Senate recommends NSF funding increase, NASA cuts

Abstract

The Senate VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by Barbara Mikulski (D‐Md.), recommended on September 12 to increase fiscal year 1991 funding of the National Science Foundation (NSF) by $27 million above the level approved by the House. At the same time the subcommittee approved a spending level for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that is $855 million below that recommended by the House.NSF funding under the Senate bill (H.R. 5158) would be $2.36 billion, an increase of 14% over last year. Like the House bill, the Senate's bill eliminates funding for a gravitational wave observatory. Science education programs were increased to $322 million, higher than both the House bill and President Bush's request.