DC Digest - April 14, 2011 - Details of Final FY11 Appropriations Bill
DC Digest Special Edition: More Details of FY11 Spending Package
MORE DETAILS OF FINAL FY11 SPENDING PACKAGE --RESEARCH PROVISIONS National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Science Foundation (NSF) Pell Grants
The FY11 continuing resolution (CR) negotiated last Friday to fund the federal government for the remainder of the fiscal year would reduce federal spending by about $38.5 billion from FY10 levels, including a 0.2 percent across-the-board (ATB) cut in domestic discretionary programs. The measure would preserve the maximum Pell Grant award at $5,550 and make relatively modest cuts to basic research programs at most of the major federal agencies.
The House began consideration of the package (H.R. 1473) on Wednesday, with the expectation of final votes today. Despite grumbling about the CR from all sides, the package is expected to pass the House tomorrow, followed later in the day by the Senate. The President has indicated he will sign it. The current short-term CR expires at the end of the day on Friday, April 15.
The following information provides information on research and student aid/higher education programs in greater detail than the DC Digest sent on April 12.
(Where applicable, the impact of the bill’s across the board (ATB) 0.2 percent cut in non-defense discretionary spending is discussed separately from the base numbers.)
An analysis by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) notes that basic research programs fared better than applied research programs, particularly at the Department of Energy (DOE). As stated in the analysis: “Basic research generally has broad, bipartisan support, but there is discussion as to how much the federal government should be involved in applied research and the role of industry in funding the applied research state of the innovation pipeline.”
NIH would receive $30.7 billion in FY11, a cut of $260 million (0.8 percent) from the FY10 level. The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research reports that $210 million would come from a pro rata reduction across the institutes, centers, and the Office of the Director, with another $50 million cut from the intramural buildings and facilities account. Adding in the ATB cut of 0.2 percent would raise the total NIH reduction to about $300 million (one percent). This compares to a cut of $1.6 billion approved by the House earlier this year in H.R. 1.
There is no reference in the bill to the Cures Acceleration Network. The measure also does not include the statutory mandate on the number and size of NIH grants that was part of H. R. 1 and strongly opposed by the university research community.
NSF would receive $6.8 billion in FY11, a cut of $67 million (one percent) from the FY10 level. This includes $5.5 billion for the Research and Related Activities Directorate, an increase of $11.1 million (0.2 percent) over FY10, and $862 million for the Education and Human Resources Directorate, a cut of $10.7 million (1.2 percent) from FY10.
NASA
Science would receive $4.945 billion in FY11, a significant cut of $448 million (10 percent) from the FY10 level of $4.497 billion. Aeronautics would receive $535 million, an increase of $38 million (8 percent) above the FY10 level of $497 million. Education programs at NASA would be funded at $145 million, $35 million (19 percent) below the FY10 level of $180.1 million. The CR includes no funding for NASA’s Space Technology program.
Department of Energy (DOE)
The DOE Office of Science would receive $4.9 billion in FY11, a cut of $46.1 million from current levels, but about $264 million below the President’s FY11 request. However, the Office of Science would no longer be obligated to fund the $77 million in earmarks contained in the FY10 final appropriations bill, mitigating the impact of the cuts. (H.R. 1 would have cut the Office of Science budget by $883 million. The applied research-oriented Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program would receive $1.8 billion, a $408-billion (18.4 percent) cut from current levels.
The measure includes $180 million for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), which is $130 million above H.R. 1 and $180 million above FY10.
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
The NEH budget would be cut by $12.5 million from current funding of $167.5 million. This would preliminarily reduce funding for the Endowment to $155 million, the same level appropriated to the agency in FY09. Adding in the 0.2 percent ATB cut results in a final funding level of $154.7 million.
Department of Defense (DOD)
DOD 6.1 basic research would be funded largely at the Pentagon’s FY11 request level. For FY11, overall 6.1 basic research would be funded at approximately $1.95 billion, which is about a $130 million or seven-percent increase over FY10. The following is a breakout of 6.1 accounts by service:
• Army 6.1 basic research accounts would be funded at $403.3 million, $3.6 million below the FY11 request and $16.9 million below FY10.
• Navy 6.1 basic research accounts would be funded at $556.4 million, the same as the FY11 request and $12.5 million above FY10.
• Air Force 6.1 basic research accounts would be funded at $500.5 million, the same as the FY11 request, but $18.4 million below FY10.
• Defense Wide 6.1 basic research accounts would be funded at $486.9 million, $48.1 million below the FY11 request, but $109.8 million above FY10.
For Defense-Wide 6.1 basic research, two accounts were not funded at the levels requested by the Pentagon. Defense Research Services would receive $295.7 million, which is $32.5 million less that the request, but about $100 million above the FY10 funding level of $194 million. The National Defense Education Program would receive $94.3 million, which is $15.6 million below the request, but $19 million above FY10.
--STUDENT AID AND HIGHER EDUCATION PROVISIONS
The CR maintains the maximum $5,550 Pell Grant for the 2011-12 academic year. In contrast, H.R. 1 called for an $845 cut to the maximum grant, reducing it to $4,705. The 0.2 percent ATB cut in discretionary spending will not affect Pell Grants.
Eliminating Year-Round Pell
The CR calls for a permanent repeal of the year-round Pell Grant, beginning with the second scheduled award for the 2011-2012 academic year. This proposal was included in the President’s FY12 budget request. The elimination is projected to save $3 billion in FY11 and a total of $9 billion from FY11 to FY16, effectively helping lower the $20 billion Pell Grant shortfall projected by the Department of Education in the 2012-13 academic year.
NOTE: AAU has prepared the following budget estimates by first taking the 0.2 percent ATB cut in each affected program and then subtracting the specific cut made to that program. House Appropriations Committee staff expect to publish detailed funding charts soon.
Campus-Based Student Aid Programs
SEOG declined by $20 million plus the 0.2 percent ATB cut, reducing its funding to $736 million. Federal Work-Study also is cut by the 0.2 percent across-the board reduction, reducing its budget to $978.5 million.
TRIO is cut by $25 million plus the 0.2 percent ATB reduction, reducing its funding to $826.4 million. GEAR UP is cut by $20 million, plus the 0.2 percent reduction, reducing its funding to $302.6 million. LEAP is eliminated (it was funded at $63.9 million in FY10).
Graduate Education
The Javits Fellowship Program is cut by $1.6 million plus the 0.2 percent ATB reduction, reducing its funding to $8.07 million. The GAANN program is cut by the 0.2 percent ATB reduction, reducing its funding to $31 million.
Title VI International Education
The cuts to Title VI programs remain unclear. The text of the CR reflects a 0.2 percent ATB reduction, cutting funding to $125.6 million (a reduction of $251,762). But House documents and staff have stated that the programs are cut an additional $50.3 million (40 percent) on top of the 0.2 percent reduction.