LegiStorm

Summary:

The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports both basic research and education in the nonmedical sciences and engineering. Congress established the foundation in 1950 and directed it to “promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense; and for other purposes.” The NSF is a primary source of federal support for U.S. university research, especially in certain fields such as mathematics and computer science. It is also responsible for significant shares of the federal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education program portfolio and federal STEM student aid and support. The NSF is an independent federal agency. Although governed by the congressional and administration budget and oversight processes, NSF’s independent status has provided it with greater institutional autonomy than some other federal agencies. Some analysts assert that this autonomy protects NSF’s scientific mission. However, it may also be perceived as existing in tension with other public values, such as accountability. The tension between independence and accountability is an enduring policy theme for the NSF. It is reflected in debates over the foundation’s authorization period and the role (if any) of Congress in grant-making and research prioritization. NSF is the second-largest source of federal funding for basic research. Between FY2008 and FY2013, increases in the NSF budget were driven by the doubling policy for physical sciences and engineering (PS&E) research. The PS&E doubling policy sought to double funding for NSF and targeted accounts at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Department of Energy. Although this policy was authorized and reauthorized in the America COMPETES Act (P.L. 110-69) and America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-358)—and was pursued by both the George W. Bush and Obama Administrations—actual appropriations increased, but did not reach authorized levels. PS&E doubling provisions expired in FY2013. The Administration has not expressly pursued the PS&E doubling, and legislators have not enacted measures to reauthorize the policy, since then. In addition to its research responsibilities, NSF is the only federal agency whose primary mission includes education across all fields of science and engineering. Funding for STEM education activities at NSF typically constitutes about a third of the total federal STEM education effort. Key questions for the 114th Congress focus on the Obama Administration’s overall effort to reorganize the federal STEM education effort and the consequences of those changes for STEM education programs at NSF; the direction of the overarching federal STEM education strategy and NSF’s role therein; as well as funding for STEM education at the foundation, as a percentage of total NSF appropriations. NSF received $7.344 billion (estimated) in FY2015. The FY2016 request is for $7.724 billion. Typically, about 80% of the NSF budget supports the main research account, 12% or so supports the main education account, 3% to 5% supports facilities and construction, and the remainder supports administrative and related activities. Since FY2006, NSF appropriations have been included in annual Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations acts. Major NSF authorizations expired in FY2013. At least two bills to reauthorize the foundation were introduced in the 113th Congress (H.R. 4186 and H.R. 4159). The 114th Congress has begun consideration of bills containing selected provisions from these acts.