Summary of HR 4664: The National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002

The National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002

Introduced by Mr. Smith (MI), Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX), Mr. Boehlert, Mr. Hall (TX), and Mr. Smith (TX), Ms. Morella, Mr. Honda, Mr. Ehlers, Mr. Etheridge,

Mr. Baird, Mr. Nethercutt, Ms. Biggert, and Mr. Barcia

"The National Science Foundation (NSF) Authorization Act of 2002" sets the government’s premier research agency on the path to doubling its budget over the next five years. The bill authorizes 15 percent increases in each of fiscal years 2003, 2004 and 2005. Specifically, the bill authorizes the following amounts:

• Research and Related Activities. The bill authorizes a 15 percent or $540 million increase in funding for research for FY 2003. Increases of 14 percent and 15 percent are provided for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 respectively. Within this amount, specific increases are provided for networking and information technology research, nanoscale science and engineering, mathematical sciences, and major research instrumentation.

• Education and Human Resources. The bill authorizes a 15 percent or $131 million increase in funding for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education for FY 2003. 15 percent increases are also provided for each of fiscal years 2004 and 2005. These increases fund existing programs as well as programs created by Science Committee education legislation pending before the Congress.

• Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction. The bill authorizes an increase of 9.8 percent or $14 million for FY 2003. Increases of 48 percent and 27 percent are provided for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 respectively. These increases will enable the Foundation to reduce the backlog of large facilities projects that currently are awaiting funding.

• Salaries and Expenses. The bill authorizes the President’s request for a 19 percent increase for FY 2003. The bill provides increases to cover inflation in each of fiscal years 2004 and 2005. This increase will increase the Foundation’s capacity to conduct oversight of its grant programs.

National Research Facilities

Cutting-edge, world-class research requires not only talented scientists and engineers, but also a state-of-the art science and engineering infrastructure. Providing scientists and engineers with the necessary equipment and facilities is part of NSF’s mission. As the number and cost of proposals has increased so has confusion as to how priorities are established for the inclusion of approved projects in the budget.

"The NSF Authorization Act of 2002" will provide greater transparency to the process through which major research and facilities construction projects are evaluated, prioritized, and selected for funding. The Act requires the Director to develop a list of the proposed projects, ranking the relative priority of each for funding. Upon approval of the list by the National Science Board (NSB), a panel of 24 eminent scientists who are appointed by the President to advise NSF, the Director will be required to submit the list to Congress along with a report describing how the projects were prioritized.

Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee

NSF and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) sponsor the majority of Federally funded astronomy research in the United States. NSF has traditionally supported ground-based observatories and small research groups while NASA’s strength has been the support of major space-based missions. "The National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002," in response to concerns raised by a blue ribbon panel established last year by the National Research Council at the Administration’s request, establishes an interagency advisory board to provide systematic, comprehensive, and coordinated planning of astronomy and astrophysics research and investments.

Open Meetings.

The NSB may not be complying with the spirit of the Government in the Sunshine Act (now contained in section 552b of Title 5 USC), which was intended to make meetings regarding a federal agencies’ activities open to the public (with narrow statutory exemptions). The Board holds most of its meetings, including committee meetings where much of the Board’s work gets done, behind closed doors, with a single session open to the public at the meeting’s end.

"The NSF Authorization Act of 2002" requires the NSF Inspector General to conduct an annual audit of the NSB’s compliance with the Sunshine Act, including the extent to which the proposed and actual content of closed meetings is consistent with those requirements. The IG will transmit this audit to the Congress along with recommendations for any corrective action that needs to be taken to achieve fuller compliance with the requirements of the Government in the Sunshine Act.

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION FY 2003, 2004, and 2005 Budget Request

(In Millions of Dollars)