National Science Foundation FY
2008 Funding
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Related Resources
AAMC Documents
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Current Status
NSF FY 2008 Funding
On June 11, the House approved its FY 2008 Commerce-Justice-Science
spending bill (H.R. 3093), providing $6.509 billion for the National
Science Foundation (NSF). The figure represents an increase of $591.8
million (10 percent) over FY 2007. The bill shifts the Experimental
Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) from the Education
and Human Resources (EHR) account to the Research and Related Activities
(R&RA) account, and specifies $115 million within R&RA for
the program. Overall, R&RA receives $5.140 billion, an increase
of $358.7 million (7.8 percent) over FY 2007 when accounting for
the EPSCoR shift. EHR receives $822.6 million, an increase of $140.9
million (17.7 percent) over FY 2007, when adjusted for EPSCoR.
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the
spending bill (S. 1745) on June 28, providing $6.553 billion for
NSF, a $636.2 million (10.8 percent) increase over the current funding
year. The Senate bill also includes EPSCoR under R&RA. Within
the NSF total, the Senate bill provides $5.156 billion for R&RA,
an increase of $372.7 million (8.0 percent) over FY 2007, when adjusted
for the EPSCoR shift. EHR receives $850.6 million in the Senate
bill, an increase of $171.4 million (21.5 percent).
The Administration's FY 2008 budget includes $6.429 billion for
the NSF, an increase of $466.5 million (7.8 percent) over the FY
2007 Joint Funding Resolution. The administration requests $5.132
billion for Research and Related Activities at NSF, an increase
of $365.7 million (7.7 percent) over FY 2007. These figures are
consistent with the President's American Competitiveness Initiative,
which proposes to double within ten years the funding for NSF, the
Department of Energy's Office of Science, and the National Institute
of Science and Technology.
NSF FY 2007 Funding
On February 15, President Bush signed a spending package (H.J.
Res 20) to fund much of the federal government for the remainder
of FY 2007. The FY 2007 funding resolution provides $5.96 billion
for the National Science Foundation, an increase of $316.7 million
(5.6 percent) over FY 2006. The increase is dedicated entirely to
Research and Related Activities, bringing the R&RA total to
$4.77 billion, a 7.1 percent increase over FY 2006. Other research
agencies listed under the President's American Competitiveness Initiative
for basic scientific research also received a boost over FY 2006
levels, including the Department of Energy's Office of Science and
the Naitonal Institute of Science and Technology. A Statement of
Administration Policy issued on January 30 by the White House points
out that H.J. Res 20 provides only half the requested increase for
research and "strongly urges" Congress to provide the full increase
requested in the President's budget.
AAMC Activity
As a member of the Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF),
the AAMC works with an alliance of over 100 organizations united
by a concern for the future vitality of the national science, mathematics,
and engineering enterprise. CNSF supports the goal of increasing
the national investment in the National Science Foundation's research
and education programs in response to the unprecedented scientific,
technological, and economic opportunities facing the United States.
Background
The NSF is an independent federal agency supporting the health
of science and engineering across all disciplines. In areas such
as engineering, physical sciences, mathematics, computer science
and environmental sciences, the NSF is the leading source of support
of academic research. Although the NSF budget only accounts for
approximately 4 percent of the total federal budget for research
and development, it is the second largest sponsor of research at
colleges and universities after the National Institutes of Health.
The NSF funds approximately 10,000 research, education and training
projects through grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements at
more than 2,000 colleges, universities, and other research and education
institutions. The agency does not operate its own laboratories,
but does support national research centers, user facilities, oceanographic
vessels and Antartic research stations. NSF also plays an important
role in supporting efforts to improve science, math and engineering
education at the K-12 level as well as at colleges and universities.
Contacts
Tannaz Rasouli, Senior Legislative Analyst
AAMC Government Relations
trasouli@aamc.org
(202) 828-0525
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