NSF DOUBLING BILL HEADED TO PRESIDENT
Legislation Also Includes Tech Talent, Math and Science Education Provisions

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House late last night gave its final approval to a Science Committee bill that would put the National Science Foundation (NSF) on a track to double its budget in five years. H.R. 4664, the "National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002," also includes major math and science education initiatives. The bill, which was approved earlier in the evening by the Senate, will now head to the President for his signature.

The version of H.R. 4664 approved last night is a House-Senate compromise that includes language from five House-passed Science Committee bills -- H.R. 4664 (the NSF authorization); H.R. 1858 (on K-12 math and science education); H.R. 100 (on master teachers); H.R. 3130 (The Tech Talent Act, on undergraduate education); and H.R. 2051 (on biotechnology research) -- and from the Senate NSF authorization (S. 2817). The compromise was reached in mid-October, but could not come to the Senate floor then because of Administration objections.

H.R. 4664 adds language worked out with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to satisfy the Administration's objections. The language makes the last two years of authorization (fiscal years 2006 and 2007) contingent on a finding by the Congress that NSF "has made successful progress toward meeting [specified] management goals," taking into consideration OMB's evaluation on that progress.

"This version of the bill is a well crafted, bipartisan compromise that has been agreed to by the Administration," said House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY). "The bill includes every major provision reported by the House, and will lead to needed increases in our nation's investment in research and education."

Boehlert continued, "Improved science and math education, scientific innovation, and new technology hold the key to our nation's future economic success, as well as to our national security," said Boehlert. "During its 50 years, NSF has supported the research of more than half of U.S. Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry and economics, and contributed to such breakthroughs as the Internet, artificial skin to help burn victims and the discovery of new planets and black holes. We turn to NSF to solve some of our most pressing problems; we can't turn from NSF when we decide where to invest federal funds. It's time to give NSF the money it needs."

"This legislation will provide important direction and oversight to the National Science Foundation to help ensure that they operate effectively and efficiently. It also ensures that we increase research activities at our nation's universities through NSF's highly respected merit-based, peer review award process," said bill sponsor and Research Subcommittee Chairman Nick Smith (R-MI). "This legislation will enable NSF to continue to build upon the great contributions of NSF-funded basic research that are critical to America's economic and national security."

"This is truly an historic piece of legislation for science policy in the United States that will have profound and lasting effect on the future prosperity of our nation. I am proud that the bill contains three specific provisions I have championed during this Congress. Most significantly, this legislation begins the process of doubling NSF's budget, which was the goal of H.R. 1472, the NSF authorization bill I introduced in April of 2001. The conference report also improves math and science education and bolsters plant genome research. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in the other body to ensure that NSF is fully funded under these new authorization levels," said Research Subcommittee Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX).

Major elements of H.R. 4664 include:

" Doubles the NSF budget over five years, while imposing strict, new management requirements to ensure that NSF continues to use taxpayer money wisely. The authorization period covered by the agreement is five years as opposed to the three years in the House bill;

" Authorizes the President's Math and Science Education Partnership Program. The bill language comes predominantly from H.R. 1858, Chairman Boehlert's bill to improve science and math education in elementary and secondary schools;

" Authorizes the training of master teachers from H.R. 100, Rep. Vernon Ehlers' (R-MI) education bill, as part of the Partnership program;

" Authorizes new research into plant biotechnology by adapting language from H.R. 2051, which was sponsored by Rep. Nick Smith (R-MI) and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX);

" Authorizes the Tech Talent program from H.R. 3130, to address the decline in the technical workforce and to improve undergraduate math and science education. Chairman Boehlert and Rep. John Larson (D-CT) sponsored the original House bill and funding for this program;

" All of the oversight and fiscal integrity provisions contained within the original House bill;

" Senate provisions strengthening the oversight capabilities of the National Science Board;

"Passage of this compromise bill is a great achievement. Doubling the NSF budget has been a goal that I have worked on since coming to Congress. If enacted, the research results, while not clear now, will reap huge benefits in the future-- just as research on lasers and nuclear magnetic resonance led to advances in construction, medicine, and defense. I am especially pleased that this legislation incorporates my proposal to develop master teachers with strong backgrounds in math and science. These teachers will provide professional development, in-classroom assistance and oversight of hands-on science materials to K-12 SMET teachers," said Ehlers.

Rep. Ralph M. Hall (TX), Ranking Democratic Member of the Science Committee said, "House passage of a five-year doubling for NSF is a win-win situation - a win for federal support of science and a win for the Republicans and Democrats in the House who were able to come together and find a common solution. I compliment Chairman Boehlert who worked with us to come to an agreement on a bill that all of us can enthusiastically support."

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) said, "Scientific research at NSF has advanced science and technology and greatly enhanced our lives. Investment in the sciences is an investment in our future."

"One of the biggest problems our country will face in the next few decades is the shortage of a home-grown technology educated workforce. In order to circumvent this shortage we need to supply American students with the opportunity to become world leaders in math and science. The increase in the funding for the National Science Foundation will go a long way in helping us reach that goal. In addition, the National Mathematics and Science Partnership component of this legislation establishes programs that target elementary age students and will provide a stepping stone for our youngest minds to begin their journey through the world of science and discovery," said Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA).

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