Latest News: MAA Advocacy and Public Policy

Latest News: MAA Advocacy and Public Policy

December 16, 2009

Rep. Gordon, House Science Committee Chair, Announces Retirement

After serving 25 years in the House of Representatives, Rep. Bart Gordon (Tenn.) announced that he would not be seeking reelection in 2010. Read full story here.

November 18, 2009

On November 6, the Senate approved the $64.9 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) spending bill. The Senate CJS bill includes $6.9 billion for the National Science Foundation, a $426 million boost over FY 2009 and $128 million below President Obama's request.
The bill now moves to conference where House and Senate members will work to resolve differences between the two versions of the legislation.

Highlights of the Senate-passed version of the bill are provided below. Please contact Kelly Pollitt or Dave Zook with any additional questions at (202) 312-7400.

National Science Foundation
Research and Related Activities
$5.6 Billion

The Senate bill provides $5.6 billion which is $434.9 million above the FY 2009 level and $115 million below the President's budget request. The House CJS bill also requests funding in the amount of $5.6 billion.

The Research and Related Activities appropriation addresses the Foundation’s three strategic goals: people’developing a diverse, internationally competitive and globally engaged workforce of scientists, engineers, and well-prepared citizens; ideas’enabling discovery across the frontiers of science and engineering, connected to learning, innovation, and service to society; and tools’providing broadly accessible, state-of-the-art science and engineering facilities and shared research and education tools.

National Science Foundation
Education and Human Resources
$857 Million

The Senate bill provides $857 million which is $12.5 million above FY 2009 and the same as the President's budget request. The House CJS bill recommends $862 million.
The education and human resources appropriation supports a comprehensive set of programs across all levels of education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Additionally, the Senate set aside $2 million for a competitive program of grants to promote STEM education through robotics competition.

National Science Foundation
Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction
$122 million

The Senate bill provides $122 million which is $29 million below the FY 2009 level and $5 million above the President's request. The House CJS bill recommends $114 million.

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.