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December 8, 2009
On December 8, the House adopted a conference agreement on the FY 2010 omnibus appropriations bill to provide $6.9 billion -- a $426 million boost over FY 2009 -- in discretionary funds for the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) spending bill. Congress provided the funds to support the effort to double the agency’s budget over a 10-year period. The Senate is expected to approve the bill early next week. Following are excerpts taken from the conference report on the legislation:
National Science Foundation
Research and Related Activities
$5.617 Billion
The conference agreement provides $5.617 billion which is $434 million above the FY 2009 level. The conferees support the House direction on high-risk, high-reward basic research; funding for research on ocean acidification; support for 2,000 graduate research fellowships across all of NSF, climate change education; and funding of EPSCoR.
National Science Foundation
Education and Human Resources
$872.7 Million
The conference agreement provides $872.7 million which is $27 million above FY 2009. The increase over the budget request is to support additional work in experiential learning as directed by the House with a substantial portion of the initiative focused on K-6 STEM education. The conferees support NSF's request of $55 million for the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program.
National Science Foundation
Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction
$117.2 Million
The conference agreement provides $117 million which is $34 million below the FY 2009 level. The major research equipment and facilities construction appropriation supports the acquisition, procurement, construction, and commissioning of unique national research platforms and facilities as well as major research equipment. Additionally, preliminary design and development activities, on-going operations, and maintenance costs of the facilities are provided through this appropriation account.
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