[House Report 107-488]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
107th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 107-488
======================================================================
INVESTING IN AMERICA'S FUTURE ACT OF 2002
_______
June 4, 2002.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Boehlert, from the Committee on Science, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 4664]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Science, to whom was referred the bill (H.R.
4664) to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2003, 2004,
and 2005 for the National Science Foundation, and for other
purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon
with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do
pass.
CONTENTS
Page
I. Amendment.......................................................1
II. Purpose of the Bill.............................................5
III. Background and Need for the Legislation.........................6
IV. Summary of Hearings.............................................6
V. Committee Actions...............................................7
VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill.........................8
VII. Section-by-Section Analysis (by Title and Section)..............8
VIII. Committee Views................................................10
IX. Cost Estimate..................................................16
X. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate......................17
XI. Compliance With Public Law 104-4 (Unfunded Mandates)...........18
XII. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations...............18
XIII. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives..........18
XIV. Constitutional Authority Statement.............................18
XV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement...........................18
XVI. Congressional Accountability Act...............................19
XVII. Statement on Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law.........19
XVIII.Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported..........19
XIX. Committee Recommendations......................................20
I. Amendment
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Investing in America's Future Act of
2002''.
SEC. 2 DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the National Science
Board established under section 2 of the National Science
Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861).
(2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the National Science Foundation.
(3) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National
Science Foundation.
(4) Institution of higher education.--The term ``institution
of higher education'' has the meaning given that term in
section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001(a)).
(5) National research facility.--The term ``national research
facility'' means a research facility funded by the Foundation
which is available, subject to appropriate policies allocating
access, for use by all scientists and engineers affiliated with
research institutions located in the United States.
(6) United states.--The term ``United States'' means the
several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other
territory or possession of the United States.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Fiscal Year 2003.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the National Science Foundation $5,515,260,000 for fiscal year
2003.
(2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized under
paragraph (1)--
(A) $4,138,440,000 shall be made available to carry
out Research and Related Activities, of which--
(i) $704,000,000 shall be for networking and
information technology research;
(ii) $238,450,000 shall be for the Nanoscale
Science and Engineering Priority Area;
(iii) $60,090,000 shall be for the
Mathematical Sciences Priority Area; and
(iv) $75,900,000 shall be for Major Research
Instrumentation;
(B) $1,006,250,000 shall be made available for
Education and Human Resources, of which--
(i) $50,000,000 shall be for the Advanced
Technological Education Program established
under section 3 of the Scientific and Advanced-
Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i); and
(ii) $30,000,000 shall be for the Minority
Serving Institutions Undergraduate Program;
(C) $152,350,000 shall be made available for Major
Research Equipment and Facilities Construction;
(D) $210,160,000 shall be made available for Salaries
and Expenses; and
(E) $8,060,000 shall be made available for the Office
of Inspector General.
(b) Fiscal Year 2004.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the National Science Foundation $6,342,550,000 for fiscal year
2004.
(2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized under
paragraph (1)--
(A) $4,735,600,000 shall be made available to carry
out Research and Related Activities, of which--
(i) $774,000,000 shall be for networking and
information technology research;
(ii) $286,140,000 shall be for the Nanoscale
Science and Engineering Priority Area;
(iii) $90,090,000 shall be for the
Mathematical Sciences Priority Area; and
(iv) $85,000,000 shall be for Major Research
Instrumentation;
(B) $1,157,190,000 shall be made available for
Education and Human Resources, of which $55,000,000
shall be for the Advanced Technological Education
Program established under section 3 of the Scientific
and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i);
(C) $225,000,000 shall be made available for Major
Research Equipment and Facilities Construction;
(D) $216,460,000 shall be made available for Salaries
and Expenses; and
(E) $8,300,000 shall be made available for the Office
of Inspector General.
(c) Fiscal Year 2005.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the National Science Foundation $7,293,930,000 for fiscal year
2005.
(2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized under
paragraph (1)--
(A) $5,445,940,000 shall be made available to carry
out Research and Related Activities;
(B) $1,330,770,000 shall be made available for
Education and Human Resources;
(C) $285,710,000 shall be made available for Major
Research Equipment and Facilities Construction;
(D) $222,960,000 shall be made available for Salaries
and Expenses; and
(E) $8,550,000 shall be made available for the Office
of Inspector General.
SEC. 4. OBLIGATION OF MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT FUNDS
(a) Fiscal Year 2003.--None of the funds authorized under section
3(a)(2)(C) may be obligated until 30 days after the first report
required under section 7(a)(2) is transmitted to the Congress.
(b) Fiscal Year 2004.--None of the funds authorized under section
3(b)(2)(C) may be obligated until 30 days after the report required by
June 15, 2003, under section 7(a)(2) is transmitted to the Congress.
(c) Fiscal Year 2005.--None of the funds authorized under section
3(c)(2)(C) may be obligated until 30 days after the report required by
June 15, 2004, under section 7(a)(2) is transmitted to the Congress.
SEC. 5. ANNUAL PLAN FOR ALLOCATION OF FUNDING.
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of legislation
providing for the annual appropriation of funds for the Foundation, the
Director shall submit to the Committee on Science of the House of
Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate, a plan for the allocation of funds authorized
by this Act for the corresponding fiscal year. The portion of the plan
pertaining to Research and Related Activities shall include a
description of how the allocation of funding--
(1) will affect the average size and duration of research
grants supported by the Foundation by field of science,
mathematics, and engineering;
(2) will affect trends in research support for major fields
and subfields of science, mathematics, and engineering,
including for emerging multidisciplinary research areas; and
(3) is designed to achieve an appropriate balance among major
fields and subfields of science, mathematics, and engineering.
SEC. 6. PROPORTIONAL REDUCTION.
(a) Overall Amounts.--If the amount appropriated pursuant to section
3(a)(1), (b)(1), or (c)(1) is less than the amount authorized under
that paragraph, the amount available under each subparagraph of
paragraph (2) of that subsection shall be reduced by the same
proportion.
(b) Research and Related Activities Amounts.--If the amount
appropriated pursuant to section 3(a)(2)(A) or (b)(2)(A) is less than
the amount authorized under that subparagraph, the amount available
under each clause of that subparagraph shall be reduced by the same
proportion.
SEC. 7. NATIONAL RESEARCH FACILITIES.
(a) Prioritization of Proposed Major Research Equipment and
Facilities Construction.--
(1) Development of priorities.--
(A) List.--The Director shall develop a list
indicating by number the relative priority for funding
under the Major Research Equipment and Facilities
Construction account that the Director assigns to each
project the Board has approved for inclusion in a
future budget request. The Director shall submit the
list to the Board for approval.
(B) Updates.--The Director shall update the list
prepared under paragraph (1) each time the Board
approves a new project that would receive funding under
the Major Research Equipment and Facilities
Construction account and as necessary to prepare
reports under paragraph (2). The Director shall submit
any updated list to the Board for approval.
(2) Annual report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and not later than each June 15th
thereafter, the Director shall transmit to the Congress a
report containing--
(A) the most recent Board-approved priority list
developed under paragraph (1);
(B) a description of the criteria used to develop
such list; and
(C) a description of the major factors for each
project that determined its ranking on the list, based
on the application of the criteria described pursuant
to subparagraph (B).
(3) Criteria.--The criteria described pursuant to paragraph
(2)(B) shall include, at a minimum--
(A) scientific merit;
(B) broad societal need and probable impact;
(C) consideration of the results of formal
prioritization efforts by the scientific community;
(D) readiness of plans for construction and
operation;
(E) international and interagency commitments; and
(F) the order in which projects were approved by the
Board for inclusion in a future budget request.
(b) Facilities Plan.--
(1) In general.--Section 201(a)(1) of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 1862l(a)(1)) is
amended to read as follows:
``(1) In general.--The Director shall prepare, and include as
part of the Foundation's annual budget request to Congress, a
plan for the proposed construction of, and repair and upgrades
to, national research facilities, including full life-cycle
cost information.''.
(2) Contents of plan.--Section 201(a)(2) of the National
Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C.
1862l(a)(2)) is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, including
costs for instrumentation development'' after
``described in paragraph (1)'';
(B) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph
(B);
(C) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph
(C) and inserting a semicolon; and
(D) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraphs:
``(D) for each project funded under the Major
Research Equipment and Facilities Construction
account--
``(i) estimates of the total project cost
(from planning to commissioning); and
``(ii) the source of funds, including Federal
funding identified by appropriations category
and non-Federal funding;
``(E) estimates of the full life-cycle cost of each
national research facility;
``(F) information on any plans to retire national
research facilities; and
``(G) estimates of funding levels for grants
supporting research that will make use of each national
research facility.''.
(3) Definition.--Section 2 of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 1862k note) is amended--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as
paragraphs (4) through (6), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following
new paragraph:
``(3) Full life-cycle cost.--The term `full life-cycle cost'
means all costs of development, procurement, construction,
operations and support, and shut down costs, without regard to
funding source and without regard to what entity manages the
project.''.
(c) Project Management.--No national research facility project funded
under the Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction account
shall be managed by an individual whose appointment to the Foundation
is temporary.
SEC. 8. MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION.
The Foundation shall conduct a review and assessment of the Major
Research Instrumentation Program and provide a report to Congress on
its findings and recommendations within 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act. The report shall include--
(1) estimates of the needs, by major field of science and
engineering, of institutions of higher education for the types
of research instrumentation that are eligible for funding under
the guidelines of the Major Research Instrumentation Program;
(2) the distribution of awards and funding levels by year and
by major field of science and engineering for the Major
Research Instrumentation Program, since the inception of the
Program; and
(3) an analysis of the impact of the Major Research
Instrumentation Program on the research instrumentation needs
that were documented in the Foundation's 1994 survey of
academic research instrumentation needs.
SEC. 9. ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) Establishment.--The Foundation and the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration shall jointly establish an Astronomy and
Astrophysics Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the
``Advisory Committee'').
(b) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall--
(1) assess, and make recommendations regarding, the
coordination of astronomy and astrophysics programs of the
Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration;
(2) assess, and make recommendations regarding, the status of
the activities of the Foundation and the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration as they relate to the recommendations
contained in the National Research Council's 2001 report
entitled ``Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium'',
and the recommendations contained in subsequent National
Research Council reports of a similar nature; and
(3) not later than March 15 of each year, transmit a report
to the Director, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, and the Congress on the Advisory
Committee's findings and recommendations under paragraphs (1)
and (2).
(c) Membership.--The Advisory Committee shall consist of 13 members,
none of whom shall be a Federal employee, including--
(1) 5 members selected by the Foundation;
(2) 5 members selected by the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration; and
(3) 3 members selected by the members selected under
paragraphs (1) and (2).
(d) Selection Process.--Initial selections under subsection (c)(1)
and (2) shall be made within 3 months after the date of the enactment
of this Act. Initial selections under subsection (c)(3) shall be made
within 5 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. Vacancies
shall be filled in the same manner as provided in subsection (c).
(e) Chairperson.--The Advisory Committee shall select a chairperson
from among its members.
(f) Coordination.--The Advisory Committee shall coordinate with the
advisory bodies of other Federal agencies, such as the Department of
Energy, which may engage in related research activities.
(g) Compensation.--The members of the Advisory Committee shall serve
without compensation, but shall receive travel expenses, including per
diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703
of title 5, United States Code.
(h) Meetings.--The Advisory Committee shall convene, in person or by
electronic means, at least 4 times a year.
(i) Quorum.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a
majority of the members serving on the Advisory Committee shall
constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting the business of
the Advisory Committee.
(2) Exception.--The selection of a member under subsection
(c)(3) shall require a vote of \3/4\ of the members appointed
under subsection (c)(1) and (2).
(j) Duration.--Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall
not apply to the Advisory Committee.
SEC. 10. BOARD MEETINGS.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to ensure that the Board
complies with the requirements of section 552b of title 5, United
States Code, that all meetings, with the exception of specific narrow
statutory exemptions, be open to the public.
(b) Compliance Audit.--The Inspector General of the National Science
Foundation shall conduct an annual audit of the compliance by the Board
with the requirements described in subsection (a). The audit shall
examine the extent to which the proposed and actual content of closed
meetings is consistent with those requirements.
(c) Report.--Not later than February 15 of each year, the Inspector
General of the National Science Foundation shall transmit to the
Congress the audit required under subsection (b) along with
recommendations for corrective actions that need to be taken to achieve
fuller compliance with the requirements described in subsection (a),
and recommendations on how to ensure public access to the Board's
deliberations.
II. Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of the bill is to authorize funding for the
National Science Foundation (NSF) for fiscal years 2003, 2004,
and 2005, and to impose requirements related to major research
facilities funded by the Foundation, interagency coordination
of astronomy research, and public access to meetings of the
National Science Board (NSB).
III. Background and Need for the Legislation
NSF is an independent federal agency created by the
National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (P.L. 81-507). NSF's
mission is unique among the federal governments's scientific
research agencies in that it is to support science and
engineering across all disciplines. NSF currently funds
research and education activities at more than 2,000
universities, colleges, K-12 schools, businesses, and other
research institutions throughout the United States. Virtually
all of this support is provided through competitive, merit-
reviewed grants and cooperative agreements. Although NSF's
research and development budget accounts for only about 4
percent of all federally funded research, the role of NSF in
promoting fundamental research is vital to the nation's
scientific enterprise, as NSF provides approximately 25 percent
of the federal support for basic research conducted at academic
institutions.
Basic research pays enormous dividends to society. Economic
growth, public health, national defense, and social advancement
have all been tied to technological developments resulting from
research and development. In fact, economists estimate that
innovation and the application of new technology have generated
at least half of the phenomenal growth in America's gross
domestic product since World War II. As Allan Bromley, science
advisor to former President George H.W. Bush, put it, ``No
science, no surplus. It's that simple.''
Though NSF-funded research has had a tremendous impact on
society, funding for NSF has not been sufficient to maximize
the agency's potential contribution to the nation's research
enterprise. NSF is currently able to fund only about one third
of the grant proposals submitted because of limited funds; 13
percent of top rated grant applications are not funded. More
funding for basic science is needed to feed the innovation
pipeline and to ensure future economic growth, as well as to
strengthen homeland defense and national security.
NSF was most recently authorized by the National Science
Foundation Act of 1998, which authorized appropriations for NSF
for fiscal year (FY) 1998, FY 1999, and FY 2000. In addition to
the lapse in authorizations of appropriations for the agency,
several policy issues--including ones related to the
Foundation's responsibilities for large scale research
facilities--have arisen since the 1998 Act expired.
IV. Summary of Hearings
On Thursday, September 5, 2001, the Subcommittee on
Research of the Committee on Science held a hearing on NSF's
Major Research Equipment (MRE) [now called the Major Research
Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC)] portfolio to
clarify the process by which MRE projects are approved and
funded and to discuss NSF's Large Facility Projects Management
and Oversight Plan drafted in response to concerns from the NSF
Inspector General (IG) and the Office of Management and Budget.
The scientific community has also raised concerns about the
adequacy of NSF's planning and management of large research
facilities. The hearing witnesses included the Director of NSF,
the Vice Chair of the NSB, and the NSF IG. Witness testimony
described the process by which these projects are selected for
funding as well as agency oversight during implementation and
operation of these facilities.
On Wednesday, March 13, 2002, the Subcommittee on Research
of the Committee on Science held a hearing to receive testimony
on ways to determine appropriate funding levels for NSF. The
hearing witnesses included academic researchers representing a
wide range of scientific and engineering fields, as well as a
representative from industry. The hearing addressed the
criteria that should be used in setting NSF budget levels and
priorities within the budget, the balance within the federal
R&D portfolio, and the impact of NSF funding levels on
researchers in academia and industry and on the economy.
Witness testimony focused on the current funding level, which
was deemed inadequate, relationships between basic research and
corporate success, and the disparity between biomedical and
physical science funding.
On Thursday, May 9, 2002, the Subcommittee on Research of
the Committee on Science held a hearing to receive testimony on
H.R. 4664, the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of
2002. Witnesses testified on the legislation, which provides
authorizations for NSF for fiscal years 2003, 2004, and 2005,
as well as policy provisions related to major research
facilities funded by the Foundation, interagency coordination
of astronomy research, and public access to meetings of the
NSB. The Committee heard from the Dean of the School of
Engineering at Tufts University, a Professor of Physics at
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the President of the
University of Maryland. The witnesses stated that the increase
in funding for NSF contained in H.R. 4664 is needed to
establish programs and develop teaching tools and curriculum to
improve K-12 science, math, and engineering education; to
attract more students to the sciences, math, and engineering
disciplines; to address the shortage of science- and
engineering-literate workers; to re-energize the physical
sciences; and, in general, to maintain the research enterprise
that feeds the innovation pipeline.
V. Committee Actions
On May 7, 2002, Research Subcommittee Chairman Nick Smith,
Full Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert, Full Committee
Ranking Member Hall, and Ranking Research Subcommittee Member
Eddie Bernice Johnson introduced H.R. 4664, the National
Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002, a bill to
authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2003, 2004, and 2005
for NSF.
The Subcommittee on Research met on Thursday, May 9, 2002,
to consider the bill. An amendment was offered by Chairman
Boehlert that changed the title of the bill to the Investing in
America's Future Act of 2002. The amendment was adopted by a
voice vote. With a quorum present, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson
moved that the Subcommittee favorably report the bill, H.R.
4664, as amended, to the Full Committee on Science with the
recommendation that it be in order for the amendment, adopted
by the Subcommittee, to be considered as an original bill for
the purpose of amendment under the five minute rule at Full
Committee, and that staff be instructed to make technical and
conforming changes to the bill as amended. The motion was
agreed to by a voice vote.
The Full Committee on Science met on Wednesday, May 22,
2002, to consider the bill. An Amendment was offered by
Chairman Boehlert, which made technical changes to the bill and
added provisions providing specific authorizations for the
Advanced Technical Education Program and the Minority Serving
Institutions Undergraduate Program. The amendment was adopted
by a voice vote. With a quorum present, Mr. Hall moved that the
Committee favorably report the bill, H.R. 4664, as amended, to
the House with the recommendation that the bill as amended do
pass, and that the staff be instructed to make technical and
conforming changes to the bill as amended and prepare the
legislative report and that the Chairman take all necessary
steps to bring the bill before the House for consideration. The
motion was agreed to by a voice vote.
VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill
Authorizes appropriations for NSF of
$5,515,260,000 for FY 2003, $6,342,550,000 for FY 2004, and
$7,293,930,000 for FY 2005.
Requires the Director to develop a list of
proposed MREFC projects, ranking the relative priority of each
for funding. Requires the Director to submit the list to
Congress, upon approval of the list by the NSB, along with a
report describing how the projects were prioritized. Prohibits
obligation of MREFC funds until 30 days after the report is
submitted to Congress.
Requires the Director to submit to the Congress
annually a plan for the allocation of appropriated funds for
activities authorized by this Act for the corresponding fiscal
year.
Requires the Director to prepare, and include as
part of the Foundation's annual budget request to Congress, a
plan for the proposed construction of, and repair and upgrades
to, national research facilities, including full life-cycle
cost information.
Requires the Director to conduct a review and
assessment of the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program
and provide a report to Congress.
Directs the Foundation and the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to jointly
establish an Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee to
assess and provide recommendations regarding the coordination
of astronomy and astrophysics programs at each agency and the
status of each agency's activities. Requires the Committee to
transmit, on a yearly basis, a report on its fundings and
recommendations to the Director of the Foundation, the
Administrator of NASA, and the Congress.
Requires the NSF IG to conduct an annual audit of
the compliance of the NSB with the requirements of section 552b
of title 5, U.S. Code, which requires that a federal advisory
committee's meetings be open to the public, and to report to
Congress on the findings of the audit as well as any
recommendations.
VII. Section-by-Section Analysis (by Title and Section)
section 1. short title
``Investing in America's Future Act of 2002.''
section 2. definitions
Defines ``Board'' as the National Science Board established
under section 2 of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950.
Defines ``Director'' as the Director of the National Science
Foundation. Defines ``Foundation'' as the National Science
Foundation. Uses the definition for ``Institution of Higher
Education'' found in the Higher Education Act of 1965. Defines
``National Research Facility'' as a research facility funded by
the Foundation that is available for use by all scientists and
engineers affiliated with research institutions in the United
States. Defines ``United States'' as the States, terrorities,
and possessions of the United States.
section 3. authorization of appropriations
Authorizes appropriations for NSF of $5,515,260,000 for FY
2003; $6,342,550,000 for FY 2004; and $7,293,930,000 for FY
2005.
section 4. obligation of major research and facilities construction
funds.
Prohibits NSF from obligating funds authorized for the
MREFC account in FY 2003 until 30 days after the first report
required under section 6 is transmitted to Congress.
Correspondingly prohibits obligation of funds for the MREFC
account in FY 2004 and 2005 until updated versions of the same
report have been submitted to Congress.
section 5. annual plan for allocation of funding
Requires that the Director submit a yearly plan, subsequent
to the passage of legislation providing appropriations for NSF,
describing the allocation of funds for activities authorized
for the corresponding fiscal year. Requires for the Research
and Related Activities account, a description of how the
allocation of funding (1) will affect the average size and
duration of research grants supported by the Foundation; (2)
will affect trends in research support for major fields and
sub-fields of science, mathematics, and engineering, including
for emerging multi-disciplinary research areas; and (3) is
designed to achieve an appropriate balance among major fields
and subfields of science, mathematics, and engineering.
section 6. proportional reduction
Requires that, if the overall amount appropriated for the
Foundation is less than the amount authorized, the amount
available for each Foundation account be reduced by the same
proportion. Similarly, requires that any amounts appropriated
for the specifically-mentioned Research and Related Activities
(RRA) sub-activities (information technology research, the
Nanoscale Science and Engineering and the Mathematical Sciences
priority areas, MRI) be reduced by the same proportion if the
amount appropriated for the RRA account is less than the amount
authorized.
section 7. national research facilities
Requires the Director to submit to the Congress a report
containing a list developed by the Director and approved by the
Board ranking by number the relative priority for projects
proposed to be funded under the MREFC account. Also requires
that a description of the criteria used to develop the list,
and a description of the major factors for each project that
determined its ranking on the list, be provided.
Amends section 201 of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 1998 to (1) require the annual report on
national research facilities to be included as part of the
Foundation's annual budget request to Congress and contain full
life-cycle cost information, and (2) define ``full life-cycle
cost'' as all costs of development, procurement, construction,
operations and support, and shut down costs, without regard to
funding source and without regard to what entity manages the
project. Also requires that national research facility projects
funded under the MREFC account be managed by individuals whose
appointments to the Foundation are not temporary.
section 8. major research instrumentation
Requires the Director to conduct a review and assessment of
the MRI program and provide a report to Congress. The report is
to include estimates of the needs of institutions of higher
education for research instrumentation by major field of
science and engineering; the distribution of awards and funding
levels by year and by major field for the MRI program; and an
analysis of the impact of the MRI program on the research
instrumentation needs that were documented in the Foundation's
1994 survey of academic research instrumentation needs.
section 9. astronomy and astrophysics advisory committee
Directs the Foundation and NASA to jointly establish as
Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee to assess and
provide recommendations regarding the coordination of astronomy
and astrophysics programs at each agency and the status of each
agency's activities as they relate to the recommendations
contained in the National Research Council's 2001 report
entitled Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium.
Requires the Committee to transmit, on a yearly basis, a report
on its findings and recommendations to the Director of the
Foundation, the Administrator of NASA, and the Congress.
section 10. board meetings
Requires the NSF IG to conduct an annual audit of the
compliance of the NSB with the requirements of section 552b of
title 5, U.S. Code to determine wither the Board is in
compliance with the administrative requirements of the Act,
which requires that a federal advisory committee's meetings be
open to the public, and to report to Congress on the findings
of the audit as well as any recommendations.
VIII. Committee Views
Grant award issues
The Committee believes that the current size and duration
of many NSF awards is insufficient to fully fund many research
projects from start to finish. The average NSF grant in FY 2001
was $112,000 and lasted 2.9 years. The Committee is concerned
that many researchers are spending inordinate amounts of time
applying for grants and attempting to piece together the funds
necessary for research projects, including funding for the
students, postdoctoral fellows, and staff who work on these
projects. In addition, the Committee is concerned that the
relatively short grant duration often precludes or makes
exceedingly difficult the planning of long-term projects,
including those that involve researchers from different
disciplines. The Committee intends for NSF to increase the size
and time period of grant awards, thus allowing researchers more
time to engage in research activities and teaching.
At the same time, the Committee recognizes the importance
of ensuring that an increase in grant size and duration does
not come at the expense of awarding additional grants.
Currently, NSF is forced to decline support for significant
numbers of highly rated grant applications because funds for
them do not exist. NSF funds only about a third of the grant
applications it receives, and 13 percent of the grant
applications rated most highly by merit review committees go
unfunded. The Committee is particularly concerned that scarce
amounts of funding may be driving researchers to become overly
conservative and to avoid high risk/high payoff research, or
simply to leave certain fields altogether. The committee
believes that the increases provided in the Investing in
America's Future Act of 2002 for the RRA account--15 percent in
FY 2003, 14 percent in 2004, and 15 percent in 2005--will
enable the Foundation to significantly increase grant size and
duration while at the same time awarding the same or greater
numbers of total grants.
Balance in the federal research and development portfolio
The Committee is concerned that there may be an imbalance
in federal funding between the biomedical sciences and other
fields of science, mathematics, and engineering. Over the past
decade, total federal funding for the physical sciences has
remained essentially flat while funding for the biomedical
sciences has skyrocketed. In fact, a recent National Academy of
Sciences report found that the total amount of federal support
for physics research declined 24.6 percent in real dollars
between 1992 and 1998. In contrast, funding for biomedical
research increased 36 percent over the same time period and an
additional 85 percent between 1999 and 2002. Funding for
biomedical research currently amounts for more than 50 percent
of total civilian research.
Underfunding one major area of science can be detrimental
to well funded areas, since the latter cannot draw on important
innovations that would potentially be produced by the former.
For example, if NSF had not funded the research that led to the
discovery of nuclear magnetic resonance, magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) technology, which is used to detect tumors and
internal tissue damage in patients and to investigate
differences in brain tissue, might not be available today.
Other significant inventions that stemmed from discoveries made
by NSF-funded researchers and spurred discoveries in other
fields include the Internet, fiber optics, Doppler radar, bar
codes, data compression technology, edible vaccines, automated
DNA sequencers, and nanotechnology.
While the Committee is of the opinion that the
mathematical, physical, and information sciences and
engineering disciplines have been significantly underfunded,
the Committee also recognizes that greater funding for other
disciplines, including the non-biomedical life sciences and the
social sciences is also necessary. While the Committee gives
NSF the responsibility to determine funding levels among the
different directorates and divisions, the Committee strongly
believes that all disciplines for which NSF provides support
should receive significant budget increases. The authorizations
provided by the Investing in America's Future Act of 2002
provide sufficient funds to allow these increases across all
fields funded by the Foundation.
Funding for core and priority research programs
Research within the RRA account can be analyzed in terms of
``core'' research activities, which describes research that
fits within a particular discipline, such as astronomy,
chemistry, mathematics, and ``priority areas'' which are multi-
disciplinary research area that cut across directorates. The
Committee urges NSF to carefully evaluate the balance between
the core and priority research areas, and ensure that funding
for core research remains strong.
Investments in selected priority areas
The Committee applauds the Foundation's efforts to bring
together scientists from diverse and sometimes seemingly
unrelated disciplines to study topics of national interest and/
or emerging disciplines. The Committee encourages NSF to
continue to promote collaborations between researchers in
diverse fields as well as in different sub-fields.
The Committee has strongly supported and made information
technology research a priority for over a decade. Last year,
the Committee passed H.R. 3400, the Networking and Information
Technology Research Advancement Act, which authorized funds for
networking and information technology research at NSF--in
coordination with other federal agencies--in keeping with the
High Performance Computing Act of 1991. Continuing the pace of
information technology research is becoming increasingly
difficult. For example, as semiconductors become ever smaller,
faster, and cheaper, the physical limits of the processes used
to make them are rapidly approaching. Future research
breakthroughs are needed to ensure that semiconductor memory
costs will continue to decrease, while microprocessor speed
continues to increase. The benefits to the national economy
from these productivity improvements promise to far exceed the
added investments in basic science required to realize them.
In addition to the priority areas specifically authorized
in the bill, the Committee fully supports the NSF budget
proposal for the new priority area in the Social, Behavioral
and Economic Sciences included in the FY 2003 budget request.
These sciences are poised to take advantage of new tools,
larger grants, and multidisciplinary cooperation to explore the
social and behavioral aspects of many fundamental human and
societal questions, such as: how people learn; how children
develop; the ethical, legal, and social implications of
technological advances; geographic patterns and processes; and
innovation and change in organizations and firms. The Committee
encourages NSF to sustain and provide for future growth for
this initiative.
Also, the Committee supports the FY 2003 budget request for
Biocomplexity and the Environment, which provides a focal point
for scientists from different disciplines to work together to
understand complex environmental systems, including the roles
of humans in shaping these systems. This priority area has
promise for leading to a comprehensive understanding of
interrelationships that arise when living things interact with
their environment at all levels, from molecular structures to
genes to organisms to ecosystems to urban centers.
Education and human resources
The Committee believes that the science, technology, and
mathematics education programs supported by NSF are critical to
stimulating education reform in the United States. The
education initiatives authorized in Committee-generated
legislation aimed at improving K-12 and undergraduate science,
mathematics, engineering, and technology education, H.R. 1858
and H.R. 3130, respectively, will strengthen these efforts
further. The Committee expects funds authorized by this Act to
fund programs authorized by H.R. 1858 and H.R. 3130.
Advanced Technological Education program
The Committee intends that the funding increase above the
FY 2002 appropriations level provided by this authorization for
the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program be used for
existing activities under the program and for funding the
activities authorized under section 13 of the Undergraduate
Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology Education
Improvement Act, H.R. 3130, as reported by the Sciences
Committee.
Minority Serving Institutions
The authorization of appropriations for Education and Human
Resources for FY 2003 designates $30 million for the Minority
Serving Institutions Undergraduate Program, which is
established under section 12 of the Undergraduate Science,
Mathematics, Engineering and Technology Education Improvement
Act, H.R. 3130, as reported by the Science Committee. The
Committee intends that the Minority Serving Institutions
Undergraduate Program encompass the existing Historically Black
Colleges and Universities-Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) and
Tribal Colleges and Universities Program as well as the newly
created programs for Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Alaska
Native-Serving Institutions, and Native Hawaiian-Serving
Institutions. The new Minority Serving Institutions
Undergraduate Program should have the same overall goals and
objectives as HBCU-UP. The Committee expects the Program to
continue beyond FY 2003 and to be funded at a level consistent
with meeting its goals.
National research facilities
The Committee strongly believes that cutting-edge, world-
class research requires not only talented scientists and
engineers, but also a state-of-the art science and engineering
infrastructure. In addition, the Committee believes that
providing scientists and engineers with the necessary equipment
and facilities is part of NSF's mission. Therefore, it is the
Committee's intent that the funding increases authorized for
MREFC be used to reduce the backlog of large research and
equipment facilities construction projects approved by the NSB
and awaiting funding.
Prioritization and selection of major research equipment and facilities
awards
The Committee continues to be concerned that the lack of
transparency in the MREFC planning, evaluation, prioritization
and selection process has caused uncertainty and confusion
about the prospect for the funding of major facilities. In
section 7(a), the Committee has specified a process for the
prioritization and selection of MREFC projects. As part of this
process, the Director is to develop a list of the proposed
projects, ranking the relative priority of each for funding,
and submit the list of the Board for review. The list, which
must be submitted to Congress, must first be approved by the
NSB. The Committee expects that, while the Board has final say
on the ranking of the items on the list, the list submitted to
Congress is acceptable to both the Director and the Board. The
list submitted to Congress must also be accompanied by a report
describing how the projects were prioritized. The Committee
expects the report to include: (1) a detailed description of
the criteria used to develop the list and (2) a description of
the major factors for each project that determined its ranking
on the list.
Because of its concern about the lack of transparency in
the planning, evaluation, prioritization, and selection of
MREFC awards, the Committee has included a requirement, as
specified in section 4 of the Act, prohibiting the obligation
of any appropriate MREFC account funds for FY 2003 until 30
days after the Director has submitted to the Congress the
report specified in section 7(a). While the Committee realizes
that the Director will have a limited amount of time in which
to fulfill these requirements so that funds appropriated for FY
2003 can be obligated in a timely manner, the Committee
believes that it is essential that transparency be added to the
process before additional awards are made. It is the
Committee's intention that the ranked list, due by June 15 in
subsequent years, be used by the Foundation in formulating the
next years' budget request (e.g. the list submitted this year
shall be used to inform the FY 2004 budget process), and the
Committee expects an explanation of any deviations from the
NSB-approved list contained in the corresponding budget
request.
Plan for costs associated with national research facilities
In section 7(b), the Committee has modified the requirement
for the annual submittal to Congress of a plan for national
research facilities enacted by the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 1998, a requirement with which NSF has
never fully complied. The Committee intends that this document
provide a full description of the Foundation's plan for the
proposed construction of, and repair and upgrades to, national
research facilities, including full life-cycle cost
information. Also, the Committee realizes that estimated
funding profiles for projects in the earlier stages of
development are subject to change. However, the Committee seeks
information about potential resource requirements for
infrastructure improvements and expects estimated schedule and
cost profiles to be included for all projects under
consideration.
In addition to information on construction plans, the plan
should include a status report on all construction projects
currently underway. The purpose of the reporting requirement is
to formally document the status of construction projects,
including the total funding allocated to each project from all
federal and non-federal sources, and to reinforce the
Committee's view on the need for high level management
attention at NSF to major facilities construction projects.
Also, the report is expected to provide the Committee with
information on the phasing out of existing facilities and with
estimates of the funding planned to support research that will
make use of national facilities. The Committee also continues
to expect that NSF will inform the Committee, at the time they
are identified, of problems that will significantly impact cost
or schedule for major construction projects.
Management of MREFC projects
As indicated in section 7(c), the Committee has included a
requirement precluding the Foundation's use of temporary
employees to manage national research projects funded under the
MREFC account. Such projects span multiple years, are complex,
and usually involve several phases of design and
implementation, construction, and operation. The Committee
believes management continuity will help project delays and
cost overruns.
It is not the intention of the Committee to restrict the
use of temporary employees over all the Foundation's programs.
The Committee recognizes that a number of management positions
at NSF are held by temporary employees who come from colleges,
universities, the private sector, and other government agencies
to work at NSF for three years or less. This practice is
beneficial to the agency because it brings researchers from
colleges and universities to work for a few years at the
Foundation, thereby drawing on their in-depth and cutting edge
knowledge of a particular field of research. However, the
Committee believes that the assignment of temporary employees
to long-term projects is not in the best interests of those
projects or the Foundation.
Major research instrumentation
The MRI program was initiated in FY 1994 to enable academic
institutions to acquire research instrumentation too expensive
to be bought with funds from a standard research grant. The
Foundation's periodic surveys of instrumentation needs at
academic institutions provided the rationale for the MRI
program. The last such survey in 1994 found that 42 percent of
respondents (1) judged their instrumentation to be ``inadequate
or poor'' for enabling them to pursue their major research
interests using existing research facilities, and (2) estimated
that it would cost $1.4 billion to bring their research
instrumentation to an adequate level.
Between FY 1994 and FY 2000, the MRI program was funded at
$50 million per year. Congress raised the appropriation for MRI
to $75 million for both FY 2001 and FY 2002, despite continued
NSF requests for $50 million for the program. The bill
authorizes funding for FY 2003 at the FY 2002 appropriations
level and increases the authorization to $85 million for FY
2004.
In light of the 1994 report, the MRI funding level appears
to be insufficient to effect significant improvements in the
program. The Committee supports growth in the MRI program, but
is hampered in setting the appropriate funding level by
insufficient information on the current state of research
instrumentation needs by academic institutions because NSF has
not repeated its instrumentation surveys since the one in 1994.
The Committee expects NSF, in accordance with section 8 of
the bill, to assess the MRI program's impact on the
instrumentation needs identified by the 1994 survey, by field
of science and engineering. The Committee also has specified
that NSF carry out a new instrumentation survey to provide a
basis for determining the scale of current research
instrumentation needs at academic institutions across fields of
science and engineering. The Committee expects NSF to use the
results of the survey to make appropriate changes in the scope
and scale of the MRI program.
Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee
The Committee expects NSF and NASA to coordinate their
respective plans for research in astronomy and astrophysics and
to implement the recommendation of the National Research
Council's Committee on the Management of Research in Astronomy
and Astrophysics for establishment of an advisory committee to
help coordinate astronomy and astrophysics programs among
federal agencies.
The Committee applauds the efforts of the astronomy and
astrophysics research community to carry out a prioritization
of its research facilities needs every ten years. The Committee
explicitly tasks the advisory committee to review the plans of
NSF and NASA in light of the recommendations in the 2001 report
of the National Research Council, Astronomy and Astrophysics in
the New Millennium, which documents the latest decadal
prioritization process.
Board meetings
The Committee is concerned that the meetings of the NSB may
not be in full compliance with the Government in the Sunshine
Act (P.L. 94-409, now incorporated in section 552b of title 5,
U.S. Code), which was intended to make meetings regarding a
federal agency's activities open to the public, with narrow
statutory exemptions. The Committee expects all NSB meetings to
be fully open to the public unless they meet the narrow
statutory exemptions specified in the Sunshine Act and are
appropriately noticed. To determine whether the Board is
complying with the administrative and content requirements of
the Sunshine Act, the Committee has included in section 10 a
requirement for the NSF IG to conduct an annual audit of the
compliance of the NSB with the Act and to report to Congress on
its findings as well as any recommendations.
IX. Cost Estimate
A cost estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 has been timely submitted to
the Committee on Science prior to the filing of this report and
is included in section X of this report pursuant to House rule
XIII, clause 3(c)(3).
H.R. 4664 does not contain new budget authority, credit
authority, or changes in revenues or tax expenditures. Assuming
that the sums authorized under the bill are appropriated, H.R.
4664 does authorize additional discretionary spending, as
described in the Congressional Budget Office report on the
bill, which is contained in section X of this report.
X. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, May 31, 2002.
Hon. Sherwood L. Boehlert,
Chairman, Committee on Science,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4664, the
Investing in America's Future Act of 2002.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Kathleen
Gramp.
Sincerely,
Barry B. Anderson
(For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
Enclosure.
H.R. 4664--Investing in America's Future Act of 2002
Summary: H.R. 4664 would authorize the appropriation of
$19.2 billion for the activities of the National Science
Foundation (NSF) over the 2003-2005 period. If implemented,
NSF's appropriation would increase from $4.8 billion in 2002 to
$7.3 billion in 2005--an average annual increase of about 15
percent. In addition, the bill would establish an advisory
committee on astronomy and astrophysics, which would be jointly
administered by NSF and the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
Assuming appropriation of the specified amounts, CBO
estimates that implementing this bill would cost $17.5 billion
over the 2003-2007 period. The bill would not affect direct
spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would
not apply.
H.R. 4664 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal
governments. The bill would benefit public universities by
authorizing substantial grant funding to institutions of higher
education, including public universities, for scientific and
technical education. Any costs incurred by public universities
would be voluntary.
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary impact of H.R. 4664 is shown in the following table.
For this estimate, CBO assumes that the amounts authorized will
be appropriated each year and that outlays will occur at rates
similar to those of existing NSF programs. The costs of this
legislation fall within budget function 250 (general science,
space, and technology).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
-----------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
NSF spending under current law:
Budget authority \1\...................... 4,789 0 0 0 0 0
Estimated outlays......................... 4,141 3,221 1,121 327 124 45
Proposed changes:
Authorization level \1\................... 0 5,515 6,343 7,294 0 0
Estimated outlays......................... 0 1,389 4,108 5,659 4,703 1,646
NSF spending under H.R. 4664:
Authorization level \1\................... 4,789 5,515 6,343 7,294 0 0
Estimated outlays......................... 4,141 4,610 5,229 5,986 4,827 1,691
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2002 level is the amount appropriated for that year.
Pay-as-you-go considerations: None.
Estimated impact on state, local, and tribal governments:
H.R. 4664 contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined in
UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal
governments. The bill would benefit public universities by
authorizing substantial grant funding to institutions of higher
education, including public universities, for scientific and
technical education. Any costs incurred by public universities
would be voluntary.
Estimated impact on the private sector: This bill contains
no new private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA.
Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Kathleen Gramp; impact
on state, local, and tribal governments: Elyse Goldman; impact
on the private sector: Patrice Gordon.
Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
XI. Compliance With Public Law 104-4
H.R. 4664 contains no unfunded mandates.
XII. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
The Committee on Science's oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
XIII. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives
Pursuant to clause (3)(c)(4) of House rule XIII, the goals
and objectives of H.R. 4664 are to authorize appropriations for
NSF for fiscal years 2003, 2004, and 2005, and to impose
requirements related to major research facilities funded by the
Foundation, interagency coordination of astronomy research, and
public access to meetings of the NSB.
XIV. Constitutional Authority Statement
Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United
States grants Congress the authority to enact H.R. 4664.
XV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement
The functions of the advisory committee established by H.R.
4664 are not currently being nor could they be performed by one
or more agencies or by enlarging the mandate of another
existing advisory committee.
XVI. Congressional Accountability Act
The Committee finds that H.R. 4664 does not relate to the
terms and conditions of employment or access to public services
or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of
the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104-1).
XVII. Statement on Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law
This bill is not intended to preempt any state, local, or
tribal law.
XVIII. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1998
* * * * * * *
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(3) Full life-cycle cost.--The term ``full life-cycle
cost'' means all costs of development, procurement,
construction, operations and support, and shut down
costs, without regard to funding source and without
regard to what entity manages the project.
[(3)] (4) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the
National Science Board established under section 2 of
the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C.
1861).
[(4)] (5) United states.--The term ``United States''
means the several States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam,
American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, and any other territory or possession
of the United States.
[(5)] (6) National research facility.--The term
``national research facility'' means a research
facility funded by the Foundation which is available,
subject to appropriate policies allocating access, for
use by all scientists and engineers affiliated with
research institutions located in the United States.
* * * * * * *
TITLE II--GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 201. NATIONAL RESEARCH FACILITIES.
(a) Facilities Plan.--
[(1) In general.--Not later than December 1, of each
year, the Director shall, as part of the annual budget
request, prepare and submit to Congress a plan for the
proposed construction of, and repair and upgrades to,
national research facilities.]
(1) In general.--The Director shall prepare, and
include as part of the Foundation's annual budget
request to Congress, a plan for the proposed
construction of, and repair and upgrades to, national
research facilities, including full life-cycle cost
information.
(2) Contents of the plan.--The plan shall include--
(A) estimates of the costs for the
construction, repairs, and upgrades described
in paragraph (1), including costs for
instrumentation development;
(B) estimates of the costs for the operation
and maintenance of existing and proposed new
facilities; [and]
(C) in the case of proposed new construction
and for major upgrades to existing facilities,
funding profiles, by fiscal year, and
milestones for major phases of the
construction[.];
(D) for each project funded under the Major
Research Equipment and Facilities Construction
account--
(i) estimates of the total project
cost (from planning to commissioning);
and
(ii) the source of funds, including
Federal funding identified by
appropriations category and non-Federal
funding;
(E) estimates of the full life-cycle cost of
each national research facility;
(F) information on any plans to retire
national research facilities; and
(G) estimates of funding levels for grants
supporting research that will make use of each
national research facility.
* * * * * * *
XIX. Committee Recommendations
On May 22, 2002, a quorum being present, the Committee on
Science favorably reported H.R. 4664, the Investing in
America's Future Act of 2002, by a voice vote, and recommended
its enactment.