August 31, 2018

When the House and Senate return to Washington after Labor Day, they face a packed schedule, with legislation to fund the federal government for the fiscal year (FY) beginning Oct.1 at the top of the to-do list.

Work on the 12 regular appropriations bills is in various stages of progress. The Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill, which funds NSF, awaits floor action in the House and Senate. The House Appropriations Committee approved a version of the bill on May 17; the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version on June 14.

A number of the other appropriations bills have been passed by the House or Senate as part of "minibuses" -- packages of two or more appropriations bills rolled up into one. However, there are still differences that need to be addressed before the bills can be passed for the President's signature and conference committees have been appointed to do so. However, with only a month remaining before the end of the fiscal year, a continuing resolution funding at least some government agencies for part of FY 2019 is a possibility.

Droegemeier nomination

In other news, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee is scheduled to consider the nomination of Dr. Kevin Droegemeier to be Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in an executive session on Sept. 5. The White House announced its intention to nominate the former National Science Board member to head OSTP on July 31, and the Committee held a hearing on his nomination on Aug. 23. Droegemeier served 12 years on the NSB including two terms (2012-2016) as vice chair.

For details on FY 2018 appropriations, see previous Highlights.

For tools and resources about the impact on NSF's investments, please see the NSF Toolkit.

A special website for NSF Days is now available.

OTHER NSF & CONGRESS INFORMATION

 Hearings: Testimony and Summaries
 Reports to Congress
 Program Awards by State/District
 Major Legislation
 Science & Policy Links
 NSF & Congress Archive
 NSF Toolkit
 NSF Days Website