Description:
H.R. 3293 would require that new National Science Foundation (NSF) grants advance the national interest, as defined in the bill, before funding may be awarded by the agency. Examples of advancing the national interest would include increasing economic competitiveness, advancing the health and welfare of the public, or supporting the national defense of the United States. Under the legislation, NSF also would be required to make a public announcement of each award of federal funding and explain how it would advance those interests.
The legislation would not change NSF’s authority to make grants and, based on information from NSF, CBO expects that explaining how the agency’s grants advance the national interest would not increase the foundation’s administrative expenses.
Enacting H.R. 3293 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 3293 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2026.
H.R. 3293 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
