On April 17, the Senate Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee approved its version of the fiscal year (FY) 2013 appropriations bill, which funds the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and Economic Development Administration (EDA). The bill is a mixed bag for these agencies, of which NSF and NIST are the clearest winners as they would receive substantial increases over their FY 2012 funding levels. NASA Science also fares well. However, the bill would deal a heavy blow to NOAA, by transferring its weather satellite programs to NASA, while EDA would receive a decrease below the FY 2012 level. The Subcommittee passed the bill on a 17 to one vote with Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) as the lone opposing vote.

Although the overall CJS bill would cut $1 billion from the FY 2012 level, it is important to note there is low likelihood of Congress passing any appropriations bills for FY 2013 before the November elections as there is an extreme divide between both Democrats and Republicans, as well as between the House and Senate. The Senate plans to write the appropriations bills at the level agreed to last August in the Budget Control Act while the House bills will be a total of $19 billion lower.

While no details are available regarding specific NSF priorities and programs, the bill would fund the National Science Foundation at $7.3 billion, down $100 million (1.4 percent) from the President’s FY 2013 budget request, but $240 million or 3.4 percent above the FY 2012 level.

Senate CJS Appropriations Bill, FY 2013

As reported by the Senate CJS Appropriations Subcommittee, 4/17/12

(In thousands)

* Senate CJS numbers reflect amounts from the Subcommittee press release, which have been rounded. Exact numbers are not yet available.

† The increase to NASA reflects the proposal to move NOAA’s satellite procurement and management activities to NASA. Without this large increase, the Senate CJS bill would cut NASA by $41.5 million below the FY 2012 level.

‡ The cut to NOAA reflects a proposal to move of NOAA’s satellite procurement and management activities, which constitute more than one-third of the agency’s budget, to NASA.

For additional information, including the Subcommittee’s press release, please see the Senate CJS Appropriations Subcommittee website at: http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news.cfm?method=news.view&id=6bc432b7-656b-4930-b0cf-bd3deef4fc3a.