Congress takes on budget, other matters

Abstract

This year's running of the Congressional budget marathon has officially started, with Senate passage of the first concurrent budget resolution for 1987. That resolution, which is nonbinding, sets budget ceilings for 21 separate budget functions or categories ranging from national defense to undistributed offsetting receipts. In general, the resolution calls for higher spending for civilian R&D programs than the Administration requested. As approved by the Senate, the budget authority ceiling for general science, space, and technology is $10.2 billion, 8% more than the Administration requested. That category includes the budgets of the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics & Space Administration, and the Department of Energy's general science programs. The ceiling for health programs—which includes budgets for the National Institutes of Health and consumer and occupational safety and health programs—is $38 billion, 7% more than requested by the Administration. The Senate approved a floor am...