National Science Foundation (NSF)

Sustained federal funding for the science and engineering research, educational, and partnership programs administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Issues Before Congress

The President's budget request for NSF for FY 1998 is $3.4 billion - a three percent increase over FY 1997 appropriations. However, the FY 97 figure includes a carryover of $33 million., resulting in an increase of only 1.9 % in the administration's FY 98 request. From FY 1994 to FY 1997, the NSF science and technology budget has increased only 1.8% in constant (1997) dollars. The administration and many congressional officials paint this increase as substantial in the current budget environment. This kind of increase and those of the last few years, however, will not sustain the level of scientific progress to which our nation has become accustomed.

Champions and Players

Even though no member of Congress will admit to being opposed to research and education, few in Congress are true champions for NSF. During the FY 96 budget stalemate that closed the federal government, despite pleas for interim funding such as that provided to NIH, Congress would not help NSF. Similarly, congressional initiatives have called for budget increases for NIH - but not for NSF.

Supporting Arguments

Basic research provides the knowledge base that helps our Nation realize its full scientific and technological potential. NSF-funded basic research provides training to the Nation's science, mathematics, and engineering students - ensuring that they have the solid background necessary for a scientific or technological career in industry, government, or academe. Innovations that have come out of long-term basic research include magnetic resonance imaging, the Internet, global environmental advances, biomedical breakthroughs, and many others.

A well-recognized and pressing need exists for improvement in national science and mathematics learning at all educational levels. Federal support for science and math education helps to ensure a scientifically literate workforce, and well-trained scientists and engineers for the future. NSF's education programs are especially important because they are innovative in approach and designed to have a broad impact on teachers and students alike.

Today's economy is driven by biotechnology, imaging, environmental technologies, polymers, decision theory, sensors, optoelectronics, and high-speed computing and communications technologies. For the U.S. to stay on the cutting edge in these areas requires sustained fundamental research and a population of workers with high levels of technological skill. NSF serves these vital functions - as well as supporting science that will yield new breakthroughs in the future.

NSF is the fifth largest source of research funding in the federal government and is the sole federal agency tasked with maintaining the health of basic research and science education. The Foundation funds research and education in the sciences and engineering. It does this through peer reviewed grants and cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 schools, businesses and other research institutions. NSF receives nearly 30,000 proposals each year for research, education, and training projects, of which approximately one-third are funded. Several thousand applications for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships are also received each year. The Foundation involves over 60,000 scientists and engineers annually in various advisory capacities for both program direction and specific proposals.

Posted: December 31, 1997