ARPA-E and the FY2016 Budget Request (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised June 17, 2015 |
| Report Number |
R43986 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Heather B. Gonzalez, Specialist in Science and Technology Policy |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
The Advanced Research Projects AgencyâEnergy, or ARPA-E, was established within the Department of Energy to "overcome the long-term and high-risk technological barriers in the development of energy technologies" (P.L. 110-69, §5012). Patterned after the widely lauded Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)âwhich played a key role in the development of critical technologies such as satellite navigation and the InternetâARPA-E has supported more than 400 energy technology research projects since Congress first funded it in FY2009.
This budget and appropriations tracking report describes selected major items from the Administration's FY2016 budget request for ARPA-E and tracks legislative action on FY2016 appropriations to the agency. It also provides selected historical funding data. This report has been updated to include House-passed amounts for FY2016. It will be updated to include FY2016 Senate-passed amounts and final enacted FY2016 appropriations.
Overall, the Obama Administration has requested $325 million for ARPA-E in FY2016, a $45 million (16%) increase over the FY2015 enacted level of $280 million. The House-passed Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016 (H.R. 2028) would provide $280 million to ARPA-E in FY2016. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a "Statement of Administration Policy" opposing the House-passed version of H.R. 2028. OMB cited a number of factors in its decision to oppose H.R. 2028 as passed by the House, including insufficient funding levels for ARPA-E. As reported by the Senate Committee on Appropriations, H.R. 2028 would provide $291 million to ARPA-E in FY2016.
With the exception of FY2013âwhen ARPA-E was subject to reductions as a result of certain rescissions and under the process commonly known as sequestrationâCongress has funded ARPA-E at about $280 million since FY2012.
