SEC. 4. From appropriations made under authorizations provided 
in this Act, not more than $5,000 for fiscal year 1987 may be used for 
Aug. 21, 1986 
[H.R. 4184] 
National Science 
Foundation 
Authorization 
Act for Fiscal 
Year 1987. 
42 u s e 1861 
note. 
100 STAT. 814 
PUBLIC LAW 99-383—AUG. 21, 1986 
official consultation, representation, or other extraordinary ex-
penses at the discretion of the Director of the National Science 
Foundation. The determination of the Director will be final and 
conclusive upon the accounting officers of the Government. 
FOREIGN CURRENCY AUTHORIZATION 
SEC. 5. In addition to the sums authorized by section 2, not more 
than $700,000 for fiscal year 1987 are authorized to be appropriated 
for expenses of the National Science Foundation incurred outside 
the United States, to be drawn from foreign currencies that the 
Department of the Treasury determines to be excess to the normal 
requirements of the United States. 
TRANSFERS AUTHORIZED 
SEC. 6. (a) Funds may be transferred among the categories listed in 
section 2(a), so long as the net funds transferred to or from any 
category do not exceed 10 percent of the amount authorized for that 
category in section 2. 
(b) The Director of the National Science Foundation may propose 
transfers to or from any category exceeding 10 percent of the 
amount authorized for that category in section 2. An explanation of 
any such proposed transfer must be transmitted in writing to the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the 
Senate, the Committees on Labor and Human Resources and Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Commit-
tee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives. The 
proposed transfer may be made only when 30 calendar days have 
passed after submission of the written explanation. 
MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS 
SEC. 7. (a) Section 3(a)(6) of the National Science Foundation Act of 
1950 (42 U.S.C. 1862(a)(6)) is amended to read as follows: 
"(6) to provide a central clearinghouse for the collection, 
interpretation, and analysis of data on scientific and engineer-
ing resources and to provide a source of information for policv 
formulation by other agencies of the Federal Government; and'. 
(b)(1) Section 6 of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 
U.S.C. 1864a) is amended— 
(A) by striking out "(a)" after the section designation; and 
(B) by striking out subsection (b). 
(2) Section 5316 of title 5, United States Code, is amended bv 
striking out "Assistant Directors, National Science Foundation (4),'. 
(c) Section 10 of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 
U.S.C. 1869) is amended by striking out ", within the limits of funds 
made available specifically for such purpose pursuant to section 
16,". 
(d) Section 11 of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 
U.S.C. 1870) is amended— 
(1) by striking out "and" at the end of paragraph (i); 
(2) by striking out the period at the end of paragraph (j) and 
inserting in lieu thereof "; and"; and 
(3) by adding at the end thereof the following: 
"(k) during the 5-year period beginning on the date of the 
enactment of the National Science Foundation Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 1987, to indemnify grantees, contractors, 
PUBLIC LAW 99-383—AUG. 21, 1986 
100 STAT. 815 
and subcontractors associated with the Ocean Drilling Program 
under the provisions of section 2354 of title 10, United States 
Code, with all approvals and certifications required by such 
indemnification made by the Director.". 
TASK FORCE ON WOMEN, MINORITIES, AND THE HANDICAPPED IN 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
SEC. 8. (a) It is the purpose of this section to establish a task force 
on women, minorities, and the handicapped in science and tech-
nology to— 
(1) examine the current status of women, minorities, and the 
handicapped in science and engineering positions in the Federal 
Government and in federally assisted research programs; 
(2) coordinate existing Federal programs designed to promote 
the employment of women, minorities, and the handicapped in 
such positions; 
(3) suggest cooperative interagency programs for promoting 
such employment; 
(4) identify exemplary State, local, or private sector programs 
designed to promote such employment; and 
(5) develop a long-range plan to advance opportunities for 
women, minorities, and the handicapped in Federal scientific 
and technical positions in federally assisted research, and to 
coordinate the activities of participating agencies with the 
Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering 
established by section 36 of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization £uid Science and Technology Equal Opportunities 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1885c), after the termination of the task force 
established by this section. 
(b) For purposes of this section, the term "participating agency" 
means— 
(1) the National Science Foundation; 
(2) the Department of Health and Human Services; 
(3) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; 
(4) the Environmental Protection Agency; 
(5) the Department of Agriculture; 
(6) the Department of Defense; 
(7) the Department of Education; 
(8) the Department of Energy; 
(9) the Department of Commerce; and 
(10) the Department of the Interior. 
(cXD The task force on women, minorities, and the handicapped in 
science and technology shall be composed of individuals appointed 
by participating agencies pursuant to this subsection. 
(2) The head of each participating sigency shall appoint two 
individuals to serve as members of the task force. If an appointed 
member is unable to serve for the duration of the task force, the 
head of the participating agency who appointed that member shall 
appoint another individual to fill the vacancy. 
(3) Task force members may be appointed from private business, 
academia, professional £issociations, or nonprofit foundations. 
(d) The task force shall prepare and submit a report on its findings 
and recommendations to the President, the Congress, and the head 
of each participating agency not later than December 31, 1989. 
(e) The Office of Science and Technology Policy shall call the first 
meeting of the task force not later than 90 days after the date of 
Government 
organization 
and employees. 
State and local 
governments. 
42 u s e 1885a 
note. 
Reports. 
100 STAT. 816 
PUBLIC LAW 99-383—AUG. 21, 1986 
enactment of this Act, shall ensure that each participating agency 
has appointed two members, and shall assist the task force to meet 
its objectives. 
(f)(1) Members of the task force not otherwise employed by the 
Federal Government shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and 
other necessary expenses incurred by them in carrying out the 
duties of the task force. 
(2) The Director of the National Science Foundation shall make 
provision for administrative support of the task force, and may 
enter into agreements with the heads of other participating agencies 
to facilitate the work of the task force. 
(g) The task force shall terminate on January 31,1990. 
GREENHOUSE EFFECT REPORT 
President of U.S. 
SEC. 9. The President shall, at the earliest practical date (but not 
later than August 1, 1987), submit to the Congress a report on any 
action taken or proposed to be taken by the Federal Government 
with respect to the establishment of an International Year of the 
Greenhouse Effect to occur in calendar year 1991. Such report shall 
include descriptions of possible international missions and related 
research and educational activities, and other such activities as the 
President may consider appropriate. 
COMPUTER NETWORK STUDY 
SEC. 10. (a) The Office of Science and Technology Policy (herein-
after referred to as the "Office") shall undertake a study of critical 
problems and current and future options regarding communications 
networks for research computers, including supercomputers, at 
universities and Federal research facilities in the United States. The 
study shall include an analysis of— 
(1) the networking needs of the Nation's academic and Fed-
eral research computer programs, including supercomputer pro-
grams, over the period which is fifteen years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, including requirements in terms of 
volume of data, reliability of transmission, software compatibil-
ity, graphics capability, and transmission security; 
(2) the benefits and opportunities that an improved computer 
network would offer for electronic mail, file transfer, and 
remote access and communications for universities and Federal 
research facilities in the United States; and 
(3) the networking options available for linking academic and 
other 
federally 
supported 
research 
computers, 
including 
supercomputers, with a particular emphasis on the advantages 
and disadvantages, if any, of fiber optic systems. 
Reports. 
Qji) The Office shall submit to the Congress— 
(1) within one year after the date of enactment of this Act, a 
report on findings from the study undertaken pursuant to 
subsection (a) with respect to needs and options regarding 
communications networks for university and Federal research 
supercomputers within the United States; and 
(2) within two years after the date of enactment of this Act, a 
report on findings from the study undertaken pursuant to 
subsection (a) with respect to needs and options regarding 
communications networks for all research computers at univer-
sities and Federal research facilities in the United States. 
Research and 
development. 
42 u s e 6614 
note. 
PUBLIC LAW 99-383—AUG. 21, 1986 
100 STAT. 817 
REPEAL 
SEC. 11. Title IX of the National Defense Education Act of 1959 (42 
U.S.C. 1876 et seq.) is repealed. 
Approved August 21, 1986. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4184 (S. 2184): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 99-619 (Comm. on Science and Technology). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 99-325 (Comm. on Labor and Human Resources) and No. 
99-338 (Ck)mm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation), 
both accompanying S. 2184. 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 132 (1986): 
June 26, considered and passed House. 
Aug. 1, considered and passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 2184. 
Aug. 6, House concurred in Senate amendment.