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NSF & Congress
Hearing Summary: House Appropriations Subcommittee on VA/HUD and Independent Agencies, NSF's FY 2001 Budget
April 4, 2000
The House VA/HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations
Subcommittee heard testimony from NSF Director Rita
Colwell and National Science Board Chairman Eamon
Kelly on April 4 requesting a 17.3 percent increase
in funding for the agency. This increase would amount
to $675 million for a total of $4.572 billion for
fiscal year 2001. Witnesses made the case for this
robust budget by stressing the importance of basic
research and science and engineering education in
fueling the nation's economic growth. Chairman James
Walsh noted that the appropriations subcommittees
were still awaiting their allocations, but he and
other members were generally supportive of the NSF's
request.
Most of the questions to the witnesses focused on the
new initiatives in the request, including large increases
for research in biocomplexity and nanotechnology and
a continuation of the emphasis in information technology
research and education for the 21st century workforce.
Members also questioned both Colwell and Kelly about
how priorities were set for the budget request, particularly
for the initiatives and new major research equipment
starts. The budget making process relies on review
and approval from both the National Science Board
and OMB, Colwell responded, but the priorities reflect
the advice and recommendations that come to NSF from
the research community, as well as to patterns of
changes in the research that is proposed by individual
investigators over time.
Several members expressed interest in NSF's support
of programs designed to improve human resources in
science and engineering. Specific questions were raised
regarding the support of graduate research fellows,
advanced technology education, support for Historically
Black Colleges and Universities, and funding for states
working to improve their research infrastructure.
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