Federal Research and Development Funding:
FY2018
(name redacted), Coordinator
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
July 10, 2017
Congressional Research Service
7-....
www.crs.gov
R44888
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Summary
President Trump’s budget request for FY2018 includes $117.697 billion for research and
development (R&D). This represents a $30.605 billion (20.6%) decrease from the FY2016 actual
level of $148.302 billion (FY2017 enacted levels were not available at the time of publication).
Adjusted for inflation, the President’s FY2018 R&D request represents a constant dollar decrease
of 23.6% from the FY2016 actual level.
However, in 2016 the Office of Management and Budget changed the definition used for
“development” to “experimental development.” This new definition was used in calculating R&D
in the FY2018 budget but no adjustments were made to data reported for FY2016 or FY2017 data
to reflect the new definition. OMB asserts that the definitional change results in the exclusion of
$33.547 billion from FY2018 requested R&D funding (DOD and NASA) that would have been
included in previous years. According to OMB, these funds are being requested in the FY2018
budget, but no longer classified as R&D. Thus, applying the prior definition for R&D, aggregate
federal R&D in the Trump Administration’s budget for FY2018 would represent a $2.942 billion
(2.0%) increase over FY2016; in constant dollars, federal R&D would be down $2.837 billion or
1.9%. The DOD and VA would receive increased R&D funding for FY2018. The other major
federal R&D funding agencies would see their R&D budgets reduced under the President’s
budget.
The request represents the President’s R&D priorities; Congress may opt to agree with none, part,
or all of the request, and it may express different priorities through the appropriations process. In
particular, Congress will play a central role in determining the allocation of the federal R&D
investment in a period of intense pressure on discretionary spending. Budget caps may limit
overall R&D funding and may require movement of resources across disciplines, programs, or
agencies to address priorities.
Funding for R&D is concentrated in a few departments and agencies. Under President Trump’s
FY2018 budget request, eight federal agencies would receive 96.5% of total federal R&D
funding, with the Department of Defense (45.4%) and the Department of Health and Human
Services (22.2%) combined accounting for more than two-thirds of all federal R&D funding.
President’s Trump’s FY2018 budget is largely silent on funding levels for a number of
multiagency R&D initiatives in President Obama’s FY2017 request, including the National
Nanotechnology Initiative, Networking and Information Technology Research and Development
program, U.S. Global Change Research Program, Brain Research through Advancing Innovative
Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) initiative, Precision Medicine Initiative, Cancer Moonshot,
Materials Genome Initiative, National Robotics Initiative, and National Network for
Manufacturing Innovation. However, some activities supporting these initiatives are discussed in
agency budget justifications and reported in the agency analyses in this report.
In recent years, Congress has completed the annual appropriations process after the start of the
fiscal year. Failure to complete the process by the start of the fiscal year and the accompanying
use of continuing resolutions can affect agencies’ execution of their R&D budgets, including the
delay or cancellation of planned R&D activities and the acquisition of R&D-related equipment.
Congressional Research Service
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
The President’s FY2018 Budget Request ........................................................................................ 3
Federal R&D Funding Perspectives ................................................................................................ 3
Federal R&D by Agency ........................................................................................................... 4
Federal R&D by Character of Work, Facilities, and Equipment ............................................... 6
Federal Role in U.S. R&D by Character of Work ..................................................................... 7
Federal R&D by Agency and Character of Work Combined .................................................... 7
Multiagency R&D Initiatives .......................................................................................................... 9
Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program ...................... 9
U.S. Global Change Research Program .................................................................................... 9
National Nanotechnology Initiative ........................................................................................ 10
Other Initiatives ....................................................................................................................... 10
FY2018 Appropriations Status ...................................................................................................... 10
Department of Defense .................................................................................................................. 12
Department of Health and Human Services .................................................................................. 15
National Institutes of Health ................................................................................................... 15
Department of Energy ................................................................................................................... 21
National Aeronautics and Space Administration ........................................................................... 23
National Science Foundation ......................................................................................................... 26
Department of Agriculture ............................................................................................................. 30
Agricultural Research Service ................................................................................................. 30
National Institute of Food and Agriculture ............................................................................. 31
National Agricultural Statistics Service .................................................................................. 32
Economic Research Service .................................................................................................... 32
Department of Commerce ............................................................................................................. 33
National Institute of Standards and Technology ..................................................................... 34
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ................................................................ 35
Department of Veterans Affairs ..................................................................................................... 38
Department of the Interior ............................................................................................................. 41
U.S. Geological Survey ........................................................................................................... 41
Other DOI Components .......................................................................................................... 42
Department of Transportation........................................................................................................ 43
Federal Aviation Administration ............................................................................................. 44
Federal Highway Administration ............................................................................................ 44
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ................................................................... 44
Other DOT Components ......................................................................................................... 44
Department of Homeland Security ................................................................................................ 46
Directorate of Science and Technology (S&T) ....................................................................... 46
Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) ......................................................................... 46
Environmental Protection Agency ................................................................................................. 48
Congressional Research Service
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Tables
Table 1. Federal Research and Development Funding by Agency, FY2016-FY2018 ..................... 5
Table 2. Federal R&D Funding by Character of Work and Facilities and Equipment,
FY2016-FY2018 .......................................................................................................................... 6
Table 3. Top R&D Funding Agencies by Character of Work, Facilities,
and Equipment, FY2016-FY2018 ................................................................................................ 8
Table 4. Alignment of Agency R&D Funding and Regular Appropriations Bills ..........................11
Table 5. Department of Defense RDT&E ..................................................................................... 14
Table 6. National Institutes of Health Funding.............................................................................. 19
Table 7. Department of Energy R&D and Related Activities ........................................................ 23
Table 8. National Aeronautics and Space Administration R&D.................................................... 25
Table 9. National Science Foundation Funding............................................................................. 29
Table 10. U.S. Department of Agriculture R&D ........................................................................... 33
Table 11. National Institute of Standards and Technology Funding .............................................. 35
Table 12. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration R&D ............................................. 37
Table 13. Department of Veterans Affairs R&D ............................................................................ 39
Table 14. Department of Veterans Affairs Amounts by Designated Research Areas .................... 40
Table 15. Department of the Interior R&D.................................................................................... 43
Table 16. Department of Transportation R&D Activities and Facilities ....................................... 45
Table 17. Department of Homeland Security R&D Accounts ....................................................... 47
Table 18. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Science and Technology (S&T)
Account ...................................................................................................................................... 51
Appendixes
Appendix. Acronyms and Abbreviations ........................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Appendix. CRS Contacts for Agency R&D .................................................................................. 57
Contacts
Author Contact Information .......................................................................................................... 58
Congressional Research Service
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Introduction
The 115th Congress continues its interest in U.S. research and development (R&D) and in
evaluating support for federal R&D activities. The federal government has played an important
role in supporting R&D efforts that have led to scientific breakthroughs and new technologies,
from jet aircraft and the internet to communications satellites, shale gas extraction, and defenses
against disease. However, widespread concerns about the federal debt and recent and projected
federal budget deficits are driving difficult decisions about the prioritization of R&D, both in the
context of the entire federal budget and among competing needs within the federal R&D
portfolio.
The U.S. government supports a broad range of scientific and engineering R&D. Its purposes
include specific concerns such as addressing national defense, health, safety, the environment,
and energy security; advancing knowledge generally; developing the scientific and engineering
workforce; and strengthening U.S. innovation and competitiveness in the global economy. Most
of the R&D funded by the federal government is performed in support of the unique missions of
individual funding agencies.
The federal R&D budget is an aggregation of the R&D activities of each federal agency. There is
no single, centralized source of R&D funds allocated to individual agencies. Agency R&D
budgets are developed internally as part of each agency’s overall budget development process and
may be included either in accounts that are entirely devoted to R&D or in accounts that include
funding for non-R&D activities. These budgets are subjected to review, revision, and approval by
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and become part of the President’s annual budget
submission to Congress. The federal R&D budget is then calculated by aggregating the R&D
activities of each federal agency.
Congress plays a central role in defining the nation’s R&D priorities as it makes decisions about
the level and allocation of R&D funding—overall, within agencies, and for specific programs.
Some Members of Congress have expressed concerns about the level of federal spending (for
R&D and for other purposes) in light of the current federal deficit and debt. Other Members of
Congress have expressed support for increased federal spending for R&D as an investment in the
nation’s future competitiveness. As Congress acts to complete the FY2018 appropriations
process, it faces two overarching issues: the extent to which federal R&D investments can be
made in the face of increased pressure on discretionary spending and the prioritization and
allocation of the available funding. Budget caps may limit overall R&D funding and may require
movement of resources across disciplines, programs, or agencies to address priorities. Moving
funding between programs/accounts/agencies can be complex and difficult because the funding
for different programs/accounts/agencies is often provided through different appropriations bills.
This report begins with a discussion of the overall level of President Trump’s FY2018 R&D
request, followed by analyses of the R&D funding request from a variety of perspectives and for
selected multiagency R&D initiatives. The report concludes with discussion and analysis of the
R&D budget requests of selected federal departments and agencies that, collectively, account for
nearly 99% of total federal R&D funding. Selected terms associated with federal R&D funding
FY2018
August 14, 2017
(R44888)
Jump to Main Text of Report
Summary
President Trump's budget request for FY2018 includes $117.697 billion for research and development (R&D). This represents a $30.605 billion (20.6%) decrease from the FY2016 actual level of $148.302 billion (FY2017 enacted levels were not available at the time of publication). Adjusted for inflation, the President's FY2018 R&D request represents a constant dollar decrease of 23.6% from the FY2016 actual level.
However, in 2016 the Office of Management and Budget changed the definition used for "development" to "experimental development." This new definition was used in calculating R&D in the FY2018 budget, but no adjustments were made to data reported for FY2016 or FY2017 data to reflect the new definition. OMB asserts that the definitional change results in the exclusion of $33.547 billion from FY2018 requested R&D funding (DOD and NASA) that would have been included in previous years. According to OMB, these funds are being requested in the FY2018 budget, but no longer classified as R&D. Thus, applying the prior definition for R&D, aggregate federal R&D in the Trump Administration's budget for FY2018 would represent a $2.942 billion (2.0%) increase over FY2016; in constant dollars, federal R&D would be down $2.837 billion, or 1.9%. The DOD and VA would receive increased R&D funding for FY2018. The other major federal R&D funding agencies would see their R&D budgets reduced under the President's budget.
The request represents the President's R&D priorities; Congress may opt to agree with none, part, or all of the request, and it may express different priorities through the appropriations process. In particular, Congress will play a central role in determining the allocation of the federal R&D investment in a period of intense pressure on discretionary spending. Budget caps may limit overall R&D funding and may require movement of resources across disciplines, programs, or agencies to address priorities.
Funding for R&D is concentrated in a few departments and agencies. Under President Trump's FY2018 budget request, eight federal agencies would receive 96.5% of total federal R&D funding, with the Department of Defense (45.4%) and the Department of Health and Human Services (22.2%) combined accounting for more than two-thirds of all federal R&D funding.
President's Trump's FY2018 budget is largely silent on funding levels for a number of multiagency R&D initiatives in President Obama's FY2017 request, including the National Nanotechnology Initiative, Networking and Information Technology Research and Development program, U.S. Global Change Research Program, Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) initiative, Precision Medicine Initiative, Cancer Moonshot, Materials Genome Initiative, National Robotics Initiative, and National Network for Manufacturing Innovation. However, some activities supporting these initiatives are discussed in agency budget justifications and reported in the agency analyses in this report.
In recent years, Congress has completed the annual appropriations process after the start of the fiscal year. Failure to complete the process by the start of the fiscal year and the accompanying use of continuing resolutions can affect agencies' execution of their R&D budgets, including the delay or cancellation of planned R&D activities and the acquisition of R&D-related equipment.
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Introduction
The 115th Congress continues its interest in U.S. research and development (R&D) and in evaluating support for federal R&D activities. The federal government has played an important role in supporting R&D efforts that have led to scientific breakthroughs and new technologies, from jet aircraft and the Internet to communications satellites, shale gas extraction, and defenses against disease. However, widespread concerns about the federal debt and recent and projected federal budget deficits are driving difficult decisions about the prioritization of R&D, both in the context of the entire federal budget and among competing needs within the federal R&D portfolio.
The U.S. government supports a broad range of scientific and engineering R&D. Its purposes include specific concerns such as addressing national defense, health, safety, the environment, and energy security; advancing knowledge generally; developing the scientific and engineering workforce; and strengthening U.S. innovation and competitiveness in the global economy. Most of the R&D funded by the federal government is performed in support of the unique missions of individual funding agencies.
The federal R&D budget is an aggregation of the R&D activities of each federal agency. There is no single, centralized source of R&D funds allocated to individual agencies. Agency R&D budgets are developed internally as part of each agency's overall budget development process and may be included either in accounts that are entirely devoted to R&D or in accounts that include funding for non-R&D activities. These budgets are subjected to review, revision, and approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and become part of the President's annual budget submission to Congress. The federal R&D budget is then calculated by aggregating the R&D activities of each federal agency.
Congress plays a central role in defining the nation's R&D priorities as it makes decisions about the level and allocation of R&D funding—overall, within agencies, and for specific programs. Some Members of Congress have expressed concerns about the level of federal spending (for R&D and for other purposes) in light of the current federal deficit and debt. Other Members of Congress have expressed support for increased federal spending for R&D as an investment in the nation's future competitiveness. As Congress acts to complete the FY2018 appropriations process, it faces two overarching issues: the extent to which federal R&D investments can be made in the face of increased pressure on discretionary spending and the prioritization and allocation of the available funding. Budget caps may limit overall R&D funding and may require movement of resources across disciplines, programs, or agencies to address priorities. Moving funding between programs/accounts/agencies can be complex and difficult because the funding for different programs/accounts/agencies is often provided through different appropriations bills.
This report begins with a discussion of the overall level of President Trump's FY2018 R&D request, followed by analyses of the R&D funding request from a variety of perspectives and for selected multiagency R&D initiatives. The report concludes with discussion and analysis of the R&D budget requests of selected federal departments and agencies that, collectively, account for nearly 99% of total federal R&D funding. Selected terms associated with federal R&D funding are defined in the text box on the next page. Appendix A provides a list of acronyms and
abbreviations.
Congressional Research Service
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
abbreviations.
Definitions Associated with Federal Research and Development Funding
Two key sources of definitions associated with federal research and development funding are the White House Office
of Management and Budget and the National Science Foundation.
Office of Management and Budget. The Office of Management and Budget provides the following definitions of
R&D-related terms in OMB Circular No. A-11,
“"Preparation, Submission, and Execution of the Budget
”" (July 2016).
This document provides guidance to agencies in the preparation of the President
’'s annual budget and instructions on
budget execution. As reflected in the July 2016 update, OMB has adopted a refinement to the categories of R&D,
replacing
“development” with “"development" with "experimental development,
”" which more narrowly defines the set of activities to be
included, resulting in lower reported R&D by some agencies, including the Department of Defense and the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration. This definition is used in the President
’'s FY2018 budget, but the figures for
earlier years have not been adjusted.
Conduct of Research. Research and experimental development (R&D) activities are defined as creative and
systematic work undertaken in order to increase the stock of knowledge—including knowledge of people, culture,
and society—and to devise new applications using available knowledge.
Basic Research. Basic research is defined as experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire
new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts. Basic research may include
activities with broad or general applications in mind, but should exclude research directed towards a specific
application or requirement.
Applied Research. Applied research is defined as original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new
knowledge. Applied research is, however, directed primarily towards a specific practical aim or objective.
Experimental Development.
Experimental Development. Experimental development is creative and systematic work, drawing on
knowledge gained from research and practical experience, which is directed at producing new products or
processes or improving existing products or processes. Like research, experimental development will result in
gaining additional knowledge.
R&D Equipment. R&D equipment includes amounts for major equipment for research and development.
Includes acquisition, design, or production of major movable equipment, such as mass spectrometers, research
vessels, DNA sequencers, and other major movable instruments for use in R&D activities. Includes programs of
$1 million or more that are devoted to the purchase or construction of major R&D equipment
R&D Facilities. R&D facilities includes construction of facilities that are necessary for the execution of an R&D
program. This may include land, major fixed equipment, and supporting infrastructure such as a sewer line or
housing at a remote location.
National Science Foundation. The National Science Foundation
provides the following definitions of R&D-related
terms in its Science and Engineering Indicators: 2016 report.
Research and Development. Research and development, also called research and experimental development;
comprises creative work undertaken on a systematic basis to increase the stock of knowledge—including
knowledge of man, culture, and society—and its use to devise new applications.
Basic Research. The objective of basic research is to gain more comprehensive knowledge or understanding of
the subject under study without specific applications in mind. Although basic research may not have specific
applications as its goal, it can be directed in fields of present or potential interest. This is often the case with basic
research performed by industry or mission-driven federal agencies.
Applied Research. The objective of applied research is to gain knowledge or understanding to meet a specific,
recognized need. In industry, applied research includes investigations to discover new scientific knowledge that
has specific commercial objectives with respect to products, processes, or services.
Development. Development is the systematic use of the knowledge or understanding gained from research
directed toward the production of useful materials, devices, systems, or methods, including the design and
development of prototypes and processes.
Congressional Research Service
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
The President’
The President's FY2018 Budget Request
On May 23, 2017, President Trump released his proposed FY2018 budget. This report provides
government-wide, multiagency, and individual agency analyses of the President
’'s FY2018 request
as it relates to R&D and related activities. Additional information and analysis will be included as
the House and Senate act on the President
’'s budget request through appropriations bills that
provide funding for R&D and related activities.
For FY2018, the Trump Administration is using a new definition for development (
“experimental
development”"experimental development"), drawn up in 2016 by the Obama Administration (see box entitled
“"Caveats With
Respect to Analysis of the FY2018 Budget Request
”" for a more detailed explanation) in its R&D
calculations. The new definition excludes some activities previously characterized as
development in previous budgets. The Trump Administration did not, however, provide
adjustments to its FY2016 R&D data based on this new definition. For purposes of this section of
the report, CRS is providing additional lines in Table 1
, , Table 2
, and , and Table 3 that adjust the
FY2018 Department of Defense (DOD), National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA), and development and total R&D figures by the amounts the Office of Management and
Budget has stated were excluded under the new definition ($31.036 billion and $2.511 billion
respectively) to allow for a more accurate comparison between years.
1
1
Under the new definition, President Trump is proposing $117.697 billion for R&D. Adjusting this
figure to include an additional $33.547 billion of development funding that is being requested for
DOD and NASA but not counted in the President
’'s budget under the experimental development
definition, the President
’'s request is $151.244 billion, an increase of $2.942 billion (2.0%) over
the comparable FY2016 level.
22 Adjusted for inflation, the President
’'s FY2018 adjusted R&D
request represents a constant dollar decrease of 1.9% from the FY2016 actual level.
3
3
The President
’'s R&D request includes continued funding of existing single agency and
multiagency programs and activities, as well as new initiatives. Single agency initiatives
are discussed in their respective sections of this report. Multiagency initiatives are
discussed in the section
“"Multiagency R&D Initiatives
.”
."
Federal R&D Funding Perspectives
Federal R&D funding can be analyzed from a variety of perspectives that provide different
insights. The following sections examine the data by agency, by the character of the work
supported, by a combination of these two perspectives, and by whether R&D is defense-related or
not.
1
Email correspondence from OMB to CRS on May 26, 2017.
Funding levels included in this document are in current dollars unless otherwise noted. Inflation diminishes the
purchasing power of federal R&D funds, so an increase that falls short of the inflation rate may reduce real purchasing
power.
3
As calculated by CRS using the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (chained) price index for FY2017 and FY2018 in
Table 10.1, “Gross Domestic Product and Deflators Used in the Historical Tables: 1940–2022,” Budget of the United
States Government, Fiscal Year 2018,
https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/budget/fy2018/hist10z1.xls.
2
Congressional Research Service
3
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
not.
Caveats with Respect to Analysis of the FY2018 Budget Request
A number of factors complicate the analysis of changes in R&D funding for FY2018, both in aggregate and for selected
agencies. For example:
For FY2018, OMB replaced the R&D category
“development”"development" with a subset referred to as
“experimental
development”"experimental development" in an effort that OMB asserts would better align its data with the data collected by the National
Science Foundation on its multiple R&D surveys, and to be consistent with international standards. According to
OMB, this change reduces reported R&D funding by approximately $33.5 billion in FY2018 (of which $31.036
billion is attributable to DOD, and $2.511 billion is attributable to NASA); while these funds are being requested
as part of the FY2018 budget, they are not characterized as R&D. OMB opted not to apply the category revision
to earlier fiscal years in the FY2018 budget so there is no comparable data for FY2016 or FY2017. Relevant
changes in agency guidance were embodied in a July 2016 update to OMB Circular No. A-11, as discussed earlier
(see box titled,
“"Definitions Associated with Federal Research and Development Funding
”).
").
Several large NASA Human Exploration and Space Operations programs will transition from the development
phase to operations in FY 2018, and will no longer be counted as part of NASA
’'s R&D funding.
Due to the late completion of the FY2017 appropriations process, FY2017 enacted budget authority was not
available at the time the FY2018 budget was prepared. Accordingly, OMB included FY2017 annualized continuing
resolution (CR) R&D funding levels in place of FY2017 enacted budget authority. However, enactment of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 in May 2017, rendered the FY2017 annualized CR levels obsolete.
Where FY2017 enacted levels were available, this report compares FY2018 request levels to FY2017 enacted
levels. Where FY2017 enacted levels were not available, this report compares FY2018 request levels to FY2016
actual levels; in those cases, as FY2017 enacted levels become available, the agency analyses in this report will be
updated.
In President Obama
’'s FY2017 budget, a change in the Department of Energy
’'s reporting of administrative
expenses led to an increase in reporting of R&D investments
“"on the order of $2 to $3 billion a year.
”
"In addition, inconsistency among agencies in the reporting of R&D and the inclusion of R&D activities in accounts with
non-R&D activities may result in different figures being reported by OMB and the White House Office of Science and
Technology Policy (OSTP), including those shown in Table 1, and those in agency budget analyses that appear later in
this report.
Federal R&D by Agency
Congress makes decisions about R&D funding through the authorization and appropriations
processes primarily from the perspective of individual agencies and programs. Table 1 provides
data on R&D by agency for FY2016 (actual) and FY2018 (request).
44 Data for FY2017 (enacted)
were not included in the president
’'s FY2018 budget due to the late completion of the FY2017
budget process in May 2017.
Under President Trump
’'s FY2018 budget request, eight federal agencies would receive more than
96% of total federal R&D funding: the Department of Defense (DOD), 45.4%; Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) (primarily the National Institutes of Health
(NIH)[NIH]), 22.2%;
Department of Energy (DOE), 11.4%; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),
8.8%; National Science Foundation (NSF), 4.6%; Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1.7%;
Department of Commerce (DOC), 1.3%; and Veterans Affairs (VA), 1.2%. This report provides
an analysis of the R&D budget requests for these agencies, as well as for the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS), Department of the Interior (DOI), Department of Transportation
(DOT), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Setting aside the aforementioned caveats, nearly every federal agency would see its R&D funding
decrease under the President
’'s FY2018 request compared to their FY2016 levels. The only
4
EOP, OMB, Analytical Perspectives, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2018, May 23, 2017, pp.
203-205, https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Analytical_Perspectives.
Congressional Research Service
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
agencies with increased R&D funding in FY2018 would be the Department of Veterans Affairs
(up $135 million, 11.0%), the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund (up $64 million,
13.6%), and the Smithsonian Institution (up $53 million, 21.1%). However, applying the previous
definition of R&D to the FY2018 data (to allow for comparability to FY2016 data), DOD R&D
funding would receive the largest dollar increase, rising by $13.011 billion (18.2%).
5
5
The largest declines (as measured in dollars) would occur in the budgets of HHS (down $6.099
billion, 18.9%), DOE (down $1.809 billion, 11.9%), USDA (down $666 million, 25.1%), NSF
(down $639 million, 10.6%), and the EPA (down $239 million, 46.3%). Applying the previous
definition of R&D to the FY2018 data (to allow for comparability to FY2016 data), NASA R&D
would decline by $415 million (3.1%).
6
6
Table 1. Federal Research and Development Funding by Agency, FY2016-FY2018
(
(Please note definitional difference in FY2016 and FY2018 data as described in the table notes
)
(budget authority, dollar amounts in millions)
Change, FY2016-FY2018
Department/Agency
FY2016
Actual
FY2018
Request
Department of Defense
$71,421
$53,396
n/a
$84,432
$13,011
18.2
-18.9
Department of Defense (adjusted)
Dollar
Percent
n/a
Dept. of Health and Human Services
32,243
26,144
Department of Energy
15,217
13,408
-6,099
-1,809
NASA
13,253
10,327
n/a
12,838
-415
-3.1
NASA (adjusted)
-11.9
n/a
National Science Foundation
6,010
5,371
-639
-10.6
Department of Agriculture
2,657
1,991
-666
-25.1
Department of Commerce
1,681
1,567
-114
-6.8
Department of Veterans Affairs
1,222
1,357
135
11.0
Department of Transportation
927
923
-4
-0.4
Department of the Interior
973
818
-155
-15.9
Department of Homeland Security
582
564
-18
-3.1
Environmental Protection Agency
516
277
-239
-46.3
-2.9
Other
1,600
1,554
-46
Total
$148,302
$117,697
n/a
$148,302
$151,244
$2,942
Total (adjusted)
n/a
2.0
Source: CRS analysis of data from Executive Office of the President (EOP), Office of Management and Budget,
)
(budget authority, dollar amounts in millions)
Change, FY2016-FY2018
|
Department/Agency
|
FY2016Actual
FY2018Request
Dollar
|
Percent
|
Department of Defense
|
Department of Defense (adjusted)
|
Dept. of Health and Human Services
|
Department of Energy
|
NASA
|
NASA (adjusted)
|
National Science Foundation
|
Department of Agriculture
|
Department of Commerce
|
Department of Veterans Affairs
|
Department of Transportation
|
Department of the Interior
|
Department of Homeland Security
|
Environmental Protection Agency
|
Other
|
Total
|
Total (adjusted)
|
Source: CRS analysis of data from Executive Office of the President (EOP), Office of Management and Budget, Analytical Perspectives, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2018, May 23, 2017, p. 203-205,
https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
budget/Analytical_Perspectives.
Notes: budget/Analytical_Perspectives.
5
DOD R&D would be $31.036 billion higher for FY2018 using the FY2016 definition of R&D than reported by OMB
for FY2018 using the new definition. Email correspondence from OMB to CRS on May 26, 2017.
6
NASA R&D would be $2.511 billion higher for FY2018 using the FY2016 definition of R&D than reported by OMB
for FY2018 using the new definition. Email correspondence from OMB to CRS on May 26, 2017.
Congressional Research Service
5
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Note:
Amounts in this table may differ from amounts reported in the agency chapters of this report due to a variety of
factors.
Figures shown in italics have been adjusted to include certain development work at DOD and NASA that is
being requested in the FY2018 budget, but not counted by the Office of Management and Budget as R&D under
the new definition of development that OMB adopted in 2016 (discussed earlier) and has applied to its reported
FY2018 data; this adjustment provides greater comparability to the FY2016 data.
n/a = not applicable; FY2018 unadjusted DOD and NASA R&D figures are not comparable to FY2016 data.
Federal R&D by Character of Work, Facilities, and Equipment
Federal R&D funding can also be examined by the character of work it supports—basic research,
applied research, or development—and by funding provided for construction of R&D facilities
and acquisition of major R&D equipment. (See Table 2.) President Trump
’'s FY2018 request
includes $28.936 billion for basic research, down $3.977 billion (12.1%) from FY2016; $33.485
billion for applied research, down $3.562 billion (9.6%); $53.194 billion for (experimental)
development (data not comparable to FY2016); and $2.082 billion for facilities and equipment,
down $500 million (19.4%). Using the FY2016 definition for development, President Trump
’s
's budget includes $86.741 billion in development funding for FY2018, an increase of $10.981
billion (14.5%) above the FY2016 level. The $33.5 billion difference in funding between the new
and old definitions of development is being requested in the FY2018 budget, but is not being
reported as R&D.
Table 2. Federal R&D Funding by Character of Work and Facilities and Equipment,
FY2016-FY2018
(
(Please note definitional difference in FY2016 and FY2018 data as described in the table notes
)
)
(budget authority, dollar amounts in millions)
Change, FY2016-FY2018
FY2016
Actual
FY2018
Request
Dollar
$32,913
$28,936
-$3,977
-12.1
Applied research
37,047
33,485
-3,562
-9.6
Development
75,760
53,194
n/a
86,741
10,981
14.5
2,582
2,082
-500
-19.4
$148,302
$117,697
n/a
$151,244
$2,942
Basic research
Development (adjusted)
Facilities and Equipment
Total
Total (adjusted)
Percent
n/a
n/a
2.0%
Source: CRS analysis of data from Executive Office of the President (EOP), Office of Management and Budget,
Change, FY2016-FY2018
|
FY2016Actual
FY2018 Request
|
Dollar
|
Percent
|
Basic research
|
Applied research
|
Development
|
Development (adjusted)
|
Facilities and Equipment
|
Total
|
Total (adjusted)
|
Source: CRS analysis of data from Executive Office of the President (EOP), Office of Management and Budget, Analytical Perspectives, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2018, May 23, 2017, p. 203-205,
https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
budget/Analytical_Perspectives.
Notes: budget/Analytical_Perspectives.
Notes:
Figures shown in italics have been adjusted to include certain development work at DOD and NASA that is
being requested in the FY2018 budget, but not counted by the Office of Management and Budget as R&D under
the new definition of development that OMB adopted in 2016 (discussed earlier) and has applied to its reported
FY2018 data; this adjustment provides greater comparability to the FY2016 data.
n/a = not applicable; FY2018 unadjusted DOD and NASA R&D figures are not comparable to FY2016 data.
Congressional Research Service
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Federal Role in U.S. R&D by Character of Work
A primary policy justification for public investments in basic research and for incentives (e.g., tax
credits) for the private sector to conduct research is the view, widely held by economists, that the
private sector will, left on its own, underinvest in basic research from a societal perspective. The
usual argument for this view is that the social returns (i.e., the benefits to society at large) exceed
the private returns (i.e., the benefits accruing to the private investor, such as increased revenues or
higher stock value). Other factors that may inhibit corporate investment in basic research include
long time horizons for commercial applications (diminishing the potential returns due to the time
value of money), high levels of technical risk/uncertainty, shareholder demands for shorter-term
returns, and asymmetric and imperfect information.
The federal government is the nation
’'s largest supporter of basic research, funding 45.4% of U.S.
basic research in 2014.
77 Business funded 27.4% of U.S. basic research in 2014, with state
governments, universities, and other non-profit organizations funding the remaining 27.2%.
8
8
In contrast to basic research, business is the primary funder of applied research in the United
States, accounting for an estimated 51.7% in 2014, while the federal government accounted for an
estimated 36.0%.
9
9
Business also provides the vast majority of funding for development. Business accounted for
82.4% of development in 2014, while the federal government provided 16.0%.
10
10
Federal R&D by Agency and Character of Work Combined
Combining these perspectives, federal R&D funding can be viewed in terms of each agency
’s
's contribution to basic research, applied research, development, and facilities and equipment. (See
Table 3.) The overall federal R&D budget reflects a wide range of national priorities, including
supporting advances in spaceflight, developing new and affordable sources of energy, and
understanding and deterring terrorist groups. These priorities and the mission of each individual
agency contribute to the composition of that agency
’'s R&D spending (i.e., the allocation among
basic research, applied research, development, and facilities and equipment). In the President
’s
's FY2018 budget request, the Department of Health and Human Services, primarily NIH, would
account for nearly half (44.3%) of all federal funding for basic research. HHS would also be the
largest federal funder of applied research, accounting for about 39.3% of all federally funded
applied research in the President
’'s FY2018 budget request. DOD would be the primary federal
funder of development, accounting for 86.6% of total federal development funding in the
President’s FY2018 budget request.11
7
CRS analysis of data from the National Science Foundation, National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2014–15 Data
Update, March 14, 2017. More recent data regarding business and other R&D funding are not yet available.
8
Ibid.
9
Ibid.
10
Ibid.
11
EOP, OMB, Analytical Perspectives, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2018, May 23, 2017, pp.
203-205, https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Analytical_Perspectives.
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
President's FY2018 budget request.11
Table 3. Top R&D Funding Agencies by Character of Work, Facilities,
and and Equipment,
FY2016-FY2018
(
(Please note definitional difference in FY2016 and FY2018 data as described in the table notes
)
(budget authority, dollar amounts in millions)
Change, FY2016-FY2018
FY2016
Actual
FY2018
Request
$15,630
12,816
-2,814
-18.0
National Science Foundation
4,841
4,280
-561
-11.6
Dept. of Energy
4,609
3,978
-631
-13.7
16,422
13,158
-3,264
-19.9
Dept. of Energy
6,469
6749
280
4.3
Dept. of Defense
5,058
5,097
39
0.8
64,011
46,047
n/a
n/a
77,083
13,072
20.4
3,955
n/a
n/a
6,466
-728
-10.1
2,981
1,705
-1,276
-42.8
1,158
976
-182
-15.7
National Science Foundation
409
420
11
2.7
Dept. of Commerce
314
376
62
19.7
Dollar
Percent
Basic Research
Dept. of Health and Human Services
Applied Research
Dept. of Health and Human Services
Development
Dept. of Defense
Dept. of Defense (adjusted)
NASA
7,194
NASA (adjusted)
Dept. of Energy
Facilities and Equipment
Dept. of Energy
Source: EOP, OMB, )
(budget authority, dollar amounts in millions)
FY2016 Actual
FY2018 Request
|
Change, FY2016-FY2018
|
Dollar
|
Percent
|
Basic Research
|
Dept. of Health and Human Services
|
-2,814
|
-18.0
|
National Science Foundation
|
-561
|
-11.6
|
Dept. of Energy
|
-631
|
-13.7
|
Applied Research
|
Dept. of Health and Human Services
|
-3,264
|
-19.9
|
Dept. of Energy
|
280
|
4.3
|
Dept. of Defense
|
39
|
0.8
|
Development
|
Dept. of Defense
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Dept. of Defense (adjusted)
|
13,072
|
20.4
|
NASA
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
NASA (adjusted)
|
-728
|
-10.1
|
Dept. of Energy
|
-1,276
|
-42.8
|
Facilities and Equipment
|
Dept. of Energy
|
-182
|
-15.7
|
National Science Foundation
|
11
|
2.7
|
Dept. of Commerce
|
62
|
19.7
|
Source: EOP, OMB, Analytical Perspectives, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2018, May 23, 2017,
pp. 206-207, https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
budget/Analytical_Perspectives.
Notes: budget/Analytical_Perspectives.
Notes:
The top three funding agencies in each category, based on the FY2018 request, are listed.
Figures shown in italics have been adjusted to include certain development work at DOD and NASA that is
being requested in the FY2018 budget, but not counted by the Office of Management and Budget as R&D under
the new definition of development that OMB adopted in 2016 (discussed earlier) and has applied to its reported
FY2018 data; this adjustment provides greater comparability to the FY2016 data.
n/a = not applicable; FY2018 unadjusted DOD and NASA R&D figures are not comparable to FY2016 data.
Congressional Research Service
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Multiagency R&D Initiatives
For many years, presidential budgets have reported on multiagency R&D initiatives and often
provided various levels of detail with respect to agency funding. Some of these efforts have a
statutory basis—for example, Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development (NITRD) program, the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), and the U.S.
Global Change Research Program. These programs generally produce annual budget supplements
identifying objectives, activities, funding levels, and other information, usually published shortly
after the presidential budget release. Other multiagency R&D initiatives have operated at the
discretion of the President without such a basis and may be eliminated at the discretion of the
President. President Trump
’'s FY2018 budget is largely silent on funding levels for these efforts
and whether some or all of the non-statutory initiatives will continue. Some activities related to
these initiatives are discussed in agency budget justifications and may be included in the
agencies’ agencies' analyses in this report. This section provides available information on these initiatives
and will be updated as additional information becomes available.
Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development
Program12
Program12
Established by the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (P.L. 102-194), the Networking and
Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) program is the primary mechanism
by which the federal government coordinates its unclassified networking and information
technology R&D investments in areas such as supercomputing, high-speed networking,
cybersecurity, software engineering, and information management. In FY2017, 21 agencies were
NITRD members; non-member agencies also participate in NITRD activities. NITRD efforts are
coordinated by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee on
Networking and Information Technology Research and Development. Additional NITRD
information can be obtained at https://www.nitrd.gov. This section will be updated when the
NITRD subcommittee publishes its updated budget information.
U.S. Global Change Research
Program13
Program13
The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) coordinates and integrates federal
research and applications to understand, assess, predict, and respond to human-induced and
natural processes of global change. The program seeks to advance global climate change science
and to
“"build a knowledge base that informs human responses to climate and global change
through coordinated and integrated Federal programs of research, education, communication, and
decision support.
”14"14 In FY2017, 13 departments and agencies participated in the USGCRP.
USGCRP efforts are coordinated by the NSTC Subcommittee on Global Change Research.
Additional USGCRP information can be obtained at http://www.globalchange.gov. This section
will be updated when the USGCRP updates its budget information.
12
For additional information on the NITRD program, see CRS Report RL33586, The Federal Networking and
Information Technology Research and Development Program: Background, Funding, and Activities, by (name red
acted)
.
13
For additional information on the USGCRP, see CRS Report R43227, Federal Climate Change Funding from
FY2008 to FY2014, by (name redacted), (name redacted), and (name redacted) .
14
U.S. Global Change Research Program website, http://www.globalchange.gov/about/mission-vision-strategic-plan.
Congressional Research Service
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
National Nanotechnology Initiative15
will be updated when the USGCRP updates its budget information.
National Nanotechnology Initiative15
Launched by President Clinton in his FY2001 budget request, the National Nanotechnology
Initiative (NNI) is a multiagency R&D initiative to advance understanding and control of matter
at the nanoscale, where the physical, chemical, and biological properties of materials differ in
fundamental and useful ways from the properties of individual atoms or bulk matter.
1616 In 2003,
Congress enacted the
21st21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (P.L.
108153108-153), providing a legislative foundation for some of the activities of the NNI. In FY2017, the NNI
included 11 federal departments and independent agencies and commissions with budgets
dedicated to nanotechnology R&D, as well as nine other federal departments and independent
agencies and commissions with responsibilities for health, safety, and environmental regulation;
trade; education; training; intellectual property; international relations; and other areas that might
affect or be affected by nanotechnology. NNI efforts are coordinated by the NSTC Subcommittee
on Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSET). Additional NNI information can be
obtained at http://www.nano.gov. This section will be updated when the NSET subcommittee
publishes its updated budget information.
Other Initiatives
Other Initiatives
Presidential initiatives without statutory foundations in operation at the end of the Obama
Administration, but not explicitly addressed in President Trump
’'s FY2018 budget, include: the
Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (including the National Robotics Initiative
(NRI)[NRI] and the
National Network for Manufacturing Innovation
(NNMI)[NNMI]), the Cancer Moonshot, the BRAIN
Initiative, the Precision Medicine Initiative, the Materials Genome Initiative, and an effort to
doubling federal funding for clean energy R&D. Some of the activities of these initiatives are
discussed in agency budget justifications and the agency analyses in this report.
FY2018 Appropriations Status
The remainder of this report provides a more in-depth analysis of R&D in 12 federal departments
and agencies that, in aggregate, receive nearly 99% of total federal R&D funding. Agencies are
presented in order of the size of their R&D budgets, with the largest presented first. Where
FY2017 enacted levels were available, agency analyses in this report compare FY2018 request
levels to FY2017 enacted levels. Where FY2017 enacted levels were not available, agency
analyses compare FY2018 request levels to FY2016 actual levels; in those cases, as FY2017
enacted levels become available, the agency analyses in this report will be updated.
Annual appropriations for these agencies are provided through 9 of the 12 regular appropriations
bills. For each agency covered in this report, Table 4 shows the corresponding regular
appropriations bill that provides primary funding for the agency, including its R&D activities.
In addition to this report, CRS produces individual reports on each of the appropriations bills.
These reports can be accessed via the CRS website at http://www.crs.gov/iap/appropriations
.
. Also, the status of each appropriations bill is available on the CRS web page, Status Table of
Appropriations Appropriations, available at
http://www.crs.gov/AppropriationsStatusTable/Index.
15
For additional information on the NNI, see CRS Report RL34401, The National Nanotechnology Initiative:
Overview, Reauthorization, and Appropriations Issues, by (name redacted)
16
In the context of the NNI and nanotechnology, the nanoscale refers to lengths of 1 to 100 nanometers. A nanometer
is one-billionth of a meter, or about the width of 10 hydrogen atoms arranged side by side in a line.
Congressional Research Service
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
http://www.crs.gov/AppropriationsStatusTable/Index.
Because of the way that agencies report budget data to Congress, it can be difficult to identify the
portion that is R&D. Consequently, R&D data presented in the agency analyses in this report may
differ from R&D data in the president
’'s budget or otherwise provided by OMB.
Funding for R&D is often included in appropriations line items that also include non-R&D
activities; therefore, in such cases, it may not be possible to identify precisely how much of the
funding provided in appropriations laws is allocated to R&D specifically. In general, R&D
funding levels are known only after departments and agencies allocate their appropriations to
specific activities and report those figures.
Table 4. Alignment of Agency R&D Funding and Regular Appropriations Bills
Department/Agency
Regular Appropriations Bill
Department of Defense
Department of Defense Appropriations Act
Department of Health and Human Services
- National Institutes of Health
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and
Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act
Department of Energy
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act
National Science Foundation
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act
Department of Agriculture
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
Department of Commerce
- National Institute of Standards and Technology
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of Veterans Affairs
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act
Department of the Interior
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act
Department of Transportation
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act
Environmental Protection Agency
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act
Source:
|
Department/Agency
|
Regular Appropriations Bill
|
|
Department of Defense
|
Department of Defense Appropriations Act
|
Department of Health and Human Services- National Institutes of Health
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
|
|
Department of Energy
|
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
|
|
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
|
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
|
|
National Science Foundation
|
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
|
|
Department of Agriculture
|
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
|
Department of Commerce- National Institute of Standards and Technology- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
|
|
Department of Veterans Affairs
|
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
|
|
Department of the Interior
|
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
|
|
Department of Transportation
|
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
|
|
Department of Homeland Security
|
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act
|
|
Environmental Protection Agency
|
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
|
Source: CRS Report R40858, Locate an Agency or Program Within Appropriations Bills
, by [author name scrubbed].
Department of Defense17
, by (name redacted)
.
Congressional Research Service
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Department of Defense17
The mission of the Department of Defense (DOD) is
“"to provide the military forces needed to
deter war and to protect the security of our country.
”18"18 Congress supports research and
development activities at DOD primarily through the department
’'s Research, Development, Test,
and Evaluation (RDT&E) funding. The appropriation supports the development of the nation
’s
's future military hardware and software and the science and technology base upon which those
products rely.
Nearly all of what DOD spends on RDT&E is appropriated in Title IV of the defense
appropriations bill. (See Table 5.) However, RDT&E funds are also appropriated in other parts of
the bill. For example, RDT&E funds are appropriated as part of the Defense Health Program,
Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction Program, and the National Defense Sealift Fund.
The Defense Health Program (DHP) supports the delivery of health care to DOD personnel and
their families. DHP funds (including the RDT&E funds) are requested through the Defensewide
Operations and Maintenance appropriations request. The program
’'s RDT&E funds support
congressionally directed research on breast, prostate, and ovarian cancer; traumatic brain injuries;
orthotics and prosthetics; and other medical conditions. Congress appropriates funds for this
program in Title VI (Other Department of Defense Programs) of the defense appropriations bill.
The Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction Program supports activities to destroy the U.S.
inventory of lethal chemical agents and munitions to avoid future risks and costs associated with
storage. Funds for this program are requested through the Defensewide Procurement
appropriations request. Congress appropriates funds for this program also in Title VI. The
National Defense Sealift Fund supports the procurement, operation and maintenance, and
research and development associated with the nation
’'s naval reserve fleet and supports a U.S.
flagged merchant fleet that can serve in time of need. The RDT&E funding for this effort is
requested in the Navy
’'s Procurement request and appropriated in Title V (Revolving and
Management Funds) of the appropriation bill.
The Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Fund (JIDF, formerly the Joint Improvised Explosive Device
Defeat Fund) also contains RDT&E monies. However, the fund does not contain an RDT&E line
item as do the programs mentioned above. The Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization
(JIDO), which administers the fund, tracks (but does not report) the amount of funding allocated
to RDT&E. JIDF funding is not included in the table below.
RDT&E funds also have been requested and appropriated as part of DOD
’'s separate funding to
support efforts in what the George W. Bush Administration termed the Global War on Terror
(GWOT), and what the Obama Administration referred to as Overseas Contingency Operations
(OCO). In appropriations bills, the term Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terror
(OCO/GWOT) has been used; President Trump
’'s FY2018 budget uses the term Overseas
Contingency Operations. Typically, the RDT&E funds appropriated for OCO/GWOT activities go
to specified Program Elements (PEs) in Title IV.
In addition, OCO/GWOT-related requests/appropriations have included money for a number of
transfer funds. These have included in the past the Iraqi Freedom Fund (IFF), the Iraqi Security
Forces Fund, the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund, and the Pakistan Counterinsurgency
Capability Fund. Congress typically has made a single appropriation into each of these funds and
17
This section was written by (name redacted), Specialist in Science and Technology Policy, CRS Resources,
Science, and Industry Division.
18
Department of Defense, https://www.defense.gov/.
Congressional Research Service
12
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
authorized the Secretary to make transfers to other accounts, including RDT&E, at his discretion.
These transfers are eventually reflected in Title IV prior year funding figures.
For FY2018, the Trump Administration is requesting $83.328 billion for DOD
’'s Title IV RDT&E
PEs (base and OCO/GWOT), $9.547 billion (12.9%) above the enacted FY2017 level.
In addition to the Title IV RDT&E request, the Administration’s FY2018 request includes $673
million in RDT&E through the Defense Health Program (DHP down $1.429 billion, 68.0%, from
FY2017), $839 million in RDT&E through the Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction
program (up $323 million, 62.6%, from FY2017), and $19 million in RDT&E funding for the
National Defense Sealift Fund, which received no funding in FY2017.
RDT&E funding can be analyzed in different ways. RDT&E funding can be characterized
organizationally. Each of the military departments request and receive their own RDT&E
funding. So, too, do various DOD agencies (e.g., the Missile Defense Agency and the Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency), collectively aggregated within the Defensewide account.
RDT&E funding also can be characterized by budget activity (i.e., the type of RDT&E
supported). Those budget activities designated as 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3 (basic research, applied
research, and advanced technology development, respectively) constitute what is called DOD’s
Science and Technology program (S&T) and represent the more research-oriented part of the
RDT&E program. Budget activities 6.4 and 6.5 focus on the development of specific weapon
systems or components (e.g., the Joint Strike Fighter or missile defense systems), for which an
operational need has been determined and an acquisition program established. Budget activity 6.6
provides management support, including support for test and evaluation facilities. Budget activity
6.7 supports the development of system improvements in existing operational systems.19
Many congressional policymakers are particularly interested in DOD S&T program funding since
these funds support the development of new technologies and the underlying science. Some in the
defense community see ensuring adequate support for S&T activities as imperative to maintaining
U.S. military superiority into the future. The knowledge generated at this stage of development
may also contribute to advances in commercial technologies.
The FY2018 request for Title IV S&T funding (base and OCO/GWOT) is $13.224 billion, $804
million (5.7%) below the enacted FY2017 level.20
Within the S&T program, basic research (6.1) receives special attention, particularly by the
nation’s universities. DOD is not a large supporter of basic research when compared to NIH or
NSF. However, over half of DOD’s basic research budget is spent at universities, and it represents
the major source of funds in some areas of science and technology (such as electrical engineering
and materials science). The Trump Administration is requesting $2.229 billion for DOD basic
research for FY2018. This is $47 million (2.1%) less than the FY2017 enacted level.
19
For additional information on the structure of Defense RDT&E, see CRS Report R44711, Department of Defense
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E): Appropriations Structure, by (name redacted)
20
For this calculation, CRS allocated the $50 million undistributed reduction in FY2017 DARPA funding to DOD S&T
since most DARPA funding (more than 94% in FY2016) supports DOD S&T.
Congressional Research Service
13
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Table 5. Department of Defense RDT&E
(obligational authority, in millions of dollars)
FY2017
Enacted
Budget Account
FY2018
Request
Base + OCO
Base
FY2018
House
OCO
Army
8,675
9,425
119
Navy
17,541
17,675
130
Air Force
28,154
34,914
135
Defensewide
19,221
20,491
226
190
211
0
73,781
82,717
611
6.1 Basic Research
2,276
2,229
0
6.2 Applied Research
5,296
4,973
0
Dir., Operational Test & Eval.
Total Title IV—By
Account
Base
OCO
FY2018
Senate
Base
OCO
FY2018
Enacted
Base
OCO
Budget Activity
6.3 Advanced Dev.
6.4 Advanced Component
Dev.
And Prototypes
6.5 Systems
Dev. And Demo
6.6 Management
Supporta
6.7 Op. Systems Dev.b
Undistributed DARPA
Reduction
Undistributed OCO Funding
Total Title IV—by Budget
Activity
6,456
5,997
25
15,376
17,451
59
12,781
14,671
58
4,575
6,085
0
26,987
31,311
469
73,781
82,717
611
0
19
0
2,102
673
0
516
839
0
3
3
0
76,401
84,251
611
-50
82
Title V—Revolving and
Management Funds
National Defense Sealift Fund
Title VI—Other Defense
Programs
Defense Health Program
Chemical Agents and
Munitions Destruction
Inspector General
Grand Total
Source: CRS analysis of: Department of Defense Budget, Fiscal Year 2018, RDT&E Programs (R‑1), May 2017;
On July 27, 2017, the House passed a "minibus" bill that included four of the regular appropriations acts (Defense, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, Legislative Branch, Energy and Water Development) reported by the House appropriations committee. Defense appropriations were included as Division A of the bill, H.R. 3219 (Defense, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Legislative Branch, and Energy and Water Development National Security Appropriations Act, 2018). The bill includes $82.685 billion for Title IV base RDT&E funding and $1.621 billion in OCO/GWOT base RDT&E funding for a total of $84.306 billion.19 This represents an increase of $10.525 billion (14.3%) over the FY2017 enacted Title IV RDT&E funding level (base and OCO/GWOT), and an increase of $978 million (1.2%) above the request level. The House bill includes $1.000 billion in RDT&E funding in both base and OCO funding ($2.000 billion in total) under a new account entitled National Defense Restoration Fund. The funds in this account are allocated by organization, but not by budget activity (see discussion about budget activities below).
In addition to the Title IV RDT&E request, the Administration's FY2018 request includes $673 million in RDT&E through the Defense Health Program (DHP; down $1.429 billion, 68.0%, from FY2017), $839 million in RDT&E through the Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction program (up $323 million, 62.6%, from FY2017), and $19 million in RDT&E funding for the National Defense Sealift Fund, which received no funding in FY2017.
The House level for DHP is $1.340 billion, a decrease of $762 million (36.3%) from the FY2017 enacted level and an increase of $667 million (99.1%) above the FY2018 request; for the Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction program is $839 million, up $323 million (62.7%) from the FY2017 level and equal to the request; for the National Defense Sealift Fund is zero, equal to the FY2017 enacted level and $19 million below the FY2018 request; and for the Inspector General for RDT&E is $3 million, equal to the FY2017 enacted level and the FY2018 request.
RDT&E funding can be analyzed in different ways. RDT&E funding can be characterized organizationally. Each of the military departments request and receive their own RDT&E funding. So, too, do various DOD agencies (e.g., the Missile Defense Agency and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), collectively aggregated within the Defensewide account. RDT&E funding also can be characterized by budget activity (i.e., the type of RDT&E supported). Those budget activities designated as 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3 (basic research, applied research, and advanced technology development, respectively) constitute what is called DOD's Science and Technology program (S&T) and represent the more research-oriented part of the RDT&E program. Budget activities 6.4 and 6.5 focus on the development of specific weapon systems or components (e.g., the Joint Strike Fighter or missile defense systems), for which an operational need has been determined and an acquisition program established. Budget activity 6.6 provides management support, including support for test and evaluation facilities. Budget activity 6.7 supports the development of system improvements in existing operational systems.20
Many congressional policymakers are particularly interested in DOD S&T program funding since these funds support the development of new technologies and the underlying science. Some in the defense community see ensuring adequate support for S&T activities as imperative to maintaining U.S. military superiority into the future. The knowledge generated at this stage of development may also contribute to advances in commercial technologies.
The FY2018 request for Title IV S&T funding (base and OCO/GWOT) is $13.224 billion, $804 million (5.7%) below the FY2017 enacted level.21 The House level for Title IV S&T funding (base and OCO/GWOT) is $13.8 billion, down $203 million (1.4%) from the FY2017 enacted level and $601 million (4.5%) higher than the request.
Within the S&T program, basic research (6.1) receives special attention, particularly by the nation's universities. DOD is not a large supporter of basic research when compared to NIH or NSF. However, over half of DOD's basic research budget is spent at universities, and it represents the major source of funds in some areas of science and technology (such as electrical engineering and materials science). The Trump Administration is requesting $2.229 billion for DOD basic research for FY2018. This is $47 million (2.1%) less than the FY2017 enacted level. The House would provide $2.280 billion in 6.1 funding, up $4 million (0.2%) from the FY2017 enacted level and $51 million (2.3%) higher than the request.22
Table 5. Department of Defense RDT&E
(obligational authority, in millions of dollars)
Budget Account
|
FY2017Enacted
FY2018Request
FY2018House
FY2018Senate
FY2018 Enacted
Base + OCO
|
Base
|
OCO
|
Base
|
OCO
|
Base
|
OCO
|
Base
|
OCO
|
Army
|
8,675
|
9,425
|
119
|
9,701
|
125
|
Navy
|
17,541
|
17,675
|
130
|
17,239
|
125
|
Air Force
|
28,154
|
34,914
|
135
|
33,896
|
145
|
Defensewide
|
19,221
|
20,491
|
226
|
20,638
|
226
|
Dir., Operational Test & Eval.
|
190
|
211
|
0
|
211
|
Nat'l Defense Restoration Fund
|
1,000
|
1,000
|
Total Title IV—By Account
|
73,781
|
82,717
|
611
|
82,685
|
1,621
|
Budget Activity
|
6.1 Basic Research
|
2,276
|
2,229
|
0
|
2,280
|
0
|
6.2 Applied Research
|
5,296
|
4,973
|
0
|
5,243
|
0
|
6.3 Advanced Dev.
|
6,456
|
5,997
|
25
|
6,277
|
25
|
6.4 Advanced Component Dev. And Prototypes
|
15,376
|
17,451
|
59
|
17,079
|
53
|
6.5 Systems Dev. And Demo
|
12,781
|
14,671
|
58
|
14,172
|
58
|
6.6 Management Supporta
4,575
|
6,085
|
0
|
6,159
|
0
|
6.7 Op. Systems Developmentb
26,987
|
31,311
|
469
|
30,560
|
479
|
Undistributed
|
DARPA Reduction
|
-50
|
-100
|
Management Costs
|
-15
|
Nat'l Defense Restoration Fund
|
1,000
|
1,000
|
OCO Funding
|
82
|
House Floor Amendments
|
30
|
6
|
Total Title IV—by Budget Activity
|
73,781
|
82,717
|
611
|
82,685
|
1,621
|
Title V—Revolving and Management Funds
|
National Defense Sealift Fund
|
0
|
19
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Title VI—Other Defense Programs
|
Defense Health Program
|
2,102
|
673
|
0
|
1,340
|
0
|
Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction
|
516
|
839
|
0
|
839
|
0
|
Inspector General
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
Grand Total
|
76,401
|
84,251
|
611
|
84,867
|
1,621
|
Source: CRS analysis of: Department of Defense Budget, Fiscal Year 2018, RDT&E Programs (R‑1), May 2017; explanatory statement accompanying P.L. 115-31, as published in the Congressional Record, May 3, 2017, Book
II, H3391-H3703;
and Division B, P.L. 114-254
.
; H.R. 3219; and H.Rept. 115-219.
Notes: Figures for the columns headed
“FY2018 House,” “"FY2018 Senate
,”" and
“"FY2018 Enacted
”" will be
added, if available, as each action is completed. Totals may differ from the sum of the components due to
rounding.
a. Includes funding for Director of Test and Evaluation.
b. Includes funding for Classified Programs.
Congressional Research Service
14
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Department of Health and Human Services
The House version of H.R. 3219 does not provide a breakout of RDT&E funding by budget activity; funding by budget activity shown in the FY2018 House column is based on the House committee-reported version of H.R. 3219 and H.Rept. 115-219, with the net effect of House floor amendments accounted for on a separate line as undistributed. n/s = not specified
a.
Includes funding for Director of Test and Evaluation.
b.
Includes funding for Classified Programs.
Department of Health and Human Services
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the federal government
’s “principal
's "principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services,
especially for those who are least able to help themselves.
”21"23 This section focuses on HHS R&D
funded through the National Institutes of Health, an HHS agency which accounts for more than
95% of total HHS R&D funding.
2224 Other HHS agencies that provide funding for R&D include the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality (AHRQ), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the
Administration for Children and Families (ACF).
23
25
National Institutes of
Health24
Health26
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the primary agency of the federal government charged
with performing and supporting biomedical and behavioral research. It also has major roles in
training biomedical researchers and disseminating health information. The NIH mission is
“to
"to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application
of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.
”25 The
agency’"27 The agency's organization consists of the NIH Office of the Director (OD) and 27 institutes and
centers (ICs).
The OD sets overall policy for NIH and coordinates the programs and activities of all NIH
components, particularly in areas of research that involve multiple institutes. The ICs focus on
particular diseases, areas of human health and development, or aspects of research support. Each
IC plans and manages its own research programs in coordination with OD. As shown in Table 6
,
, separate appropriations are provided to 24 of the 27 ICs, to OD, and to an intramural Buildings
and Facilities account. The other three centers, which perform centralized support services, are
funded through assessments on the IC appropriations.
NIH supports and conducts a wide range of basic and clinical research, research training, and
health information dissemination across all fields of biomedical and behavioral sciences. About
10% of the NIH budget supports intramural research projects conducted by the nearly 6,000 NIH
scientists, most of whom are located on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. More than 80%
of NIH
’'s budget goes out to the extramural research community in the form of grants, contracts,
and other awards. This funding supports research performed by more than 300,000
non-federal
nonfederal scientists and technical personnel who work at more than 2,500 universities, hospitals, medical
schools, and other research institutions.26
21
HHS, “About,” http://www.hhs.gov/about.
CRS analysis of data presented in the Office of Management and Budget’s Analytical Perspectives, Budget of the
United States Government, Fiscal Year 2018, May 23, 2017, pp. 203-205, https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/
Analytical_Perspectives.
23
Ibid.
24
This section was written by (name redacted), Specialist in Biomedical Policy, CRS Domestic Social Policy
Division. For background information on NIH, see CRS Report R41705, The National Institutes of Health (NIH):
Background and Congressional Issues, by (name redacted) .
25
National Institutes of Health, “About NIH, What We Do, Mission and Goals,” at http://www.nih.gov/about-nih/whatwe-do/mission-goals.
26
Department of Health and Human Services, Fiscal Year 2018 Budget in Brief, Washington, DC, May 2017, p. 38,
(continued...)
22
Congressional Research Service
15
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
schools, and other research institutions.28
Funding for NIH comes primarily from the annual Labor, HHS, and Education (LHHS)
appropriations bill, with an additional amount for Superfund-related activities from the
Interior/Environment appropriations bill. Those two bills provide NIH
’'s discretionary budget
authority. In addition, NIH receives mandatory funding of $150 million annually that is provided
in the Public Health Service (PHS) Act for a special program on type 1 diabetes research and
funding from a PHS Act transfer. The total funding available for NIH activities, taking account of
add-ons and transfers, is known as the NIH program level.
President Trump
’'s FY2018 budget requests an NIH program level total of $26.92 billion, a
decrease of $
5.3917.4 billion (-
16.721.5%) compared with
FY2016the FY2017 enacted amount (see Table 6). Under President
Trump’ Trump's FY2018 budget request, each of the ICs would receive a decrease compared to
FY2016.
FY2017. The Trump budget proposes the elimination of the Fogarty International Center but retains in OD
$25 million
infor international research and related activities.
2729 The Trump budget also proposes the
consolidation of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) with NIH, forming a
new Institute, the National Institute for Research on Safety and Quality (NIRSQ). The FY2018
budget proposal includes $272 million in budget authority for NIRSQ
“"to preserve key research
activities previously carried out by AHRQ.
”28"30 For example, NIRSQ would provide administrative
support for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF);
requested funding for this activity in the
FY2018 Trump budget is $7 million.
29 “31 "In addition, NIRSQ is projected to receive $107 million
in mandatory resources from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund to continue the
targeted dissemination of study results and workforce development efforts in research designed to
help patients and providers make better informed health care decisions.
”30
"32
The FY2018 program level request for NIH includes $60 million for Superfund-related research,
and $150 million in mandatory funding for research on type 1 diabetes.
3133 The FY2018 program
level request proposes $780 million in funding transferred to NIH by the PHS Program
Evaluation Set-Aside, also called the evaluation tap. NIH and other HHS agencies and programs
authorized under the PHS Act are subject to a budget assessment found in Section 241 of the PHS
Act (42 U.S.C. §238j). This provision authorizes the Secretary to use a portion of eligible
appropriations to study the effectiveness of federal health programs and to identify
improvements. Although the PHS Act limits the tap to no more than 1% of eligible
appropriations, in recent years
, the annual LHHS appropriations act has specified a higher amount
(2.5% in FY2017) and has also typically directed specific amounts of funding from the tap for
(...continued)
https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/Consolidated%20BIB_ONLINE_remediated.pdf.
27
The NIH website states that Fogarty “is dedicated to advancing the mission of [NIH] by supporting and facilitating
global health research conducted by U.S. and international investigators, building partnerships between health research
institutions in the U.S. and abroad, and training the next generation of scientists to address global health needs.”
https://www.fic.nih.gov/About/Pages/mission-vision.aspx.
28
Ibid., p. 37.
29
Ibid., p. 41. This is a reduction of $4 million below AHRQ’s FY2017 Continuing Resolution level of administrative
support for the USPSTF.
30
NIH, FY2018 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees, Vol. I, Overview, “Overview of Budget
Request, Introduction” p. 3. The Affordable Care Act [ACA, P.L. 111-148] created the Patient-Centered Outcomes
Research Trust Fund (PCORTF) to help build the national capacity and infrastructure needed to conduct patientcentered outcomes research (PCOR), and to enable PCOR findings to be integrated into clinical practice. See:
https://aspe.hhs.gov/patient-centered-outcomes-research-trust-fund.
31
The Superfund amount is provided in the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Acts. Mandatory funds for type 1 diabetes research (under PHS Act §330B) were provided by P.L. 11410 for FY2016 and FY2017 and are proposed for FY2018.
Congressional Research Service
16
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
transfer to a number of HHS programs. The set-aside has the effect of redistributing appropriated
funds for specific purposes among PHS and other HHS agencies. NIH, with the largest budget
among the PHS agencies, has historically been the largest “donor” of program evaluation funds;
until recently, it had been a relatively minor recipient.32
The FY2018 NIH budget request includes
$496 million for the NIH Innovation account
(see text box). Amounts specified for FY2018
by the 21st Century Cures Act for the NIH
Innovation Projects are as follows: the
Precision Medicine Initiative ($100 million),
the BRAIN Initiative ($86 million), cancer
research ($300 million), and regenerative
medicine using adult stem cells ($10 million).
The 21st Century Cures Act and the
NIH Innovation Account
The 21st Century Cures Act created the NIH Innovation
account and specified that funds in the account must be
appropriated in order to be available for expenditure.
The first round of funding was provided by Section 194
of the Further Continuing and Security Assistance
Appropriations Act, 2017 (CR, P.L. 114-254). The CR
appropriated $352 million in the NIH Innovation account
for necessary expenses to carry out the four NIH
Innovation Projects as described in Section 1001(b)(4) of
the Cures Act (P.L. 114-255).a The four projects
authorized by the Cures Act are the Precision Medicine
Initiative ($40 million for FY2017), the BRAIN Initiative
($10 million for FY2017), cancer research ($300 million
for FY2017), and regenerative medicine using adult stem
cells ($2 million for FY2017). The NIH Director may
transfer these amounts from the NIH Innovation account
to other NIH accounts but only for the purposes
specified in the Cures Act. If the NIH Director
determines that the funds for any of the four Innovation
Projects are not necessary, the amounts may be
transferred back to the NIH Innovation account. This
transfer authority is in addition to other transfer
authorities provided by law. This $352 million is available
until expended and is in addition to amounts for FY2017
provided elsewhere by the CR or other FY2017
appropriations acts.
The main funding mechanism NIH uses to
support extramural research is research project
grants (RPGs), which are competitive, peerreviewed, and largely investigator-initiated.
The FY2018 Trump budget requests a total of
$14.2 billion in funding for RPGs,
representing about 53% of NIH’s proposed
budget.33 In FY2016, total funding for RPGs
was $17.8 billion, about 55% of the NIH
budget.34 The FY2016 NIH budget supported
35,580 RPG awards; the FY2018 request
would support an estimated 33,403 RPG
awards. Within that estimated total, 7,326
awards would be new RPGs and competing
RPGs (renewals of existing grants), a decrease
For further information, see CRS Report R44720, The
of 3,038 grants compared with FY2016.35 The
21st Century Cures Act (Division A of P.L. 114-255),
FY2018 budget request would cap the indirect
coordinated by (name r eda cted), and CRS Report
cost rate for NIH grants at 10%. Over the last
R44723, Overview of Further Continuing Appropriations
10 years, NIH data indicates that direct costs
for FY2017 (H.R. 2028), coordinated by (name red
(project-specific expenses) have averaged
acted).
about 72% of the total grant award, while
indirect costs (overhead—facility and administrative costs) have averaged about 28%.36 In
FY2016, the average annual cost of a new and competing RPG award was $484,000 (including
32
For more information, see the “PHS Evaluation Set-Aside” section of CRS Report R44505, Public Health Service
Agencies: Overview and Funding (FY2015-FY2017), coordinated by (name redacted) and (name redacted)
. By
convention, budget tables such as Table 6 do not subtract the amount of the evaluation tap from the donor agencies’
appropriations.
33
Department of Health and Human Services, Fiscal Year 2018 Budget in Brief, Washington, DC, May 2017, p. 37 and
p. 43, https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/Consolidated%20BIB_ONLINE_remediated.pdf.
34
Ibid., p. 43.
35
The Trump budget proposal for NIH would also support fewer small business grants, a total of 1,578 in FY2018
(compared with 1,689 in FY2016).
36
NIH, FY2018 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees, Vol. I, Overview, “Statistical Data: Direct
and Indirect Cost Awarded,” p. 95.
Congressional Research Service
17
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
both direct and indirect costs); this would decrease by about 20% to $389,000 under the Trump
FY2018 budget request for NIH.37
Except for the mandatory type 1 diabetes funding, Congress has not usually specified amounts for
particular diseases or research areas. Congress generally appropriates specific amounts to each IC
and leaves it to NIH and its scientific advisory panels to allocate funding to different research
areas in order to allow maximum flexibility to pursue scientific opportunities that are important to
public health.38 Some bills may propose authorizations for designated research purposes, but
funding generally has remained subject to the NIH peer review process as well as the overall
discretionary appropriation to the agency. This pattern has changed in recent years, most notably
with Alzheimer’s disease research.
The overview below outlines the four priority themes highlighted by NIH in the FY2018 budget
request; dollar amounts for these research activities were not provided by the agency.
transfer to a number of HHS programs. The set-aside has the effect of redistributing appropriated funds for specific purposes among PHS and other HHS agencies. NIH, with the largest budget among the PHS agencies, has historically been the largest "donor" of program evaluation funds; until recently, it had been a relatively minor recipient.34
The main funding mechanism NIH uses to support extramural research is research project grants (RPGs), which are competitive, peer-reviewed, and largely investigator-initiated. The FY2018 Trump budget requests a total of $14.2 billion in funding for RPGs, representing about 53% of NIH's proposed budget.35 The FY2018 budget request would cap the indirect cost rate for NIH grants at 10%. Over the last 10 years, NIH data indicates that direct costs (project-specific expenses) have averaged about 72% of the total grant award, while indirect costs (overhead—facilities and administrative, or F&A, costs) have averaged about 28%.36 The Trump FY2018 NIH budget request would decrease the average annual cost of an RPG award by about 20%, to $389,000.37
Except for the mandatory type 1 diabetes funding, Congress has not usually specified amounts for particular diseases or research areas. Congress generally appropriates specific amounts to each IC and leaves it to NIH and its scientific advisory panels to allocate funding to different research areas in order to allow maximum flexibility to pursue scientific opportunities that are important to public health.38 Some bills may propose authorizations for designated research purposes, but funding generally has remained subject to the NIH peer review process as well as the overall discretionary appropriation to the agency. This pattern has changed in recent years, most notably in FY2016 with Alzheimer's disease research39 and in FY2017 with the NIH Innovation account established by the 21st Century Cures Act (see text box below).
The FY2018 NIH budget request includes $496 million for the NIH Innovation account. Amounts specified for FY2018 by the 21st Century Cures Act for the NIH Innovation Projects are as follows: the Precision Medicine Initiative ($100 million), the BRAIN Initiative ($86 million), cancer research ($300 million), and regenerative medicine using adult stem cells ($10 million).
The House Appropriations Committee-reported version of the FY2018 LHHS appropriations bill (H.R. 3358) recommends a total of $35.184 billion for NIH, including $824 million provided by the evaluation tap and $496 million from the NIH Innovation account. Adding to this total the amounts for Superfund related activities ($77 million) and the mandatory type 1 diabetes program ($150 million) would bring the NIH program level to $35.411 billion. This means that H.R. 3358 would provide NIH with a $1.1 billion (3.2%) increase over the FY2017 enacted amount and $8.58 billion (32.3%) more than the FY2018 Trump budget request for NIH.
The report accompanying H.R. 3358 (H.Rept. 115-244) stated that the Trump Administration's proposed cap on indirect (F&A) costs was "misguided and would have a devastating impact on biomedical research across the country."40 The House Appropriations Committee directs NIH to continue reimbursing institutions for indirect costs according to current rules and procedures via a new general provision in the bill (§228) that "also prohibits funds in this Act from being used to implement any further caps on F&A cost reimbursements."41 The House Appropriations Committee provides an increase in funding for the Fogarty International Center rather than the elimination proposed by the Trump Administration. The House Appropriations Committee did not adopt the Trump Administration's proposed consolidation of NIH and AHRQ. Lastly, H.Rept. 115-244 states that "the Committee recommends an increase of $400 million within NIA [National Institute on Aging] to support a total of at least $1.791 billion on Alzheimer's disease research."42
|
The 21st Century Cures Act and the NIH Innovation Account
The 21st Century Cures Act (P.L. 114-255) created the NIH Innovation account and specified that funds in the account must be appropriated in order to be available for expenditure. The first round of funding was provided by Section 194 of the Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017 (CR, P.L. 114-254). The CR appropriated $352 million in the NIH Innovation account for necessary expenses to carry out the four NIH Innovation Projects as described in Section 1001(b)(4) of the Cures Act. The four projects authorized by the Cures Act are the Precision Medicine Initiative (FY2017, $40 million; FY2018, $100 million), the BRAIN Initiative (FY2017, $10 million; FY2018, $86 million), cancer research (FY2017, $300 million; FY2018, $300 million), and regenerative medicine using adult stem cells (FY2017, $2 million; FY2018, $10 million). The NIH Director may transfer these amounts from the NIH Innovation account to other NIH accounts but only for the purposes specified in the Cures Act. If the NIH Director determines that the funds for any of the four Innovation Projects are not necessary, the amounts may be transferred back to the NIH Innovation account. This transfer authority is in addition to other transfer authorities provided by law. This $352 million is available until expended and is in addition to amounts for FY2017 provided elsewhere by the CR or other FY2017 appropriations acts.
For further information, see CRS Report R44720, The 21st Century Cures Act (Division A of P.L. 114-255), coordinated by [author name scrubbed], and CRS Report R44723, Overview of Further Continuing Appropriations for FY2017 (H.R. 2028), coordinated by [author name scrubbed].
|
The overview below outlines the four priority themes highlighted by NIH in the FY2018 budget request; dollar amounts for these research activities were not provided by the agency. Selected responses from congressional report language are also provided.
1. Fundamental Science Enhanced by Technological Advances. More than half of the proposed
NIH budget is targeted for basic research, which
“"provides the foundation for translational and
clinical studies that can lead to major medical advances, such as cancer-fighting drugs, vaccines,
and medical devices.
”39"43 One example of basic research is the BRAIN Initiative, a collaborative
effort of ten ICs with the National Science Foundation, Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency, and Food and Drug Administration. The BRAIN Initiative develops and applies new
tools for the study of complex brain functions. Insights into brain circuitry and activity gained via
the BRAIN Initiative are expected to help reveal the underlying problems in brain disorders and
may may help provide new treatments or prevention approaches.
The House Appropriations Committee recommendation provides an increase for the BRAIN Initiative to the level authorized in the 21st Century Cures Act.
Another example is the NIH Common Fund
’'s Single Cell Analysis Program (SCAP).
4044 According
to NIH,
“"Understanding more about how single cells function could help researchers identify rare
cells in a group (e.g., ones that could become cancerous), cells infected latently with a virus, or
cells that develop drug resistance.
”41"45 A third example is the National Cancer Institute
’'s efforts
using cryo-electron microscopy to observe key molecules in cancer cells almost at the atomic
level; this may help in the development of more effective and targeted therapies.
2. Treatments and Cures. NIH-supported scientists are using a novel research method in an effort
to correct the genetic mutations causing sickle cell disease. Although more work would be
necessary before this approach could be used in patients, the lessons learned may pave the way
for new treatments to improve human health. Addressing the opioid epidemic is another high
priority topic. NIH is supporting research efforts to combat opioid addiction and the treatment of
overdoses. NIH is responding to the growing public health threat posed by antimicrobial
resistance bacteria by various mechanisms. These include support for the Antibacterial Resistance
Leadership Group and participation in a multi-agency effort focused on advancing antimicrobial
resistance research resistance research. The House Appropriations Committee recommendation provides an increase of $30 million for combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Cancer immunotherapy is yet another high priority area of research and is at
the core of work supported by the
“"Cancer Moonshot,
”" funded by the
21st Century Cures Act.
37
Ibid, p. 96.
See NIH website, “Estimates of Funding for Various Research, Condition, and Disease Categories (RCDC),”
http://report.nih.gov/categorical_spending.aspx.
39
NIH FY2018 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees, Vol. I, Overview, p. 4.
40
The NIH Common Fund is part of OD; it supports large complex research efforts that involve the collaboration of
two or more research ICs.
41
NIH, FY2018 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees, Vol. I, Overview, p. 5.
38
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18
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
21st Century Cures Act. The House Appropriations Committee recommendation directs NIH to transfer $300 million from the NIH Innovation Account to the National Cancer Institute to support the Cancer Moonshot, the same level as authorized in the 21st Century Cures Act.
3. Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. As part of the Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI),
NIH would continue to establish a group of
one1 million or more volunteers—called the All of Us
Research Program—whose health, genetic, environmental, and other data would be collected and
used in research studies to identify novel therapeutics and prevention strategies.
The House Appropriations Committee recommendation provides an increase of $80 million for All of Us. Vaccination is Vaccination is
another important prevention strategy. NIH is engaged in vaccine research to prevent many
different diseases, including emerging diseases such as the Zika virus. NIH is also involved in
developing a
“universal”"universal" influenza vaccine that produces a strong long-lasting immune response
to elements that are shared among all strains of the flu virus.
4. Enhancing Stewardship. NIH recognizes that to earn and maintain the public
’'s trust it is
essential to be
“"an efficient and effective steward of taxpayer funds
”" and to
“"allocate its resources
with sufficient transparency to allow taxpayers to see how their money is invested.
”42"46 The agency
continues to
“"streamline administrative processes that can take investigators
’' time away from
their research.
”43"47 One key way NIH is focused on strengthening stewardship is through the
release and implementation of a new policy designed to enhance reproducibility of scientific
research through increased rigor and transparency in reporting.
4448 According to NIH, another
means of investing in the long-term health of the nation is
“"by strengthening and sustaining a
diverse, world-class research workforce.
”45"49 The agency has crafted funding opportunities directed
at new investigators as well as created procedures to normalize success-in-grant-receipt rates
between early and more experienced scientists.
Table 6. National Institutes of Health Funding
(budget authority, in millions of dollars)
FY2016
Cancer Institute (NCI)
FY2018
Request
$5,206
$4,474
3,109
2,535
413
321
1,964
1,600
Neurological Disorders/Stroke (NINDS)
1,693
1,356
Allergy/Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
4,750
3,783
General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)b
2,509
2,186
Child Health/Human Development (NICHD)
1,338
1,032
National Eye Institute (NEI)
707
550
Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)c
770
593
1,596
1,304
Arthritis/Musculoskeletal/Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
541
418
Deafness/Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
422
326
1,517
1,245
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Dental/Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Diabetes/Digestive/Kidney
(NIDDK)a
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
FY2018
House
FY2018
Senate
FY2018
Enacted
42
Ibid., p. 10.
Ibid.
44
NIH, Rigor and Reproducibility, at: https://grants.nih.gov/reproducibility/index.htm.
45
NIH, FY2018 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees, Vol. I, Overview, p. 10.
43
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19
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
FY2016
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
FY2018
Request
1,049
865
Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism (NIAAA)
467
361
Nursing Research (NINR)
146
114
Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
513
400
Biomedical Imaging/Bioengineering (NIBIB)
343
283
Minority Health/Health Disparities (NIMHD)
280
215
Complementary/Integrative Health (NCCIH)
130
102
Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
684
557
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
70
—
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
395
373
1,571
1,452
129
99
—
379
Subtotal, NIH Program Level
32,311
26,920
Mandatory type 1 diabetes fundsd
-150
-150
PHS Program Evaluation
-780
-780
—
-107
-77
-60
31,304
25,824
Office of Director (OD)
Buildings & Facilities (B&F)
Natl Institute for Research on Safety & Quality
(NIRSQ)46
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund
Superfund (Interior approp. to
NIEHS)e
Total, NIH Labor/HHS Budget Authority
FY2018
House
FY2018
Senate
FY2018
Enacted
Source: NIH, FY2018 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees, Vol. I, Overview, “Budget Request by
Institute and Center (Summary Table),” p. 81.
Notes: Totals may differ from the sum of the components due to rounding. Amounts in table may differ from
(budget authority, in millions of dollars)
|
|
FY2017 Enacted
|
FY2018 Request
|
FY2018
|
FY2018
|
FY2018
|
|
|
|
|
House
|
Senate
|
Enacted
|
Cancer Institute (NCI)
|
$5,389
|
$4,174
|
$5,471
|
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
|
3,207
|
2,535
|
3,257
|
Dental/Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
|
426
|
321
|
432
|
Diabetes/Digestive/Kidney (NIDDK)a
1,871
|
1,450
|
1,900
|
Neurological Disorders/Stroke (NINDS)
|
1,784
|
1,313
|
1,810
|
Allergy/Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
|
4,907
|
3,783
|
5,006
|
General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)b
1,826
|
1,405
|
1,889
|
Child Health/Human Development (NICHD)
|
1,380
|
1,032
|
1,402
|
National Eye Institute (NEI)
|
733
|
550
|
744
|
Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)c
714
|
534
|
725
|
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
|
2,049
|
1,304
|
2,459
|
Arthritis/Musculoskeletal/Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
|
558
|
418
|
567
|
Deafness/Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
|
437
|
326
|
444
|
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
|
1,602
|
1,202
|
1,625
|
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
|
1,091
|
865
|
1,107
|
Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism (NIAAA)
|
483
|
361
|
491
|
Nursing Research (NINR)
|
150
|
114
|
153
|
Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
|
529
|
400
|
537
|
Biomedical Imaging/Bioengineering (NIBIB)
|
357
|
283
|
363
|
Minority Health/Health Disparities (NIMHD)
|
289
|
215
|
294
|
Complementary/Integrative Health (NCCIH)
|
135
|
102
|
137
|
Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
|
706
|
557
|
719
|
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
|
72
|
—
|
73
|
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
|
408
|
373
|
414
|
Natl Institute for Research on Safety & Quality (NIRSQ)d
—
|
272
|
—
|
Office of Director (OD)
|
1,678
|
1,342
|
1,718
|
NIH Innovation Account
|
352
|
496
|
496
|
Buildings & Facilities (B&F)
|
129
|
99
|
129
|
PHS Program Evaluation
|
824
|
780
|
824
|
Subtotal, NIH
|
34,084
|
26,604
|
35,184
|
Mandatory type 1 diabetes fundse
150
|
150
|
150
|
Superfund (Interior approp. to NIEHS)f
77
|
60
|
77
|
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund
|
—
|
107
|
—
|
|
Total, NIH Program Level
|
34,311
|
26,920
|
35,411
|
|
|
Source: H.Rept. 115-244, July 24, 2017, pp. 214-216.
Notes: Totals may differ from the sum of the components due to rounding. Amounts in table may differ from actuals in many cases. By convention, budget tables such as Table
62 do not subtract the amount of transfers,
such as the evaluation tap, from the agencies
’' appropriation. Figures for the columns headed
“"FY2018 House,
”
“" "FY2018 Senate,
”" and
“"FY2018 Enacted
”" will be added, if available, as each action is completed.
a.
a.
Amounts for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
include
do not include mandatory funding for type 1 diabetes research (see note
d).
b. e).
b.
Amounts for National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
do not include funds from PHS Evaluation
Set-Aside (§241 of PHS Act).
c.
c.
Amounts for National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
do not include Interior Appropriation
for Superfund research
.
d. (see note f).
d.
FY2017 enacted total for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality was $324 million; amount recommended in H.R. 3358 for AHRQ in FY2018 is $300 million.
e.
Mandatory funds available to NIDDK for type 1 diabetes research under PHS Act §330B (provided by P.L.
114-10 for
FY2016FY2017 and proposed for FY2018).
e.
f.
This is a separate account in the Interior/Environment appropriations for National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) research activities related to Superfund.
46
Budget authority for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for FY2016 was $334 million. AHRQ,
Operating Plan for FY 2016, https://www.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/cpi/about/mission/operating-plan/opplan2016.pdf.
Congressional Research Service
20
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Department of Energy47
Department of Energy50
The Department of Energy (DOE) was established in 1977 by the Department of Energy
Organization Act (P.L. 95-91), which combined energy-related programs from a variety of
agencies with defense-related nuclear programs that dated back to the Manhattan Project. Today,
DOE conducts basic scientific research in fields ranging from nuclear physics to the biological
and environmental sciences; basic and applied R&D relating to energy production and use; and
R&D on nuclear weapons, nuclear nonproliferation, and defense nuclear reactors. The department
has a system of 17 national laboratories around the country, mostly operated by contractors, that
together account for about 40% of all DOE expenditures.
The Administration
’'s FY2018 budget request for DOE includes $10.172 billion for R&D and
related activities, including programs in three broad categories: science, national security, and
energy. This request is 22.6% less than the enacted FY2017 amount of $13.140 billion.
(See
Table 7 for details.)
The House bill (H.R. 3219 as passed by the House, together with H.Rept. 115-230 on H.R. 3266) would provide $12.033 billion. The Senate committee recommendation (based on S. 1609 as reported and S.Rept. 115-132) is $13.075 billion. (See Table 7 for details.)
The request for the DOE Office of Science is $4.473 billion, a decrease of 17.1% from the
FY2017 appropriation of $5.392 billion.
The House bill would provide $5.393 billion. The Senate bill would provide $5.550 billion. There is no authorized funding level for the Office of
Science for FY2018. The most recent authorization of appropriations (in the America
COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, P.L. 111-358) was through FY2013.
The Office of Science includes six major research programs. The request for the largest program,
Basic Energy Sciences (BES), is $1.555 billion, a decrease of 16.9%
from $1.872 billion in FY2017. Within BES, most research
areas and facilities would receive reduced funding, and funds would be eliminated for the
Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR, $15 million in FY2017); the
Energy Innovation Hub on Batteries and Energy Storage ($24 million in FY2017); and the Energy
Innovation Hub on Fuels from Sunlight ($15 million in FY2017). The BES program
’'s five
synchrotron light sources would receive $428 million
for operations, down from $494 million in FY2017
; this
. This reduction would result in reduced operating hours (about 85% of optimal, as calculated by DOE)
and operation of the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource for only the first quarter of the
year.
The House bill would provide $1.872 billion for BES, including $15 million for EPSCoR, no funding for the two hubs, and $489 million for operations at the light sources. The Senate bill would provide $1.980 billion, including $20 million for EPSCoR, the same amounts as in FY2017 for the two hubs, and $496 million for operations at the light sources.
The request for High Energy Physics is $673 million, a decrease of 18.5%
from $825 million in FY2017. This total includes
$44 million for ongoing construction of the Muon to Electron Conversion Experiment (Mu2E), as
previously planned, and $55 million for ongoing construction of the Long Baseline Neutrino
Facility/Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (LBNF/DUNE), up from $50 million in
FY2017. Most other research areas and facilities would receive reduced funding.
The House bill would provide $825 million, including the requested amount for Mu2E and $80 million for LBNF/DUNE. The Senate bill would provide $860 million, including the requested amount for Mu2E and $82 million for LBNF/DUNE.
The request for Biological and Environmental Research (BER) is $349 million, a decrease of
43.0% 43.0% from $612 million in FY2017. This program has historically consisted of two roughly equal parts: Biological Systems
Science and Climate and Environmental Sciences. The request would rename the latter program
as Earth and Environmental Systems Sciences and
reducedecrease its share of the
reduced BER total to about
onethirdone-third. Within Earth and Environmental Systems Sciences, funding for Earth and Environmental
Systems Modeling (formerly Climate and Earth System Modeling) would decrease to $27 million
from $99 million in FY2016 (the FY2017 amount is not available). Climate Model Development
and Validation would receive no funding.
The House bill would provide $582 million. The House report does not directly address the balance between Biological Systems Science and Earth and Environmental Systems Sciences. The Senate bill would provide $633 million, roughly evenly divided as in past years between Biological Systems Science ($322 million) and Earth and Environmental Systems Sciences ($311 million).
The request for Nuclear Physics is $503 million, a decrease of 19.2%
from $622 million in FY2017. The proposed reduction is
spread across most research areas and facilities. The request includes $80 million for ongoing
47
This section was written by (name redacted), Specialist in Science and Technology Policy, CRS Resources, Science,
and Industry Division.
Congressional Research Service
21
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
construction of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
(FRIB), down from $100 million in FY2017 and $17
million less than previously projected for FY2018. It includes no further funding for construction
of the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) upgrade, which is to be
completed in FY2017. Reduced funding for facility operations would support operation of
CEBAF at about 29% utilization and the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at about 67%
utilization.
The House bill would provide $619 million, including $97 million for FRIB construction. House report language encourages DOE to fund optimal operations at CEBAF and RHIC "within available funds." The Senate bill would provide $639 million, including $97 million for FRIB construction, $10 million more than the request for operations at RHIC, and optimal operations at CEBAF.
The request for Advanced Scientific Computing Research is $722 million, an increase of 11.6%
.
from $647 million in FY2017. Of this total, $347 million would contribute to the DOE-wide Exascale Computing Initiative:
$197 million, up from $164 million in FY2017, for the Office of Science Exascale Computing
Project Project (SC-ECP), and $150 million for upgrades at the two Leadership Computing Facilities, located at Oak
Ridge and Argonne National Laboratories.
The House bill would provide $694 million, including $170 million for the SC-ECP. The Senate bill would provide $763 million, including $184 million for the SC-ECP.
The request for Fusion Energy Sciences is $310 million, a decrease of 18.4%
from $380 million in FY2017. Included is $63
million for U.S. contributions to the construction of the International Thermonuclear
Experimental Reactor (ITER), up from $50 million in FY2017 but down from a peak of $200
million in FY2014. The DOE budget justification cites U.S. concerns about the cost and schedule
of the ITER project, which is currently under construction in France. The estimated total U.S.
cost range for ITER was updated in January 2017 and is now $4.7 to $6.5 billion (the low end of
the range was previously $4.0 billion).
The House bill would provide $395 million for Fusion Energy Sciences, including the requested amount for U.S. contributions to ITER. The Senate bill would provide $232 million, including no funding for ITER. The Senate report states that funding for ITER "would come at the expense of other Office of Science priorities."
The request for DOE national security R&D is $3.982 billion, an increase of 5.9%
from $3.760 billion in FY2017. The bulk of
the increase would be in the Weapons Activities account, including $51 million for a newly
consolidated subprogram on Enhanced Capabilities for Subcritical Experiments, $40 million to
initiate a Stockpile Responsiveness program, and $25 million in new construction funding for
exascale computing facilities at Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories.
Funding for Naval Reactors would increase by $60 million. The DOE budget justification
describes most of the proposed changes within Naval Reactors as consistent with prior plans for
ongoing projects.
The House bill would provide $4.036 billion, including $78 million more than requested for Nuclear Nonproliferation R&D to support development of low-enriched uranium fuels for research reactors. The Senate bill would provide $3.865 billion, including no funds for the proposed Stockpile Responsiveness program.
The FY2018 request for DOE energy R&D is $1.717 billion, a decrease of 56.9%
from $3.988 billion in FY2017. Funding for
energy efficiency and renewable energy R&D would decrease by 64.9%, with reductions in all
major research areas and a shift in emphasis toward early-stage R&D rather than later-stage
development and deployment.
4851 Funding for fossil energy R&D would decrease by 58.1%, with
reductions focused particularly on coal carbon capture and storage ($31 million, down from $196
million in FY2017) and natural gas technologies ($6 million, down from $43 million in FY2017).
Funding for nuclear energy would decrease by 30.8%, with no funding requested for small
modular reactor licensing technical support ($95 million in FY2017), the Integrated University
Program ($5 million in FY2017), or the Supercritical Transformational Electric Power (STEP)
R&D initiative ($5 million in FY2017), and $89 million for fuel cycle R&D (down from $208
million in FY2017). The Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) ARPA-E, which
is intended to advance high-impact energy technologies that have too much technical and
financial uncertainty to attract near-term private-sector investment, would be terminated, with
requested FY2018 funds used only to close out the program.
48
For additional information on energy efficiency, see CRS In Focus IF10661, DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy: FY2017 Appropriations and the FY2018 Budget Request, by (name redacted) and (name redacted)
.
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Table 7. Department of Energy R&D and Related Activities
(budget authority, in millions of dollars)
FY2017
Enacted
FY2018
Request
$5,392
$4,473
1,872
1,555
High Energy Physics
825
673
Biological and Environmental Research
612
349
Nuclear Physics
622
503
Advanced Scientific Computing Research
647
722
Fusion Energy Sciences
380
310
Other
435
362
3,760
3,982
Weapons Activities RDT&E
1,842
2,028
Naval Reactors
1,420
1,480
470
446
28
28
3,988
1,717
1,812
636
668b
280
1,017
703
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability R&D
185
78
Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy
306
20
13,140
10,172
Science
Basic Energy Sciences
National Security
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation R&D
Defense Environmental Cleanup Technol. Devel.
Energy
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energya
Fossil Energy R&D
Nuclear Energy
DOE, Total
FY2018
House
FY2018
Senate
FY2018
Enacted
Source: P.L. 115-31
The House bill would provide $2.620 billion for DOE energy R&D. Relative to FY2017, it would decrease funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy by 55.4% and nuclear energy by 4.7%, with funding at the FY2017 level for the Integrated University Program and STEP R&D, but no funding for small modular reactor licensing technical support. A floor amendment restored funding for fossil energy R&D to the FY2017 level. The House bill would provide no funding for ARPA-E.
The Senate bill would provide $3.660 billion for DOE energy R&D. Relative to FY2017, it would decrease funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy by 7.7%, fossil energy R&D by 14.3%, and nuclear energy by 9.1%, including funding at the FY2017 level for the Integrated University Program but no funding for STEP R&D or small modular reactor licensing technical support. For ARPA-E, the Senate bill would provide $330 million, $24 million more than the FY2017 appropriation.
Table 7. Department of Energy R&D and Related Activities
(budget authority, in millions of dollars)
FY2017Enacted
FY2018 Request
|
FY2018 House
|
FY2018 S. Cte.
|
FY2018 Enacted
|
Science
|
Basic Energy Sciences
|
High Energy Physics
|
Biological and Environmental Research
|
Nuclear Physics
|
Advanced Scientific Computing Research
|
Fusion Energy Sciences
|
Other
|
National Security
|
Weapons Activities RDT&E
|
Naval Reactors
|
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation R&D
|
Defense Environmental Cleanup Technol. Devel.
|
Energy
|
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energya
Fossil Energy R&D
|
668b
Nuclear Energy
|
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability R&D
|
Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy
|
DOE, Total
|
Source: FY2017 enacted from P.L. 115-31 and explanatory statement, Congressional Record, May 3, 2017
, and. FY2018 request from DOE FY2018
congressional budget justification,
httphttps://energy.gov/cfo/downloads/fy-2018-budget-justification
. FY2018 House from H.R. 3219 as passed by the House and H.Rept. 115-230 (on H.R. 3266). FY2018 Senate committee from S. 1609 as reported and S.Rept. 115-132. Figures for the column headed "FY2018 Enacted". Figures for the
columns headed “FY2018 House,” “FY2018 Senate,” and “FY2018 Enacted” will be added, if available, as
each
action is completed.
Notes: Totals may differ from the sum of the components due to rounding.
a.
a.
Excluding Weatherization and Intergovernmental Activities.
b.
b.
Does not include rescission of $240 million in prior-year balances.
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration49
Administration52
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was created in 1958 by the National
Aeronautics and Space Act (P.L. 85-568) to conduct civilian space and aeronautics activities.
NASA has research programs in planetary science, Earth science, heliophysics, astrophysics, and
aeronautics, as well as development programs for future human spacecraft and for multipurpose
49
This section was written by (name redacted), Specialist in Science and Technology Policy, CRS Resources, Science,
and Industry Division. For more information, see CRS Report R44397, NASA: FY2017 Budget and Appropriations, by
(name redacted).
Congressional Research Service
23
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
space technology such as advanced propulsion systems. In addition, NASA operates the
International Space Station (ISS) as a facility for R&D and other purposes.
The Administration is requesting about $15.950 billion for NASA R&D in FY2018. This is 4.2%
less than the FY2017 level of about $16.657 billion.
The House committee recommendation (based on H.R. 3627 as reported and H.Rept. 115-231) is $16.737 billion. For a breakdown of these amounts, see
Table
8Table 8. NASA R&D funding comes through five accounts: Science, Aeronautics, Space Technology,
Exploration, and the ISS and Commercial Crew portions of Space Operations.
The FY2018 request for Science is $5.712 billion, a decrease of 0.9%. Within this total, funding
for Earth Science would decrease by $167 million (8.7%); funding for the James Webb Space
Telescope would decrease by $36 million (6.3%) in line with previous plans; and funding for
Planetary Science and Astrophysics would increase. The bulk of the proposed reduction for Earth
Science would result from the elimination of four items in the Earth Systematic Missions
program: the Pre-Aerosol, Clouds, and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission, the Radiation Budget
Instrument (RBI), the Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO)
Pathfinder mission, and the NASA-provided instruments on the Deep Space Climate Observatory
(DSCOVR) mission. In Planetary Science, funding for
aan orbiter mission to Jupiter
’'s moon Europa
would
(with no accompanying lander) would increase from $275 million in FY2017 to $425 million in the FY2018 request; NASA expects this
mission to advance to Phase C (final design and fabrication) at the beginning of FY2019.
The House committee bill would provide $5.859 billion for Science, including $50 million less than the request for Earth Science and $191 million more than the request for Planetary Science. The committee report does not mention PACE, RBI, CLARREO Pathfinder, or DSCOVR. It recommends $495 million for Europa orbiter and lander missions.
The FY2018 request for Aeronautics is $624 million, a decrease of 5.5%. The request includes
$79 million for a low-boom supersonic flight demonstrator, first proposed in the FY2017 budget.
The House committee bill would provide $660 million, the same as in FY2017, including the requested amount for the low-boom flight demonstrator.
The FY2018 request for Space Technology is $679 million, a decrease of 1.2%. This is the first
year since FY2011, when Space Technology was first established as a separate account, that the
Administration has not proposed to increase Space Technology funding. The request includes no
funding for the Restore-L satellite servicing mission. According to the FY2018 congressional
budget justification, NASA will
“"transition the Restore-L project to reduce its cost and better
position it to support a nascent commercial satellite servicing industry
” and “pursue
" and "pursue collaborations with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and industry to most
effectively advance satellite servicing technologies and ensure broad commercial application.
”
" The House committee bill would provide $687 million, the same as in FY2017. The committee report states that "The Committee strongly supports Restore–L and expects NASA to continue developing satellite servicing capabilities in collaboration with its public and private sector and academic partners."
The FY2018 request for Exploration is $3.934 billion, a decrease of 9.0%. The Exploration
account primarily funds development of the Orion Multipurpose Crew Vehicle and the Space
Launch System (SLS) heavy-lift rocket, the capsule and launch vehicle mandated by the NASA
Authorization Act of 2010 for future human exploration beyond Earth orbit. The launch readiness
date for the first test flight of SLS carrying Orion but no crew (known as EM-1) was previously
planned for FY2018 but is expected to slip to 2019.
5053 The launch readiness date for the first flight
of Orion and the SLS with a crew on board (known as EM-2) continues to be FY2023.
The House committee bill would provide $4.550 billion for Exploration. The committee report expresses concern about schedule slips and directs NASA to submit a report identifying the schedule milestones that must be met for EM-1 and EM-2.
In the Space Operations account, the request for Commercial Crew is $732 million, a decrease of
38.2%, and the request for the ISS is $1.491 billion (an increase of 3.8% from FY2016; the
FY2017 act did not specify an allocation for the ISS). The reduction in Commercial Crew funding
is in line with previous plans and reflects the expected transition of commercial crew activities
from development to operations. A domestic commercial capability to transport crews to the ISS
is expected to become available in September 2018.
50
See NASA comments in Government Accountability Office, NASA Human Space Exploration: Delay Likely for First
Exploration Mission, GAO-17-414, April 2017, http://www.gao.gov/assets/690/684360.pdf, p. 18.
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The House committee bill would provide $64 million (1.4%) less than the request for Space Operations as a whole; it does not specify how much of the total should be allocated to the ISS and Commercial Crew programs.
Table 8. National Aeronautics and Space Administration R&D
(budget authority, in millions of dollars)
FY2017
Enacted
Science
FY2018
Request
5,765
5,712
Earth Science
1,921
1,754
Planetary Science
1,846
1,930
Astrophysics
750
817
James Webb Space Telescope
569
534
Heliophysics
679
678
Aeronautics
660
624
Space Technology
687
679
4,324
3,934
3,929
3,584
Exploration
Exploration Systems Development
Exploration R&D
395
350
n/sa
1,491
1,185
732
14,005
13,171
Non-R&D Programsb
2,519
2,595
Safety, Security, and Mission Services
2,769
2,830
2,347
2,364
International Space Station
Commercial Crew
Subtotal R&D
Associated with
R&Dc
361d
Construction & Environmental C&R
496
Associated with R&Dc
306
414
NASA, Total (R&D)
16,657
15,950
NASA, Total
19,653d
19,092
FY2018
House
FY2018
Senate
FY2018
Enacted
Sources: FY2017 enacted from P.L. 115-31
(budget authority, in millions of dollars)
FY2017 Enacted
|
FY2018Request
FY2018H. Cmte.
FY2018 Senate
|
FY2018 Enacted
|
Science
|
Earth Science
|
Planetary Science
|
Astrophysics
|
James Webb Space Telescope
|
Heliophysics
|
Aeronautics
|
Space Technology
|
Exploration
|
| Exploration Systems Development |
International Space Station
|
n/sa
n/sa
Commercial Crew
|
n/sa
Subtotal R&D
|
Non-R&D Programsb
Safety, Security, and Mission Services
|
Associated with R&Dc
Construction & Environmental C&R
|
361d
Associated with R&Dc
NASA, Total (R&D)
|
NASA, Total
|
19,653d
Sources: FY2017 enacted from P.L. 115-31 and explanatory statement, Congressional Record, May 3, 2017, pp.
H3374-H3375. FY2018 request from NASA FY2018 congressional budget justification, http://www.nasa.gov/
news/
budget/. FY2018 House Committee from H.R. 3627 as reported and H.Rept. 115-231budget/. Figures for the columns headed
“FY2018 House,” “"FY2018 Senate
,”" and
“"FY2018 Enacted
”" will be
added, if available, as each action is completed.
Notes: Totals may differ from the sum of the components due to rounding. C&R = Compliance and
Remediation.
a.
a.
Not specified. The R&D totals shown lower in the table assume that unspecified amounts within Space
Operations are allocated in proportion to the Administration request.
b.
b.
Space Operations other than ISS and Commercial Crew; Education; and Inspector General.
c.
c.
CRS estimates the allocation between R&D and non-R&D in proportion to the underlying program amounts
in order to allow calculation of a total for R&D. The Safety, Security, and Mission Services account and the
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Remediation account consist mostly of indirect costs for
other programs, assessed in proportion to their direct costs.
d.
d.
Does not include $109 million in emergency appropriations for natural disaster repairs.
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
National Science Foundation51
National Science Foundation54
The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports basic research and education in the non-medical
sciences and engineering. Congress established the foundation as an independent federal agency
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.
”52"55 The NSF is a
primary source of federal support for U.S. university research, especially in 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.
53
56
NSF has six appropriations accounts: Research and Related Activities (RRA, the main research
account), Education and Human Resources (EHR, the main education account), Major Research
Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC), Agency Operations and Award Management
(AOAM), the National Science Board (NSB), and the Office of Inspector General (OIG).
Appropriations are generally provided at the account level, while program-specific direction may
be included in appropriations acts, or accompanying conference reports or explanatory
statements.
For FY2017, P.L. 115-31 provided appropriations at the account level, and Congress directed
funding for a subset of programs within the RRA, EHR, and MREFC accounts in the
accompanying explanatory statement.
5457 Because NSF reports that FY2017 amounts were not
available when the FY2018 budget request was prepared, requested funding at the subaccount
level is generally compared to FY2016 actual funding. Therefore, this section of the report
compares account funding (and program-specific funding, where directed by Congress) to
FY2017 enacted funding; subaccount and R&D funding amounts are compared to FY2016 actual
levels.
55
58
Funding for R&D is included in the RRA, EHR, and MREFC accounts, which also include
nonRnon-R&D funding. Together, these three accounts comprise 95% of the total requested funding for
NSF. Actual R&D obligations for each account are known after NSF allocates funding
appropriations to specific activities and reports those figures.
5659 The budget request specifies R&D
funding for the conduct of research, including basic and applied research, and for physical assets,
including R&D facilities and major equipment. Funding amounts for FY2016 actual, FY2017
enacted, and FY2018 requested levels are reported by account, including amounts for R&D
conduct and physical assets where applicable, in
Table 9.
Overall. The Trump Administration is requesting $6.653 billion for the NSF in FY2018, an $819 million (11%) decrease from the FY2017 enacted amount of $7.472 billion. The request would decrease budget authority primarily in three accounts relative to the FY2017 enacted level: RRA by $672 million (11%), EHR by $119 million (14%), and MREFC by $26 million (12%). The request would provide slight decreases to the AOAM (0.5%, $1.5 million), and OIG (1.3%, $200,000) accounts, and no change for the NSB account. Overall, NSF estimates that, under the FY2018 request, funding for research grant awards would decrease from 21% to 19%, resulting in 800 fewer grants awarded, compared to FY2016.
As a proportion of NSF's total funding, R&D activities account for approximately 81%. For FY2018, $5.370 billion is requested for R&D activities, a 10.8% decrease from FY2016 actual funding for R&D of $6.022 million. The total request includes $4.950 billion (92%) for the conduct of R&D, and $420 million (8%) for R&D facilities and major equipment. Of funding requested for the conduct of R&D, 86% is requested for basic research, and 14% for applied research. Overall funding for R&D facilities and major equipment supports not only the construction and acquisition phases, funded through MREFC ($183 million requested), but also the planning, design, and post-construction operations and maintenance, funded through RRA ($237 million requested).
As reported by the House Committee on Appropriations, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018 (H.R. 3267), would provide a total of $7.340 billion for NSF in FY2018, a $132.7 million (1.8%) decrease from the FY2017 enacted level and $687 million (10.3%) more than the FY2018 request. This amount includes both R&D and non-R&D funding.
NSF's budget justification identifies seven ongoing agency-wide investments that aim to bring researchers from different fields of science and engineering together to address cross-disciplinary questions. Compared to the FY2016 actual amounts, a slight increase in funding is requested for one of these initiatives—the Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES, 6.5%, $1 million increase). Decreases of between 12% and 70% are requested for the remaining six investments. These include Cyber-Enabled Materials, Manufacturing, and Smart Systems (CEMMSS, $222 million requested, 18% decrease); Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems (INFEWS, $24 million requested, 70% decrease); Innovation Corps (I-Corps, $26 million requested, 12% decrease); Risk and Resilience ($31 million requested, 27% decrease); Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC, $114 million requested, 12% decrease); and Understanding the Brain (UtB), $134 million requested, 22% decrease). The committee report to accompany H.R. 3267 (H.Rept. 115-231) recommends no less than the FY2017 level for I-Corps.
Research. The Trump Administration seeks a $627 million (11%) decrease in funding for RRA in FY2018 compared to FY2017 enacted funding, for a total of $5.362 billion. Compared to the FY2016 actual levels, the FY2018 request includes decreases for all ten of the RRA subaccounts except for the U.S. Arctic Research Commission (USARC), which would not change. The largest percentage decrease would go to Integrative Activities (26%, $111 million decrease). The largest decrease in dollars would go to Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS, $129 million, 9.6%). The other subaccounts would receive decreases between 7.1% and 10.6%. The FY2018 request also includes $100 million for the RRA program Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), which has drawn congressional interest, a decrease of 37.5% from the $160 million directed in the explanatory statement for FY2017 enacted funding.
In recent years, policymakers have debated congressional funding directives at the subaccount level within RRA. Some assert that legislators have a role in establishing funding priorities by scientific field, as part of the legislative oversight function and in order to assure accountability for taxpayer funds. Others argue that the scientists who manage NSF ought to determine the distribution of funding by field, based on their deeper knowledge of research needs and scientific possibilities within each field, and of how these needs are best balanced across the NSF portfolio. For FY2016, P.L. 114-113 did not specify the funding distribution within RRA, though it did limit the budget authority for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences to its FY2015 level.60 For FY2017, P.L. 115-31 did not specify allocations for RRA subaccounts, but did specify that $544 million remain available for polar research and operations support, including activities for the U.S. Antarctic program.
Within the RRA account, the FY2018 request includes $4.839 billion for R&D, a decrease of $537 million (10%) compared to the FY2016 actual amount. Of this amount, the majority ($4.602 billion, 95%) is requested for the conduct of research, including $4.160 billion for basic research and $443 million for applied research.
As reported by the House Committee on Appropriations, H.R. 3267 would provide a total of $6.034 billion for RRA, equal to the FY2017 enacted level. The House committee report states:
The Committee does not adopt the Administration's proposal to reduce Research and Related Activities. The Committee believes that strategic investments in the physical science areas are vitally important for the United States to remain the global leader in innovation, productivity, economic growth, and good-paying jobs for the future.61
For EPSCoR, the House committee report recommends $170.7 million, $70.7 million (71%) more than the FY2018 request, and $10.7 million (7%) above the FY2017 enacted level. Funding amounts are not specified for RRA subaccounts.
Education. The FY2018 request includes a $119 million (13.6%) decrease for EHR, for a total of $761 million. This represents the largest percentage reduction requested among NSF's Table 9.
51
This section was written by Laurie Harris, Analyst in Science and Technology Policy, CRS Resources, Science, and
Industry Division.
52
The National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (P.L. 81-507).
53
For more information about NSF and the agency’s funding history, see CRS Report R44679, The National Science
Foundation: FY2017 Appropriations and Funding History, by (name redacted) and (name redacted)
.
54
Explanatory Statement, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, Division B (Commerce, Justice, Science, and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017), Congressional Record, vol. 163, no. 76—Book II (May 3, 2017), p.
H3375.
55
Long-term, multi-year construction projects supported through the MREFC account are an exception, as NSF is able
to provide FY2017 estimated funding amounts for these projects.
56
R&D prior year (FY2016) and requested (FY2018) amounts are reported in the “Quantitative Data Tables” section of
the FY2018 NSF Budget Request to Congress, May 23, 2017, pp. QDT-1 – QDT-7.
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Overall. The Trump Administration is requesting $6.653 billion for the NSF in FY2018, an $819
million (11%) decrease from the FY2017 enacted amount of $7.472 billion. The request would
decrease budget authority primarily in three accounts relative to the FY2017 enacted level: RRA
by $672 million (11%), EHR by $119 million (14%), and MREFC by $26 million (12%). The
request would provide slight decreases to the AOAM (0.5%, $1.5 million), and OIG (1.3%,
$200,000) accounts, and no change for the NSB account. Overall, NSF estimates that, under the
FY2018 request, funding for research grant awards would decrease from 21% to 19%, resulting in
800 fewer grants awarded, compared to FY2016.
As a proportion of NSF’s total funding, R&D activities account for approximately 81%. For
FY2018, $5.370 billion is requested for R&D activities, a 10.8% decrease from FY2016 actual
funding for R&D of $6.022 million. The total request includes $4.950 billion (92%) for the
conduct of R&D, and $420 million (8%) for R&D facilities and major equipment. Of funding
requested for the conduct of R&D, 86% is requested for basic research, and 14% for applied
research. Overall funding for R&D facilities and major equipment supports not only the
construction and acquisition phases, funded through MREFC ($183 million requested), but also
the planning, design, and post-construction operations and maintenance, funded through RRA
($237 million requested).
NSF’s budget justification identifies seven ongoing agency-wide investments that aim to bring
researchers from different fields of science and engineering together to address cross-disciplinary
questions. Compared to the FY2016 actual amounts, a slight increase in funding is requested for
one of these initiatives—the Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of
Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES, 6.5%, $1 million
increase). Decreases of between 12% and 70% are requested for the remaining six investments.
These include Cyber-Enabled Materials, Manufacturing, and Smart Systems (CEMMSS, $222
million requested, 18% decrease); Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems
(INFEWS, $24 million requested, 70% decrease); Innovation Corps (I-Corps, $26 million
requested, 12% decrease); Risk and Resilience ($31 million requested, 27% decrease); Secure and
Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC, $114 million requested, 12% decrease); and Understanding the
Brain (UtB), $134 million requested, 22% decrease).
Research. The Trump Administration seeks a $627 million (11%) decrease in funding for RRA in
FY2018 compared to FY2017 enacted funding, for a total of $5.362 billion. Compared to the
FY2016 actual levels, the FY2018 request includes decreases for all ten of the RRA subaccounts
except for the U.S. Arctic Research Commission (USARC), which would not change. The largest
percentage decrease would go to Integrative Activities (26%, $111 million decrease). The largest
decrease in dollars would go to Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS, $129 million, 9.6%).
The other subaccounts would receive decreases between 7.1% and 10.6%. The FY2018 request
also includes $100 million for the RRA program Established Program to Stimulate Competitive
Research (EPSCoR), which has drawn congressional interest, a decrease of 37.5% from the $160
million directed in the explanatory statement for FY2017 enacted funding.
In recent years, policymakers have debated congressional funding directives at the subaccount
level within RRA. Some assert that legislators have a role in establishing funding priorities by
scientific field, as part of the legislative oversight function and in order to assure accountability
for taxpayer funds. Others argue that the scientists who manage NSF ought to determine the
distribution of funding by field, based on their deeper knowledge of research needs and scientific
possibilities within each field, and of how these needs are best balanced across the NSF portfolio.
For FY2016, P.L. 114-113 did not specify the funding distribution within RRA, though it did limit
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
the budget authority for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences to its FY2015 level.57 For
FY2017, P.L. 115-31 did not specify allocations for RRA subaccounts, but did specify that $544
million remain available for polar research and operations support, including activities for the
U.S. Antarctic program.
Within the RRA account, the FY2018 request includes $4.839 billion for R&D, a decrease of
$537 million (10%) compared to the FY2016 actual amount. Of this amount, the majority ($4.602
billion, 95%) is requested for the conduct of research, including $4.160 billion for basic research
and $443 million for applied research.
Education. The FY2018 request includes a $119 million (13.6%) decrease for EHR, for a total of
$761 million. This represents the largest percentage reduction requested among NSF’s
appropriations accounts. In FY2017, P.L. 115-31 provided $880 million for EHR and the
accompanying explanatory statement directed funding levels for a number of EHR programs.
As reported by the House Committee on Appropriations, H.R. 3267 would provide $880 billion for EHR, equal to the FY2017 enacted level and $119.4 million (16%) above the FY2018 request.
By program division, the largest decrease in the FY2018 request is for the Division of Graduate
Education (20.5%, $57 million decrease), which would receive $221 million. The divisions on
human resource development, formal and informal learning, and undergraduate education would
receive decreases of 9.4% ($200 million requested), 11% ($135 million requested), and 12%
($204 million requested), respectively.
EHR programs of particular interest to congressional policymakers include the Graduate
Research Fellowship (GRF) and National Research Traineeship (NRT) programs. The FY2018
request for GRF is $246 million, a reduction of $86 million (26%) from the FY2016 actual level.
The requested amount would support 1,000 new fellows, a reduction from the 2,000 new fellows
supported through the GRF each year since 2011; in addition, funding will continue for an
estimated 5,000 active fellows. The FY2018 request for NRT is $40 million, a $16 million (28%)
decrease from FY2016.
Proposed funding for FY2018 for other EHR programs of particular congressional interest
include Cybercorps: Scholarships for Service ($40 million requested, 27.0% below the FY2017
directed level);
5862 Advancing Informal STEM Learning ($63 million requested, no change);
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics + Computing Partnerships ($20 million
requested, 61% decrease); Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program
( (HBCU-UP, $35 million requested, no change); Tribal Colleges and University Programs (
TCUP, $13 million
requested, 7.1% decrease); and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (
LSAMP, $41 million
requested, 10.9% decrease). Funding for the Hispanic Serving Institutions program
(HSI), established in
FY2017 per congressional direction, is requested at the FY2017 enacted level of $15 million.
The House committee report recommends no less than $35 million for the HBCU-UP program, $14 million for the TCUP program, $46 million for the LSAMP program, and $15 million for the HSI program.
Within EHR, requested funding for R&D is $348 million, which accounts for approximately
(6.5%) of the agency
’'s total R&D request. The requested amount is a $57 million (14%) decrease
from the FY2016 actual amount of $405 million. The vast majority of the requested funding
would support the conduct of R&D, including $120 million for basic research and $228 million
for applied research.
Construction.
Construction. The MREFC account supports large construction projects and scientific
instruments, with nearly all of the funding directed for R&D facilities. The Trump Administration
is seeking just over $183 million for MREFC in FY2018, $26 million (12.5%) less than the
FY2017 enacted amount.
57
Explanatory statement accompanying P.L. 114-113.
The explanatory statement further directed, of the $55 million provided for CyberCorps in FY2017, “no less than
$7.5 million for qualified community colleges as directed by the Senate.”
58
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
FY2017 enacted amount.
Requested MREFC funding would support three main projects, including continued construction
of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (
LSST, $58 million requested, 13.6% decrease from the FY2017
estimate) and the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (
DKIST, $20 million requested, no change). Most of
the request ($105 million) would fund the Regional Class Research Vessels (RCRV) program to
build ships to support science in U.S. coastal waters. The FY2018 request—prepared in advance
of final FY2017 appropriations action by Congress—included support for two ships.
Subsequently, Congress directed NSF to provide $122 million to build three RCRVs. This
amounts to $41 million per ship, compared to the FY2018 request of $52.5 million per ship. The
budget request notes that the direction from Congress for three RCRVs will impact current and
future funding requirements at unspecified amounts.
Other initiatives.
As reported by the House Committee on Appropriations, H.R. 3267 would provide a total of $77.8 million for MREFC in FY2018, $131 million (63%) below the FY2017 enacted level, and $105 million (57%) below the FY2018 request. The House committee report directs $57.8 million for LSST and $20 million for DKIST; no funding is recommended for RCRVs.
Other initiatives. The FY2018 NSF budget request includes funding for three multiagency
initiatives. This funding is included in the six NSF appropriations accounts and not separately
provided. The National Nanotechnology Initiative would receive $389 million, $122 million
(24%) less than in FY2016. The Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development program would receive $1.062 billion, a decrease of $157 million (12.9%). The
U.S. Global Change Research Program would receive $264 million, $85 million (25.6%) less
than in FY2016. P.L. 115-31 did not specify NSF funding for these initiatives.
Similarly, H.R. 3267 and the House committee report do not specify funding for the initiatives.
Table 9. National Science Foundation Funding
(budget authority in millions of dollars)
Account
Research and Related Activities
(RRA)
R&D, RRA Total
FY2016
Actual
FY2017
Enacted
$5,998.1
$6,033.6
FY2018
Request
5,375.8
n/s
4,839.0
n/s
4,602.3
R&D Facilities and Major Equipment
191.2
n/s
236.7
Education and Human Resources
(EHR)
884.1
880.0
760.6
R&D, EHR Total
405.0
n/s
348.2
404.8
n/s
348.0
0.2
n/s
0.2
Major Research Equipment and
Facilities Construction (MREFC)
241.5
209.0
182.8
R&D, MREFC Total
241.5
n/s
182.8
–
n/s
–
241.5
n/s
182.8
Agency Operations and Award
Management (AOAM)a
351.1
330.0
328.5
National Science Board (NSB)a
4.3
4.4
4.4
Office of the Inspector General
(OIG)a
14.8
15.2
15.0
$7,493.9
$7,472.2
$6,652.9
6,022.3
n/s
5,369.9
5,589.4
n/s
4,950.3
Conduct of R&D
R&D Facilities and Major Equipment
Conduct of R&D
R&D Facilities and Major Equipment
NSF, Total
R&D, NSF Total
Total, Conduct of R&D
Congressional Research Service
FY2018
Senate
FY2018
Enacted
$5,361.6
5,184.6
Conduct of R&D
FY2018
House
29
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Account
Total, R&D Facilities & Major
Equipment
FY2016
Actual
432.8
FY2017
Enacted
n/s
FY2018
Request
FY2018
House
FY2018
Senate
FY2018
Enacted
419.6
Source: Data in the columns titled, “FY2016 Actual” and “FY2018 Request” are from the FY2018 NSF Budget
Request to Congress. Data in the column headed “FY2017 Enacted” are from the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31) and the accompanying Division B Explanatory Statement. Figures for the columns headed
“FY2018 House,” “FY2018 Senate,” and “FY2018 Enacted” will be added, if available, as congressional action is
completed.
Notes: Appropriations accounts are in bold. NSF total may differ from the sum of the accounts due to rounding.
Non-bold R&D funding amounts are a subset of funding for the specified accounts. The term “n/s” means “not
specified.”
a. The AOAM, NSB, and OIG accounts have no reported R&D funding.
Department of Agriculture59
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was created in 1862 in part to support agricultural
research in an expanding, agriculturally dependent country. USDA conducts intramural research
at federal facilities with government-employed scientists, and supports external research at
universities and other facilities through competitive grants and formula-based funding. The
breadth of contemporary USDA research spans traditional agricultural production techniques,
organic and sustainable agriculture, bioenergy, nutrition needs and composition, food safety,
animal and plant health, pest and disease management, economic decision making, and other
social sciences affecting consumers, farmers, and rural communities.
Four agencies carry out USDA’s research and education activities, grouped together into the
Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area. The agencies involved are the
Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA),
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), and Economic Research Service (ERS).
The Administration’s budget request for FY2018 would provide $2.508 billion for USDA’s four
research agencies, a reduction of $382 million (-13.2%) from the enacted FY2017 appropriation
(P.L. 115-31). About three-fourths of this reduction is in salaries and expenses to conduct the
research programs, and one-quarter is the elimination of buildings and facilities funding. (See
Table 10.)
In addition to discretionary appropriations, agricultural research is also funded by state matching
contributions and private donations or grants, as well as mandatory funding from the farm bill. 60
USDA’s discretionary appropriations are profiled below.
Agricultural Research Service
The Agricultural Research Service is USDA’s in-house basic and applied research agency. It
operates approximately 90 laboratories nationwide with about 6,600 employees. ARS also
59
This section was written by (name redacted), Specialist in Agricultural Policy, CRS Resources, Science, and Indus
try
Division.
60
For background on agricultural research, see CRS Report R40819, Agricultural Research: Background and Issues,
by (name redacted)
. For background on agricultural appropriations, see CRS Insight IN10710, The President’s FY2018
Budget Request for Agriculture Appropriations and the Farm Bill, by (name redacted)
, and CRS Report R44588,
Agriculture and Related Agencies: FY2017 Appropriations, coordinated by (name redacted)
.
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
operates the National Agricultural Library, one of the department’s primary information
repositories for food, agriculture, and natural resource sciences. ARS laboratories focus on
efficient food and fiber production, development of new products and uses for agricultural
commodities, development of effective controls for pest management, and support of USDA
regulatory and technical assistance programs.
For FY2018, the Administration requests $993 million for ARS salaries and expenses, a reduction
of $177 million (-15.1%) from the enacted FY2017 appropriation (Table 10). It also proposes
that ARS staffing levels would decrease by 10% in FY2018.
To achieve this reduction, ARS proposes budgetary decreases across all its programmatic areas,
and specifically reducing or eliminating several dozen prioritized research projects. The
programmatic reduction is coupled with closing 5 laboratories at ongoing locations, and closing
12 laboratory locations entirely. Previous years’ budgets and administrations have proposed
laboratory closures and realignments that were expressly rejected in enacted appropriations.
For the ARS buildings and facilities account, the FY2018 budget requests no appropriation. This
follows three years of buildings and facilities appropriations, including $99.6 million in FY2017
and $212 million in FY2016. In addition to the elimination of new funding, the FY2018 budget
proposes a rescission of $212 million of “unobligated balances that are no longer needed.”61 Past
appropriations are funding priorities identified in the 2012 “USDA ARS Capital Investment
Strategy.”62
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture provides federal funding for research, education,
and extension projects conducted in partnership with the State Agricultural Experiment Stations,
the State Cooperative Extension System, land grant universities, colleges, and other research and
education institutions, as well as individual researchers. These partnerships include the 1862 landgrant institutions, 1890 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), 1994 tribal landgrant colleges, and Hispanic-serving institutions.63 Federal funds enhance capacity at universities
and institutions by statutory formula funding, competitive awards, and grants.
For FY2018, the Administration requests $1.253 billion for NIFA, a decrease of $110 million
from the enacted FY2017 appropriation (-8.1%; Table 10).
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI)—USDA’s flagship competitive grants
program with 25% of NIFA’s total budget—would return to FY2016 levels ($350 million) after
having received a $25 million increase in FY2017. The Administration also proposes to eliminate
61
Personal communication with ARS (June 16, 2017) suggests that this proposed rescission may refer to the temporary
repetition in the Budget of the $212 million from FY2016 during the FY2017 continuing resolution, at the time the
budget was compiled, rather than a rescission of the original FY2016 appropriation.
62
USDA-ARS, The USDA Agricultural Research Service Capital Investment Strategy, April 2012, http://www.ars.
usda.gov/sp2UserFiles/Subsite/ARSLegisAffrs/USDA_ARS_Capital_Investment_Strategy_FINAL_eeo.pdf. In
FY2016, funding went to construction of a biocontainment laboratory at the ARS poultry research facility in Athens,
GA ($145 million); a foreign disease-weed science facility in Frederick, MD ($70 million); and an animal science,
human nutrition, and bee research center in Beltsville, MD ($33 million). The priorities funded in FY2017 include
completion of the Foreign Disease and Weed Science Research Unit in Fort Detrick, MD ($30.2 million) and Phase I of
the Agricultural Research Technology Center in Salinas, CA ($64.3 million).
63
The numbers 1862, 1890, and 1994 in this context refer to the years that laws were enacted creating these
classifications of colleges and universities, not to the number of institutions.
Congressional Research Service
31
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
or reduce funding for several specific organic, pest management, and crop-specific research
programs.
Most formula-funded programs in both research and extension are held essentially constant under
the FY2018 request. However, the Administration proposes a 15% reduction to McIntire Stennis
cooperative forestry research funding.
The President’s request proposes to eliminate funding for several programs, including several
federal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education programs at USDA (Higher
Education Challenge Grants, Graduate and Post-graduate Fellowship Grants, the Higher
Education Multicultural Scholars Program, the Women and Minorities in STEM Program,
Agriculture in the Classroom, and Secondary/Postsecondary Challenge Grants). Previous years’
budget requests have proposed moving these programs away from USDA and consolidating
STEM programming across the government, but enacted appropriations have continued to
maintain the programs at USDA.
The FY2017 appropriation continues to direct that at least 15% of NIFA’s competitive grant
funding be available for research enhancement awards such as USDA-EPSCoR. The
Administration’s FY2018 request does not address this allocation.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
The National Agricultural Statistics Service conducts the Census of Agriculture and provides
official statistics on agricultural production and indicators of the economic and environmental
status of the farm sector.
For FY2018, the Administration requests $186 million, a net increase of $14 million (+8.4%)
over the enacted FY2017 appropriation. This change would include an increase of $22 million for
extra expenses to conduct the 2017 Census of Agriculture, and a decrease of $7.3 million for the
core NASS Agricultural Estimates program. The Administration proposes to achieve at least some
of this reduction by reducing the sample size of 12 specific surveys and producing fewer
estimates (including by reducing the number of published states by commodity).64
Economic Research Service
The Economic Research Service supports economic and social science analysis about agriculture,
rural development, food, commodity markets, and the environment. It collects and disseminates
data concerning USDA programs and policies.
For FY2018, the Administration requests $77 million, a decrease of $10 million (-11.6%) from
the enacted FY2017 appropriation. The budget proposes to reduce activities in many areas of
research, including drought resilience, international agriculture, bioenergy, and consumer food
purchases.
64
USDA, Office of Budget and Program Analysis, FY2018 Congressional Budget Justification for the National
Agricultural Statistics Service, p. 8.
Congressional Research Service
32
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Table 10. U.S. Department of Agriculture R&D
(budget authority, in millions of dollars)
Agency or Major Program
FY2017
Enacted
Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
FY2018
Request
1,170.2
993.1
99.6
0.0
1,269.8
993.1
AFRI (competitive grants)
375.0
349.3
Hatch Act (1862 institutions)
243.7
243.2
Evans-Allen (1890 institutions)
54.2
54.1
McIntire-Stennis (forestry)
34.0
28.9
Other
142.7
94.1
Subtotal
849.5
769.6
300.0
299.4
Smith-Lever (d)
85.5
79.2
Other
91.9
84.3
477.4
462.9
36.0
20.3
1,362.9
1,252.8
171.2
185.7
86.8
76.7
2,890.7
2,508.3
Buildings and Facilities
Subtotal, ARS
FY2018
House
FY2018
Senate
FY2018
Enacted
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
Research and Education
Extension
Smith-Lever (b) and (c)
Subtotal
Integrated Activities
Subtotal, NIFA
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)
Economic Research Service (ERS)
Total, USDA Research Mission Area
Source: CRS, compiled P.L. 115-31 (including tables in the joint explanatory statement) and Office of
Management and Budget, President’s Budget for FY2018: Appendix – Department of Agriculture.
Notes: Components may not add to subtotals or total due to rounding. Figures for the columns headed
“FY2018 House,” “FY2018 Senate,” and “FY2018 Enacted” will be added, if available, as each action is completed.
Department of Commerce
Two agencies of the Department of Commerce have major R&D programs: the National Institute
of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA).
Congressional Research Service
33
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
National Institute of Standards and Technology65
The mission of the National Institute of Standards and Technology is “to promote U.S. innovation
and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in
ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.”66 NIST research provides
measurement, calibration, and quality assurance methods and techniques that support U.S.
commerce, technological progress, product reliability, manufacturing processes, and public safety.
NIST’s responsibilities include the development, maintenance, and custodial retention of the
national standards of measurement; providing the means and methods for making measurements
consistent with those standards; and ensuring the compatibility of U.S. national measurement
standards with those of other nations.67
The President is requesting $725.0 billion in funding for NIST in FY2018, a decrease of $229.0
Account
|
FY2016Actual
FY2017 Enacted
|
FY2018Request
FY2018H.Cmte.
FY2018Senate
FY2018 Enacted
|
Research and Related Activities (RRA)
|
$6,033.6
|
R&D, RRA Total
|
5,375.8
|
n/s
|
4,839.0
|
n/s
|
Conduct of R&D
|
5,184.6
|
n/s
|
4,602.3
|
n/s
|
R&D Facilities and Major Equipment
|
191.2
|
n/s
|
236.7
|
n/s
|
Education and Human Resources (EHR)
|
880.0
|
R&D, EHR Total
|
405.0
|
n/s
|
348.2
|
n/s
|
Conduct of R&D
|
404.8
|
n/s
|
348.0
|
n/s
|
R&D Facilities and Major Equipment
|
0.2
|
n/s
|
0.2
|
n/s
|
Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC)
|
77.8
|
R&D, MREFC Total
|
241.5
|
n/s
|
182.8
|
n/s
|
Conduct of R&D
|
–
|
n/s
|
–
|
n/s
|
R&D Facilities and Major Equipment
|
241.5
|
n/s
|
182.8
|
n/s
|
Agency Operations and Award Management (AOAM)a
328.5
|
National Science Board (NSB)a
4.4
|
Office of the Inspector General (OIG)a
15.2
|
NSF, Total
|
$7,339.5
|
R&D, NSF Total
|
6,022.3
|
n/s
|
5,369.9
|
n/s
|
Total, Conduct of R&D
|
5,589.4
|
n/s
|
4,950.3
|
n/s
|
Total, R&D Facilities & Major
Equipment
|
432.8
|
n/s
|
419.6
|
n/s
|
Source: Data in the columns titled, "FY2016 Actual" and "FY2018 Request" are from the FY2018 NSF Budget Request to Congress. Data in the column headed "FY2017 Enacted" are from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31) and the accompanying Division B Explanatory Statement. Funding amounts in the column "FY2018 H.Cmte. Reported" are from the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018 (H.R. 3267), as reported by the House Committee on Appropriations on July 17, 2017, and H.Rept. 115-231. Figures for the columns headed "FY2018 Senate" and "FY2018 Enacted" will be added, if available, as congressional action is completed.
Notes: Appropriations accounts are in bold. NSF total may differ from the sum of the accounts due to rounding. Non-bold R&D funding amounts are a subset of funding for the specified accounts. The term "n/s" means "not specified."
a.
The AOAM, NSB, and OIG accounts have no reported R&D funding.
Department of Agriculture63
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was created in 1862, in part to support agricultural research in an expanding, agriculturally-dependent country. USDA conducts intramural research at federal facilities with government-employed scientists, and supports external research at universities and other facilities through competitive grants and formula-based funding. The breadth of contemporary USDA research spans traditional agricultural production techniques, organic and sustainable agriculture, bioenergy, nutrition needs and composition, food safety, animal and plant health, pest and disease management, economic decisionmaking, and other social sciences affecting consumers, farmers, and rural communities.
Four agencies carry out USDA's research and education activities, grouped together into the Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area. The agencies involved are the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), and Economic Research Service (ERS).
For FY2018, the House-reported bill (H.R. 3268) would provide $2.794 billion for USDA's four research agencies, a reduction of $96 million (-3.3%) from the enacted FY2017 appropriation (P.L. 115-31). The Senate-reported bill (S. 1603) would provide $2.834 billion ($40 million more than the House bill, and a reduction of 2% from FY2017). The Administration's budget request was for $2.508 billion, a reduction of $382 million (-13.2%) from FY2017. (See Table 10.)
In addition to discretionary appropriations, agricultural research is also funded by state matching contributions and private donations or grants, as well as mandatory funding from the farm bill.64 USDA's discretionary appropriations are profiled below.
Agricultural Research Service
The Agricultural Research Service is USDA's in-house basic and applied research agency. It operates approximately 90 laboratories nationwide with about 6,600 employees. ARS also operates the National Agricultural Library, one of the department's primary information repositories for food, agriculture, and natural resource sciences. ARS laboratories focus on efficient food and fiber production, development of new products and uses for agricultural commodities, development of effective controls for pest management, and support of USDA regulatory and technical assistance programs.
For FY2018, the House-reported bill would provide $1.133 billion for ARS salaries and expenses, and $60 million for ARS buildings and facilities; each component is nearly $40 million less than comparable FY2017 levels (Table 10). The Senate-reported bill would provide $50 million more than the House bill for salaries and expenses, $1.182 billion, but nothing for buildings and facilities. The Administration requested $993 million for ARS salaries and expenses, a reduction of $177 million (-15.1%) from the enacted FY2017 appropriation, and nothing for buildings and facilities.
To achieve its requested reduction, the Administration proposed budgetary decreases across all ARS programmatic areas, and specifically reducing or eliminating several dozen prioritized research projects. The programmatic reduction was coupled with proposals to close 5 laboratories at ongoing locations, and close another 12 laboratory locations entirely. Both the House and Senate bills reject these closures and project terminations, though the House bill encourages ARS to reallocate resources as projects mature and goals are achieved. Previous years' budgets and administrations have proposed similar laboratory closures and realignments that were expressly rejected in enacted appropriations.
For the ARS buildings and facilities account, the Senate-reported bill concurs with the Administration's request for no appropriation. The House-reported bill would provide $60 million. This follows buildings and facilities appropriations of $99.6 million in FY2017 and $212 million in FY2016. The House report language mirrors past appropriations that have directed ARS to follow funding priorities identified in the 2012 "USDA ARS Capital Investment Strategy."65
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture provides federal funding for research, education, and extension projects conducted in partnership with the State Agricultural Experiment Stations, the State Cooperative Extension System, land grant universities, colleges, and other research and education institutions, as well as individual researchers. These partnerships include the 1862 land-grant institutions, 1890 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), 1994 tribal land-grant colleges, and Hispanic-serving institutions.66 Federal funds enhance capacity at universities and institutions by statutory formula funding, competitive awards, and grants.
For FY2018, the House-reported bill would provide $1.341 billion for NIFA, a reduction of $21 million from FY2017 (-1.6%). The Senate-reported bill would provide $1.373 billion, an increase of $10 million above FY2017. The Administration had requested $1.253 billion, a decrease of $110 million from FY2017 (-8.1%; Table 10).
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI)—USDA's flagship competitive grants program with 25% of NIFA's total budget—would remain at $375 million in both the House- and Senate-reported bills, the same as provided in FY2017.
The Administration had proposed to eliminate or reduce funding for several other specific organic, pest management, and crop-specific research programs. The House bill is generally more generous to these programs than the Administration's request, though it concurs with eliminating funding for some programs while maintaining it for others. The Senate-reported bill generally has a slight increase over FY2017 levels for these other smaller research programs.
Formula-funded programs in both research and extension are held constant under both the House- and Senate-reported bills. This is similar to the Administration's request, though the Administration proposed a 15% reduction to McIntire Stennis cooperative forestry research funding.
The President's request proposes to eliminate funding for several programs, including several federal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education programs at USDA (Higher Education Challenge Grants, Graduate and Post-graduate Fellowship Grants, the Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program, the Women and Minorities in STEM Program, Agriculture in the Classroom, and Secondary/Postsecondary Challenge Grants). Previous years' budget requests have proposed moving these programs away from USDA and consolidating STEM programming across the government, but enacted appropriations have continued to maintain the programs at USDA. Both the House-reported and Senate-reported bills maintain these programs at USDA and at FY2017 levels.
As in past years, the House-reported and Senate-reported bills continue to direct that at least 15% of NIFA's competitive grant funding be available for research enhancement awards such as USDA-EPSCoR.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
The National Agricultural Statistics Service conducts the Census of Agriculture and provides official statistics on agricultural production and indicators of the economic and environmental status of the farm sector.
For FY2018, the House-reported bill would provide $184 million and the Senate-reported bill would provide $192 million. Both are increases over the FY2017 appropriation of $171 million. The FY2018 request by the Administration of $186 million reflects additional expenses for conducting the Agricultural Census.
For the core NASS Agricultural Estimates program, the Administration had requested a $7.3 million reduction, and the House-reported bill would decrease it an even larger amount, a reduction of $8.6 million. The Senate-reported bill basically maintains the core statistical program at FY2017 levels, with only a $0.7 million reduction. The Administration proposed to achieve at least some of this reduction by reducing the sample size of 12 specific surveys and producing fewer estimates (including by reducing the number of published states by commodity).67
Economic Research Service
The Economic Research Service supports economic and social science analysis about agriculture, rural development, food, commodity markets, and the environment. It collects and disseminates data concerning USDA programs and policies.
For FY2018, the House-reported bill follows the Administration request for $77 million, a decrease of $10 million (-11.5%) from the enacted FY2017 appropriation. The Senate-reported bill would maintain the FY2018 appropriation at the FY2017 level of $87 million.
The Administration's budget proposed to reduce activities in many areas of research, including drought resilience, international agriculture, bioenergy, and consumer food purchases.
Table 10. U.S. Department of Agriculture R&D
(budget authority, in millions of dollars)
Agency or Major Program
|
FY2017 Enacted
|
FY2018Request
FY2018H.Cmte.
FY2018 S.Cmte.
FY2018 Enacted
|
Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
|
1,170.2
|
993.1
|
1,132.6
|
1,182.4
|
Buildings and Facilities
|
99.6
|
0.0
|
60.0
|
0.0
|
Subtotal, ARS
|
1,269.8
|
993.1
|
1,192.6
|
1,182.4
|
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
|
Research and Education
|
AFRI (competitive grants)
|
375.0
|
349.3
|
375.0
|
375.0
|
Hatch Act (1862 institutions)
|
243.7
|
243.2
|
243.7
|
243.7
|
Evans-Allen (1890 institutions)
|
54.2
|
54.1
|
54.2
|
54.2
|
McIntire-Stennis (forestry)
|
34.0
|
28.9
|
34.0
|
34.0
|
Other
|
142.7
|
94.1
|
123.6
|
148.0
|
Subtotal
|
849.5
|
769.6
|
830.4
|
854.9
|
Extension
|
Smith-Lever (b) and (c)
|
300.0
|
299.4
|
300.0
|
300.0
|
Smith-Lever (d)
|
85.5
|
79.2
|
85.5
|
85.5
|
Other
|
91.9
|
84.3
|
90.3
|
95.8
|
Subtotal
|
477.4
|
462.9
|
475.9
|
481.4
|
Integrated Activities
|
36.0
|
20.3
|
35.0
|
37.0
|
Subtotal, NIFA
|
1,362.9
|
1,252.8
|
1,341.3
|
1,373.2
|
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)
|
171.2
|
185.7
|
183.8
|
191.7
|
Economic Research Service (ERS)
|
86.8
|
76.7
|
76.8
|
86.8
|
Total, USDA Research Mission Area
|
2,890.7
|
2,508.3
|
2,794.5
|
2,834.2
|
Source: CRS, compiled P.L. 115-31 (including tables in the joint explanatory statement), H.R. 3268, H.Rept. 115-232, S. 1603, and S.Rept. 115-131.
Notes: Components may not add to subtotals or total due to rounding. Figures for "FY2018 House," "FY 2018 Senate," and "FY2018 Enacted" will be added, if available, as Congress completes each action.
Department of Commerce
Two agencies of the Department of Commerce have major R&D programs: the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
National Institute of Standards and Technology68
The mission of the National Institute of Standards and Technology is "to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life."69 NIST research provides measurement, calibration, and quality assurance methods and techniques that support U.S. commerce, technological progress, product reliability, manufacturing processes, and public safety. NIST's responsibilities include the development, maintenance, and custodial retention of the national standards of measurement; providing the means and methods for making measurements consistent with those standards; and ensuring the compatibility of U.S. national measurement standards with those of other nations.70
The President is requesting $725.0 billion in funding for NIST in FY2018, a decrease of $229.0 million (24.0%) from the FY2017 enacted appropriation of $954.0 million. (See Table 11.) NIST
discretionary funding is provided through three accounts: Scientific and Technical Research and
Services (STRS), Industrial Technology Services (ITS), and Construction of Research Facilities
(CRF).
The President’s FY2018 request includes $600.0 million for R&D, standards coordination, and
related services in the STRS account, a decrease of $90.0 million (13.0%) from the FY2017
level.68
The President is requesting $21.0 million for the ITS account for FY2018, down $134.0 million
(86.5%) from the FY2017 enacted level. The ITS request includes $6.0 million “for the orderly
wind down” of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, and $15.0 million for
the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI), a $10.0 million (40.0%) reduction
from the FY2017 enacted level.69 The $15.0 million provided for the NNMI includes $10.0
million for continued support of the NIST-sponsored National Institute for Innovation in
Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals and $5.0 million to support NIST’s role in coordination of the
network.
The President is requesting $104.0 million for FY2018 for the NIST CRF account, down $5.0
million (4.6%) from the FY2017 enacted level.70
65
This section was written by (name redacted), Specialist in Science and Technology Policy, CRS Resources,
Science, and Industry Division.
66
NIST website, “General Information,” http://nist.gov/public_affairs/general_information.cfm.
67
15 U.S.C. 272.
68
U.S. Department of Commerce, Department of Commerce, Budget in Brief, Fiscal Year 2018,
http://www.osec.doc.gov/bmi/budget/FY18BIB/All508.pdf.
69
Ibid. For additional information on the MEP program, see CRS Report R44308, The Manufacturing Extension
Partnership Program, by (name redacted)
70
U.S. Department of Commerce, Department of Commerce, Budget in Brief, Fiscal Year 2018.
Congressional Research Service
34
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Table 11. National Institute of Standards and Technology Funding
(budget authority, in millions of dollars)
Budget Account
Scientific and Technical Research and
Services
Industrial Technology Services
Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Network for Manufacturing Innovation
Construction of Research Facilities
NIST, Totala
FY2017
Enacted
FY2018
Request
$690.0
$600.0
155.0
21.0
130.0
6.0
25.0
15.0
109.0
104.0
$954.0
$725.0
FY2018
House
FY2018
Senate
FY2018
Enacted
Source: P.L. 115-31 The House Committee on Appropriations reported the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2018 (H.R. 3267), on July 13, 2017. The House committee-reported bill includes $865.0 million in funding for NIST, down $89.0 million (9.3%) from the FY2017 enacted level and up $140.0 million (19.3%) from the request. The Senate Committee on Appropriation reported the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018 (S. 1662) on July 27, 2017. The Senate committee-reported bill includes $944.0 million for NIST, down $10.0 million (1.0%) from the FY2017 enacted level, up $219.0 million (30.2%) from the request, and up $70.0 million (9.1%) from the House committee-reported bill.
The President's FY2018 request includes $600.0 million for R&D, standards coordination, and related services in the STRS account, a decrease of $90.0 million (13.0%) from the FY2017 level.71 The House committee-reported bill includes $660.0 million in funding for the STRS account, down $30.0 million (4.3%) from the FY2017 enacted level and up $60.0 million (10.0%) from the request. Specific areas the House committee identified for NIST attention include disaster resiliency, textile research, football helmet safety, Internet of Things (IoT) security, cybersecurity, and nanostructured metals. The Senate committee-reported bill includes $695.0 million for the STRS, down $5.0 million (0.7%) from the FY2017 enacted level, up $95.0 million (15.8%) from the request, and up $35.0 million (5.3%) from the House committee-reported bill. Among the specific areas the Senate committee identified for NIST attention are cybersecurity, the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, the IoT, forensic sciences, disaster resilient buildings, helmet safety, metals-based additive manufacturing, plastics and polymeric materials, pyrrhotite in concrete aggregate, regenerative medicine standards, a challenge prize focused on spectrum efficiency, and NIST's Urban Dome program. The Senate committee also provides support for the NIST Baldrige Performance Excellence program in the amount of $2.2 million, but emphasizes the need for the program to become self-sustaining through fundraising and private sector support.
The President is requesting $21.0 million for the ITS account for FY2018, down $134.0 million (86.5%) from the FY2017 enacted level. The ITS request includes $6.0 million "for the orderly wind down" of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, and $15.0 million for the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI, also referred to as Manufacturing USA), a $10.0 million (40.0%) reduction from the FY2017 enacted level.72 The $15.0 million provided for the NNMI includes $10.0 million for continued support of the NIST-sponsored National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals and $5.0 million to support NIST's role in coordination of the network. The House committee-reported bill includes $105.0 million in funding for the ITS account, down $50.0 million (32.3%) from the FY2017 enacted level and up $84.0 million (400.0%) from the request. Within the ITS account, the bill would provide $100.0 million for the MEP program, down $30.0 million (23.1%) from the FY2017 enacted level and up $94.0 million from the request, and would provide $5.0 million for the NNMI, down $20.0 million (80.0%) from the FY2017 enacted level and down $10.0 million (66.7%) from the request. The Senate committee-reported bill includes $145.0 million for the ITS account, down $10.0 million (6.5%) from the FY2017 enacted level, up $124.0 million (590.5%) from the request, and up $40.0 million (38.1%) from the House committee-reported bill. In doing so, the Senate committee rejected the Trump Administration's proposed elimination of the MEP program and funds it at the FY2017 level of $130.0 million, $10.0 million more than the House committee-reported bill. The Senate committee-reported bill would provide $15 million for the NNMI, $10 million below the FY2017 level, equal to the Administration's request, and $10 million more than the House committee-reported bill. Of these funds, up to $5.0 million may be used for coordination activities of the network.
The President is requesting $104.0 million for FY2018 for the NIST CRF account, down $5.0 million (4.6%) from the FY2017 enacted level.73 The House committee-reported bill includes $100.0 million in funding for the CRF account, down $9 million (8.3%) from the FY2017 enacted level and down $4.0 million (3.8%) from the request. The Senate committee-reported bill includes $104.0 million for the CRF account, down $5.0 million (4.6%) from the FY2017 enacted level, equal to the request, and up $4.0 million (4.0%) from the House committee-reported bill.
Table 11. National Institute of Standards and Technology Funding
(budget authority, in millions of dollars)
Budget Account
|
FY2017 Enacted
FY2018 Request
FY2018H. Cmte.
FY2018S. Cmte.
FY2018Enacted
Scientific and Technical Research and Services
|
Industrial Technology Services
|
Manufacturing Extension Partnership
|
Network for Manufacturing Innovation
|
Construction of Research Facilities
|
NIST, Totala
Source: P.L. 115-31; explanatory statement accompanying P.L. 115-31, as published in the Congressional Record
,
, May 3, 2017, Book II, H3365; U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and
Technology/National Technical Information Service Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Submission to Congress, NIST-4
.
; H.R. 3267; and H.Rept. 115-231.
Notes: Figures for the columns headed
“"FY2018 House,
” “" "FY2018 Senate
”" and
“"FY2018 Enacted
”" will be added,
if available, as Congress completes each action.
a.
a.
In FY2017, NIST will continue to execute mandatory resources (not include in the table figures) provided in
FY2017 through the NIST Public Safety Communications Research Fund to help develop wireless
technologies for public safety users, as part of the National Wireless Initiative included in the Middle Class
Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-96). This act provides mandatory funds for NIST from
spectrum auction proceeds to help industry and public safety organizations conduct research and develop
new standards, technologies and applications to advance public safety communications in support of the
initiative’ initiative's efforts to build an interoperable nationwide broadband network for first responders. The act
provided NIST a total of $300 million, though rescissions have reduced this amount to $285 million.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration71
Administration74
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration conducts scientific research in areas such
as ecosystems, climate, global climate change, weather, and oceans; collects and provides data on
the oceans and atmosphere; and manages coastal and marine organisms and environments.
NOAA was created in 1970 by Reorganization Plan No. 4.
7275 The reorganization was intended to
unify elements of the nation
’'s environmental programs and to provide a systematic approach for
monitoring, analyzing, and protecting the environment. One of the agency
’'s main challenges
relates to its diverse mission of science, service, and stewardship. A review of research
undertaken by NOAA found,
“"The major challenge for NOAA is connecting the pieces of its
research program and ensuring research is linked to the broader science needs of the agency.
”73
NOAA’s Research Council74"76
NOAA's Research Council77 developed a five-year plan (2013-2017) to guide the agency
’'s R&D
efforts.
7578 R&D efforts support the long-term goals and enterprise objectives of NOAA
’s Next
71
This section was written by (name redacted), Analyst in Natural Resources, CRS Resources, Science, and Industry
Division.
72
“Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970,” 35 Federal Register 15627-15630, October 6, 1970; see also
http://www.lib.noaa.gov/noaainfo/heritage/ReorganizationPlan4.html.
73
Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, NOAA
Response to the NOAA Science Advisory Board’s Portfolio Review Task Force Report, NOAA, April 15, 2014,
http://www.sab.noaa.gov/Reports/2014/NOAA.Response.to.PRTF.Report_2014.04.15.pdf.
74
According to NOAA, “The NOAA Research Council is an internal body composed of senior scientific personnel
from every line office in the agency who provide corporate oversight to ensure NOAA’s research and development
(continued...)
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Generation Strategic Plan.76's Next Generation Strategic Plan.79 The strategic plan is organized into four categories of long-term
goals including (1) climate adaptation and mitigation, (2) a weather-ready nation,
7780 (3) healthy
oceans, and (4) resilient coastal communities and economies; and three groups of enterprise
objectives including (1) stakeholder engagement, (2) data and observations, and (3) integrated
environmental modeling. To achieve the strategic plan
’'s goals and objectives, NOAA has
identified gaps in knowledge and capabilities. NOAA
’'s R&D plan attempts to address these gaps
by asking key questions. Key questions are used in the plan to frame and organize R&D
objectives and to identify tasks associated with achieving these objectives.
One of the main challenges identified in the NOAA R&D plan is the need to integrate the diverse
perspectives and professional expertise required by the agency
’'s mission. The plan states that
“ "holistically understanding the earth system is not only understanding its individual components,
but understanding and interpreting the way each of the components interact and behave as an
integrated composite that is more than the sum of its parts.
”
"
For FY2018, President Trump requested $671.6 million in R&D funding for NOAA, a decrease
of $176.4 million (20.8%) below the FY2017 enacted level of $848.0 million. R&D funding for
FY2017 consists of $497.8 million for research (58.7% of total R&D funding), $86.9 million for
development (10.3%), and $263.3 million for R&D equipment (31.0
%).78%).81 In FY2017, R&D is
14.9% of NOAA
’'s total discretionary budget of $5,675.4 million. The FY2018 request for R&D
funding includes $365.8 million for research (54.4% of total R&D funding), $64.2 million for
development (9.6%), and $241.6 million for R&D equipment (36.0%). The President
’'s request
for R&D is 14.1% of NOAA
’'s total discretionary budget request of $4,
773770.7 million.
NOAA’
NOAA's administrative structure is organized by five line offices that reflect its diverse mission:
the National Ocean Service (NOS); National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS); National
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS); National Weather Service
(NWS); and Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR). In addition to NOAA
’'s five
line offices, two major funding categories include Mission Support (formerly Program Support)
and the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO). Mission support is a cross-cutting
budget activity, which provides administrative functions related to planning, information
technology, human resources, and infrastructure. OMAO is responsible for the agency
’'s ships and
aircraft that collect data in support of NOAA
’'s environmental and scientific missions.
79
Table 11 provides FY2017 enacted R&D funding and the administration’s FY2018 request for
each NOAA office.80 Most of NOAA’s R&D activities are conducted by OAR and in most years
(...continued)
activities are of the highest quality, meet near- to long-term mission requirements and societal needs, take advantage of
emerging scientific and technological opportunities, shape a forward-looking research agenda, and are accomplished in
an efficient and cost-effective manner.” Source: NOAA website, “NOAA Research Council,” http://nrc.noaa.gov.
75
NOAA, Research and Development at NOAA, Five-Year Research and Development Plan 2013-2017, Washington,
DC, 2014, http://nrc.noaa.gov/CouncilProducts/ResearchPlans/5YearRDPlan/NOAA5YRPHome/Preface/
Purpose.aspx.
76
NOAA, NOAA’s Next-Generation Strategic Plan, Silver Spring, MD, December 2010, http://www.ppi.noaa.gov/wpcontent/uploads/NOAA_NGSP.pdf.
77
According to NOAA, a weather-ready nation is envisioned as a society that is prepared for and responds to weatherrelated events.
78
NOAA Budget Office, email to CRS, June 14, 2017.
79
Most of NOAA’s discretionary funding for the five offices, OMAO, and Mission Support is from the Operations,
Research and Facilities and the Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction accounts.
80
Ibid.
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
OAR accounts for over half of NOAA’s R&D funding. The FY2018 request would provide OAR
82
Table 12 provides R&D funding levels for FY2017 enacted and the Administration's FY2018 request for each NOAA office.83 Funding for NOAA R&D is included in budget line items that also include non-R&D activities; therefore, it is not possible to identify precisely how much of the funding provided in appropriations legislation is allocated to R&D. In general, R&D funding levels are known only after NOAA allocates its appropriations to specific activities and reports those figures.
Most of NOAA's R&D activities are conducted by OAR and in most years OAR accounts for over half of NOAA's R&D funding. The FY2018 request would provide OAR with $350.0 million for R&D, a decrease of $130.1 million (27.1%) below the FY2017 enacted
funding level of $480.1 million.
81
84
OAR conducts research in three major areas: weather and air chemistry; climate; and oceans,
coasts, and the Great Lakes. A significant portion of these efforts is implemented through
partnerships between NOAA and cooperative research institutes. NOAA supports 16 cooperative
research institutes that work with seven NOAA laboratories in all three of the main OAR research
areas. The President
’'s FY2018 request would fund the cooperative institutes with a total of
$150.5 million, $21.5 million (12.5%) less than the FY2017 enacted funding level of $172.0
million.
The President’s FY2018 request would reduce funding in two areas of congressional interest: the
National Sea Grant College Program and climate change. The National Sea Grant College
The House committee-reported bill would fund laboratories and cooperative institutes with a total of $169.2 million, $18.7 million (12.4%) more than the FY2018 request, and $2.8 million (1.6%) less than the FY2017 enacted funding level. The Senate committee-reported bill would fund laboratories and cooperative institutes with a total of $171.0 million, $1.8 million (1.1%) more than the House committee-reported bill, $20.5 million (13.6%) more than the FY2018 request, and $1.0 million (0.6%) less than the FY2017 enacted funding level.
The President's FY2018 request would also reduce OAR R&D funding for the National Sea Grant Program and Climate Research. The National Sea Grant College Program is composed of 33 university-based state programs. Sea Grant programs support
scientific research and engage constituents to identify and solve problems faced by coastal
communities. The President
’'s FY2018 request would terminate federal support of the National
Sea Grant College Program and Sea Grant
’s Marine Aquaculture
ProgramResearch. In FY2017, the
National Sea Grant College Program was funded at $63.0 million and
the Sea Grant Marine
Aquaculture Program was funded at $9.5 million.
marine aquaculture research was funded at $9.5 million. The House committee-reported bill would fund the National Sea Grant Program at $63.0 million and marine aquaculture research at $7.0 million, The Senate committee-reported bill would fund the National Sea Grant Program at $65.0 million and marine aquaculture research at $11.5 million.
Climate research includes funding for laboratories and cooperative institutes, regional climate
data and information, and competitive research. The President
’'s FY2018 request would provide
climate research with $128.0 million, $30.0 million (19.0%) less than the FY2017 enacted
funding level of $158.0 million.
82
Table 12. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration R&D
(budget authority in millions of dollars)
FY2017
Enacted
FY2018
Request
National Ocean Service (NOS)
75.2
59.2
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
70.9
55.5
National Weather Service (NWS)
23.1
13.2
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and
Information Service (NESDIS)
31.0
29.4
Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO)a
163.1
164.3
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)
480.1
350.0
4.6
0
848.0
671.6
514.1
350.0
5,675.4
4,773.7
Mission Support
Total R&D
OAR, Total R&D and Non-R&Db
NOAA, Total R&D and
Non-R&Db
FY2018
House
FY2018
Senate
FY2018
Enacted
Source: NOAA Budget Office, email to CRS concerning NOAA R&D, June 14, 2017.
81
Ibid.
Approximately one-third of climate research funding is provided for laboratories and cooperative institutes (e.g.
$60.0 million in FY2017).
82
Congressional Research Service
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Notes: Figures for the columns headed “FY2018 House,” “FY2018 Senate” and “FY2018 Enacted” will be added,
if available, as Congress completes each action.
a. All Office of Marine Aviation Operations funding is for equipment related to R&D.
b. OAR and NOAA funding totals are provided for context.
Department of Veterans Affairs83
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates and maintains a national health care delivery
system to provide eligible veterans with medical care, benefits, and social support. As part of the
agency’s mission, it seeks to advance medical R&D in areas most relevant to the diseases and
conditions that affect the health care needs of veterans.
The President is proposing $1.184 billion for VA R&D in FY2018, a decrease of $61.7 million
85 The House committee-reported bill would fund climate research with a total of $128.0 million, an amount equal to the FY2018 request and $30.0 million (19.0%) less than the FY2017 enacted funding level. The Senate committee-reported bill would fund climate research with a total of $158 million, $30 million (23.4%) more than the House committee-passed bill, $30.0 million (23.4%) more than the FY2018 request, and an amount equal to the FY2017 enacted funding level.
Table 12. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration R&D
(budget authority in millions of dollars)
FY2017 Enacted
|
FY2018 Request
|
FY2018 H.Cmte.
|
FY2018 S.Cmte.
|
FY2018 Enacted
|
National Ocean Service (NOS)
|
75.2
|
59.2
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
|
70.9
|
55.5
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
National Weather Service (NWS)
|
23.1
|
13.2
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)
|
31.0
|
29.4
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO)a
163.1
|
164.3
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)
|
480.1
|
350.0
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Mission Support
|
4.6
|
0
|
n/a
|
Total R&D
|
848.0
|
671.6
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
OAR, Total R&D and Non-R&Db
514.1
|
350.0
|
474.8
|
518.7
|
NOAA, Total R&D and Non-R&Db
5,675.4
|
4,770.7
|
4,965.7
|
5,590.3
|
Source: NOAA Budget Office, email to CRS concerning NOAA R&D, June 14, 2017.
Notes: n/a=not available. R&D funding levels for the columns headed "FY2018 House Reported" and "FY2018 Senate Reported" are not provided by congressional committees. The column "FY2017 Enacted" will be added when funding levels become available from NOAA.
a.
All Office of Marine Aviation Operations funding is for equipment related to R&D.
b.
OAR and NOAA funding totals are provided for context.
Department of Veterans Affairs86
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates and maintains a national health care delivery system to provide eligible veterans with medical care, benefits, and social support. As part of the agency's mission, it seeks to advance medical R&D in areas most relevant to the diseases and conditions that affect the health care needs of veterans.
The President is proposing $1.184 billion for VA R&D in FY2018, a decrease of $61.7 million (5.2%) from the FY2017 enacted level. (See Table 13.) VA R&D represents 1.4% of the agency
’s
's overall FY2018 budget request and is funded through two accounts—the Medical and Prosthetic
Research account and the Medical Care Support account. The Medical Care Support account also
includes non-R&D funding. How much of the funding provided in appropriations legislation will
be allocated to R&D is unclear unless funding is provided at the precise level of the request. In
general, R&D funding levels from the Medical Care Support account are only known after the VA
allocates its appropriations to specific activities and reports those figures. The FY2018 request
includes $640 million for VA
’'s Medical and Prosthetic Research account, a decrease of $33.4
million (5.2%), and $544 million in funding for research supported by the agency
’'s Medical Care
Support account, a decrease of $28.4 million (5.2%).
According to the President
’'s request, VA R&D priorities for FY2018 include efforts to treat
veterans at risk of suicide; research to address pain management, opioid addiction, and Gulf War
Veterans Illness; and the use of the Million Veteran Program—a genomic research program that is
collecting genetic samples and detailed health information from
one1 million veterans—to advance
precision medicine.
84
87
The Medical and Prosthetics R&D program is an intramural program managed by the Veteran
Health Administration
’'s Office of Research and Development (ORD) and conducted at VA
Medical Centers and VA-approved sites nationwide. The mission of VA R&D is
“"to improve
Veterans’ Veterans' health and well-being via basic, translational, clinical, health services, and rehabilitative
research and to apply scientific knowledge to develop effective individualized care solutions for
Veterans.
”85"88 ORD consists of four main research services each headed by a director:
Biomedical Laboratory R&D conducts preclinical and clinical research to
understand life processes at the molecular, genomic, and physiological levels.
Clinical Science R&D supports research, including human subjects research, to
determine the feasibility and effectiveness of new treatments such as drugs,
therapies, or devices.
83
This section was written by (name redacted), Analyst in Science and Technology Policy, CRS Resources, Science,
and Industry Division.
84
Department of Veterans Affairs, Volume II: Medical Programs and Information Technology Programs,
Congressional Submission, FY 2018 Funding and FY 2019 Advance Appropriations, pp. VHA-419-459,
https://www.va.gov/budget/docs/summary/fy2018VAbudgetVolumeIImedicalProgramsAndInformationTechnology.pd
f.
85
https://www.research.va.gov/about/default.cfm.
Congressional Research Service
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
therapies, or devices.
Health Services R&D conducts studies to identify and promote effective and
efficient strategies to improve the quality and accessibility of the VA health
system and patient outcomes, and to minimize health care costs.
Rehabilitation R&D develops novel approaches to improving the quality of life
of impaired and disabled veterans suffering from traumatic amputation, central
nervous system injuries, loss of sight or hearing, or other physical and cognitive
impairments.
In addition to intramural support, VA researchers are eligible to obtain funding for their research
from extramural sources, including other federal agencies, private foundations and health
organizations, and commercial entities. However, unlike federal agencies such as the National
Institutes of Health or the Department of Defense, VA does not have the authority to support
extramural R&D by providing research grants to colleges, universities, or other non-VA entities.
Table 13
On July 13, 2017, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported out the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018, S. 1557, which would provide $722.3 million for the VA's Medical and Prosthetic Research account, an increase of $82.3 million or 11.4% above the President's FY2018 request.
On July 27, 2017, the House passed H.R. 3219, the Make America Secure Appropriations Act, 2018. H.R. 3219 would provide $698.2 million in funding for the Medical and Prosthetic Research account, an increase of $58.2 million, or 8.3%, above the FY2018 request.
Table 13 summarizes R&D program funding for VA in the Medical and Prosthetic Research and
the Medical Care Support accounts. Table 14 details amounts to be spent in Designated Research
Areas (DRAs) which VA describes as
“"areas of particular importance to our veteran patient
population.
”86"89 Funding for research projects that span multiple areas may be included in several
DRAs; thus, the amounts in Table 14 total to more than the appropriation or request for the VA
Medical and Prosthetic Research account.
Table 13. Department of Veterans Affairs R&D
(budget authority, in millions of dollars)
FY2017
Enacted
FY2018
Request
Medical and Prosthetic Research
673.4
640.0
Medical Care Support
572.4
544.0
$1,245.7
$1,184.0
Veterans Affairs, Totala
FY2018
House
FY2018
Senate
FY2018
Enacted
Source: Department of Veterans Affairs, Volume II: Medical Programs and Information Technology Programs,
Congressional Submission, FY 2018 Funding and FY 2019 Advance Appropriations, p. VHA-422,
FY2017 Enacted
|
FY2018 Request
|
FY2018 House
FY2018 S. Cmte.
FY2018 Enacted
|
Medical and Prosthetic Research
|
673.4
|
640.0
|
698.2
|
722.3
|
Medical Care Support
|
572.4
|
544.0
|
____a
____a
Veterans Affairs, Totalb
$1,245.7
|
$1,184.0
|
____a
____a
Source: Department of Veterans Affairs, Volume II: Medical Programs and Information Technology Programs, Congressional Submission, FY 2018 Funding and FY 2019 Advance Appropriations, p. VHA-422, https://www.va.gov/budget/docs/summary/fy2018VAbudgetVolumeIImedicalProgramsAndInformationTechnology.
pdf.
pdf; H.R. 2998; and S. 1557.
Notes: Figures for the columns headed
“"FY2018 House,
” “" "FY2018 Senate
”" and
“"FY2018 Enacted
”" will be added,
if available, as Congress completes each action.
a.
a.
Cannot be determined as R&D is included in accounts with non-R&D funding.
b.
VA researchers also receive grants from other federal and
non-federalnonfederal resources including, the National
Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to VA, these resources are estimated at $595 million in FY2017 and $570 million in FY2018
increasing the total amount of R&D performed at VA to $1.84 billion in FY2017 and $1.75 billion in FY2018.
86
Department of Veterans Affairs, Volume II: Medical Programs and Information Technology Programs,
Congressional Submission, FY 2018 Funding and FY 2019 Advance Appropriations, p. VHA-454,
https://www.va.gov/budget/docs/summary/fy2018VAbudgetVolumeIImedicalProgramsAndInformationTechnology.pd
f.
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Table 14. Department of Veterans Affairs Amounts by Designated Research Areas
(in millions of dollars)
Designated Research Area
Acute and Traumatic Injury
FY2017
Estimate
FY2018
Request
25.3
25.1
150.3
148.7
Autoimmune, Allergic, and Hematopoietic Disorders
28.4
28.0
Cancer
59.5
59.0
105.4
104.3
Degenerative Diseases of Bones and Joints
36.6
36.0
Dementia and Neuronal Degeneration
31.2
30.7
Diabetes and Major Complications
35.8
35.3
Digestive Diseases
21.2
20.8
1.0
1.0
Gulf War Veterans Illness
12.2
12.2
Health Systems
70.8
69.9
Heart Disease/Cardiovascular Health
70.5
69.9
Infectious Disease
33.8
33.4
Kidney Disorders
21.4
21.2
Lung Disorders
27.6
27.2
115.8
115.8
16.2
15.6
5.0
4.7
Prosthetics
15.4
15.2
Sensory Loss
17.5
17.3
Special Populations
24.4
24.1
Substance Abuse
30.1
30.1
Aging
Central Nervous System Injury and Associated
Disorders
Emerging Pathogens/Bio-Terrorism
Mental Illness
Military Occupations and Environmental Exposures
Other Chronic Diseases
Source:
(in millions of dollars)
|
Designated Research Area
|
FY2017 Estimate
|
FY2018 Request
|
|
Acute and Traumatic Injury
|
25.3
|
25.1
|
|
Aging
|
150.3
|
148.7
|
|
Autoimmune, Allergic, and Hematopoietic Disorders
|
28.4
|
28.0
|
|
Cancer
|
59.5
|
59.0
|
|
Central Nervous System Injury and Associated Disorders
|
105.4
|
104.3
|
|
Degenerative Diseases of Bones and Joints
|
36.6
|
36.0
|
|
Dementia and Neuronal Degeneration
|
31.2
|
30.7
|
|
Diabetes and Major Complications
|
35.8
|
35.3
|
|
Digestive Diseases
|
21.2
|
20.8
|
|
Emerging Pathogens/Bio-Terrorism
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
|
Gulf War Veterans Illness
|
12.2
|
12.2
|
|
Health Systems
|
70.8
|
69.9
|
|
Heart Disease/Cardiovascular Health
|
70.5
|
69.9
|
|
Infectious Disease
|
33.8
|
33.4
|
|
Kidney Disorders
|
21.4
|
21.2
|
|
Lung Disorders
|
27.6
|
27.2
|
|
Mental Illness
|
115.8
|
115.8
|
|
Military Occupations and Environmental Exposures
|
16.2
|
15.6
|
|
Other Chronic Diseases
|
5.0
|
4.7
|
|
Prosthetics
|
15.4
|
15.2
|
|
Sensory Loss
|
17.5
|
17.3
|
|
Special Populations
|
24.4
|
24.1
|
|
Substance Abuse
|
30.1
|
30.1
|
Source: Department of Veterans Affairs, Volume II: Medical Programs and Information Technology Programs,
Congressional Submission, FY 2018 Funding and FY 2019 Advance Appropriations, p. VHA-455,
https://www.va.gov/budget/docs/summary/fy2018VAbudgetVolumeIImedicalProgramsAndInformationTechnology.
pdf.
pdf.
Notes: Projects that span multiple areas may be included in several Designated Research Areas (DRAs);
therefore, the amounts depicted in this table total to more than the FY2017 enacted amount and the FY2018
request for Medical and Prosthetic Research. Columns for
“"FY2018 House,
”"FY2018 Senate,
” and “FY2018
Enacted”" and "FY2018 Enacted" are not included in this table as these figures will only be available after Congress completes the
appropriations process and VA determines how much of the appropriated funds will be allocated to each DRA.
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Department of the Interior87
Department of the Interior90
The Department of the Interior (DOI) was created to protect and manage the nation
’'s natural
resources and cultural heritage and to provide scientific and other information about those
resources. DOI has a wide range of responsibilities including, among other things, mapping,
geological, hydrological, and biological science; migratory bird, wildlife, and endangered species
conservation; surface-mined lands protection and restoration; and historic preservation.
88
91
The Administration is requesting $11.7 billion
in net discretionary funding for DOI in FY2018.
8992 Of that amount, $816.4
million is requested for R&D funding, $176.0 million (17.7%) below its FY2017 enacted level of
$992.4 million.
9093 Of the President
’'s FY2018 DOI R&D funding request, 5.3% is for basic
research, 77.5% is for applied research, and 17.1% is for development. The U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS) is the only DOI component that conducts basic research.
91
94
Funding for DOI R&D is generally included in appropriations line items that also include
nonRnon-R&D activities. How much of the funding provided in appropriations legislation is allocated to
R&D specifically is unclear unless funding is provided at the precise level of the request. In
general, R&D funding levels are known only after DOI components allocate their appropriations
to specific activities and report those figures.
U.S. Geological Survey
As reported by the House Committee on Appropriations, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018 (H.R. 3354) would provide $11.9 billion for DOI, a $200 million increase over the FY2017 enacted amount. This amount includes both R&D and non-R&D funding.
U.S. Geological Survey
The USGS accounts for more than two-thirds of all DOI R&D funding. A single appropriations
account, Surveys, Investigations, and Research (SIR), provides all USGS funding. USGS R&D is
conducted under seven SIR activity/program areas: Ecosystems; Climate and Land Use Change;
Energy, Minerals, and Environmental Health; Natural Hazards; Water Resources; Core Science
Systems; and Science Support.
The President
’'s total FY2018 budget request for USGS is $922.2 million. Of this amount, $560.9
million would be for R&D, a decrease of $126.6 million (18.4%) over the FY2017 enacted level
of $687.6 million. This total includes $132.1 million for Ecosystems, down $27.6 million
(17.3%); $72.5 million for Climate and Land Use Change, down $31.3 million (30.2%); $91.5
million for Energy, Minerals, and Environmental Health, down $2.8 million (3.0%); $98.2 million
for Natural Hazards, down $19.8 million (16.8%); $94.5 million for Water Resources, down
$28.3 million (23.0%); $71.7 million for Core Science Systems, down $16.8 million (19.0%); and
$0.4 million for Science Support, down $73,000 (15.4%).
92
95
The FY2018 budget request would eliminate funding for biological carbon sequestration research,
the Geomagnetism Program, and the Water Resources Research Act grant program. DOI states
that these are programs
“more appropriately funded by USGS partners and those that have
87
This section was written by Laurie Harris, Analyst in Science and Technology Policy, CRS Resources, Science, and
Industry Division.
88
Department of the Interior, Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2014-2018, https://www.doi.gov/pmb/ppp/upload/DOIStrategic-Plan-for-FY-2014-2018-POSTED-ON-WEBSITE-4.pdf.
89
Department of the Interior, Fiscal Year 2018: The Interior Budget in Brief, May 2017, p. DH-5. DOI also proposes
transfering $124 million from the Department of Defense “for commitments to the Republic of Palau, which would
increase DOI’s total FY2018 budget request to $11.9 billion in current budget authority.”
90
Email correspondence between the DOI and CRS on July 5, 2017.
91
Email correspondence between the DOI and CRS on July 5, 2017.
92
Ibid.
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reached milestones allowing research to continue without further USGS support.”93 Funding
would be maintained for the development of the Landsat 9 satellite and includes a $22.4 million
increase to continue development of ground systems in preparation for a launch date in FY2021.94
Other DOI Components
The President’s FY2018 request also includes R&D funding for the following DOI components:95
Bureau of Reclamation (BOR): $79.8 million in applied research and
development funding for FY2018, down $27.0 million (25.3%) from FY2017.
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM): $77.8 million in applied
research and development funding for FY2018, up $5.8 million (8.0%) from
FY2017.
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS): $15.5 million in applied research for FY2018,
down $17.0 million (52.4%) from FY2017.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM): $24.3 million in applied research and
development for FY2018, unchanged from the FY2017 level.
National Park Service (NPS): $25.5 million in applied research and development
for FY2018, down $1.5 million (5.4%) from FY2017.
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE): $24.5 million in
applied research for FY2018, down $2.2 million (8.1%) from FY2017.
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): $5.0 million in applied research for FY2018,
down $4.5 million (47.4%) from FY2017.
Wildland Fire Management (WFM): $3.0 million in applied research for
FY2018, down $3.0 million (50.0%) from FY2017.
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE): $5.0 million
in applied research was requested in FY2017, though no funding was enacted;
the office has not requested any R&D funding in FY2018.
Table 15 summarizes FY2017 enacted R&D funding and the President’s FY2018 R&D funding
request for DOI components.
93
Department of the Interior, Fiscal Year 2018: The Interior Budget in Brief, May 2017, p. BH-50.
Department of the Interior, Fiscal Year 2018: The Interior Budget in Brief, May 2017, p. BH-51.
95
Ibid.
94
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Table 15. Department of the Interior R&D
(budget authority in millions of dollars)
FY2017
Enacted
FY2018
Request
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
687.6
560.9
Bureau of Reclamation (BOR)
106.8
79.8
Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (BOEM)
72.0
77.8
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
32.5
15.5
Bureau of Land Management
(BLM)
24.3
24.3
National Park Service (NPS)
27.0
25.5
Bureau of Safety and
Environmental Enforcement
(BSEE)
26.7
24.5
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
9.5
5.0
Wildland Fire Management
(WFM)
6.0
3.0
Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement
(OSMRE)
—
—
992.4
816.4
Department of the Interior,
Total
FY2018
House
FY2018
Senate
FY2018
Enacted
Source: Email correspondence between the DOI and CRS on July 5, 2017.
Notes: Totals may differ from the sum of the components due to rounding. Figures for the columns headed
“FY2018 House,” “FY2018 Senate,” and “FY2018 Enacted” will be added, if available, as each action is completed.
Department of Transportation96
The primary purposes of the research and development activities of the Department of
Transportation (DOT) as defined by section 6019 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation
Act (P.L. 114-94) are improving mobility of people and goods; reducing congestion; promoting
safety; improving the durability and extending the life of transportation infrastructure; preserving
the environment; and preserving the existing transportation system.
Funding for DOT R&D is generally included in appropriations line items that also include nonR&D activities. How much of the funding provided by appropriations legislation is allocated to
R&D is unclear unless funding is provided at the precise level of the request. In general, R&D
funding levels are known only after DOT agencies allocate their final appropriations to specific
activities and report those figures.
The Administration is requesting $898.8 million for DOT R&D activities and facilities in
"more appropriately funded by USGS partners and those that have reached milestones allowing research to continue without further USGS support."96 Funding would be maintained for the development of the Landsat 9 satellite and includes a $22.4 million increase to continue development of ground systems in preparation for a launch date in FY2021.97
As reported by the House Committee on Appropriations, H.R. 3354 would provide $1.039 billion for USGS, a $46 million (4%) decrease from the FY2017 enacted amount and $117 million (12.7%) more than the FY2018 request. This amount includes both R&D and non-R&D funding.
Other DOI Components
The President's FY2018 request also includes R&D funding for the following DOI components:98
- Bureau of Reclamation (BOR): $79.8 million in applied research and development funding for FY2018, down $27.0 million (25.3%) from FY2017.
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM): $77.8 million in applied research and development funding for FY2018, up $5.8 million (8.0%) from FY2017.
- Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS): $15.5 million in applied research for FY2018, down $17.0 million (52.4%) from FY2017.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM): $24.3 million in applied research and development for FY2018, unchanged from the FY2017 level.
- National Park Service (NPS): $25.5 million in applied research and development for FY2018, down $1.5 million (5.4%) from FY2017.
- Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE): $24.5 million in applied research for FY2018, down $2.2 million (8.1%) from FY2017.
- Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): $5.0 million in applied research for FY2018, down $4.5 million (47.4%) from FY2017.
- Wildland Fire Management (WFM): $3.0 million in applied research for FY2018, down $3.0 million (50.0%) from FY2017.
- Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE): $5.0 million in applied research was requested in FY2017, though no funding was enacted; the office has not requested any R&D funding in FY2018.
Table 15 summarizes FY2017 enacted R&D funding and the President's FY2018 R&D funding request for DOI components.
Table 15. Department of the Interior R&D
(budget authority in millions of dollars)
FY2017 Enacted
|
FY2018 Request
|
FY2018 H.Cmte.
|
FY2018 Senate
|
FY2018 Enacted
|
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
|
Bureau of Reclamation (BOR)
|
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
|
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
|
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
|
National Park Service (NPS)
|
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)
|
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
|
Wildland Fire Management (WFM)
|
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE)
|
Department of the Interior, Total
|
Source: Email correspondence between the DOI and CRS on July 5, 2017; H.R. 3354 as reported by the House Committee on Appropriations on July 21, 2017; and H.Rept. 115-238.
Notes: Totals may differ from the sum of the components due to rounding. Figures for the columns headed "FY2018 Senate" and "FY2018 Enacted" will be added, if available, as each action is completed. The term "n/s" means "not specified."
Department of Transportation99
The primary purposes of the research and development activities of the Department of Transportation (DOT) as defined by Section 6019 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (P.L. 114-94) are improving mobility of people and goods; reducing congestion; promoting safety; improving the durability and extending the life of transportation infrastructure; preserving the environment; and preserving the existing transportation system.
Funding for DOT R&D is generally included in appropriations line items that also include non-R&D activities. How much of the funding provided by appropriations legislation is allocated to R&D is unclear unless funding is provided at the precise level of the request. In general, R&D funding levels are known only after DOT agencies allocate their final appropriations to specific activities and report those figures.
The Administration is requesting $898.8 million for DOT R&D activities and facilities in FY2018, a decrease of $10.5 million (1.2%) from the FY2017 enacted level. (See Table 16
.) .)
Three DOT agencies—the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Federal Highway
96
This section was written by (name redacted), Analyst in Science and Technology Policy, CRS Resources, Science,
and Industry Division.
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Administration (FHWA), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)—
would account for 87% of DOT R&D under the FY2018 request.
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA’ Administration (FHWA), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)—would account for 87% of DOT R&D under the FY2018 request.
On July 17, 2017, the House Appropriations Committee reported out a committee print providing appropriations for the Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies in FY2018.
On July 27, 2017, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported S. 1655 providing appropriations for the Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies in FY2018.
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA's R&D activities focus on improving the capacity and safety of the national airspace systems
and reducing environmental impacts.
The President
’'s FY2018 request of $361.5 million for R&D activities and facilities at FAA would
be a decrease of $25 million (6.9%) from the FY2017 level. The request includes $150 million for
the agency
’'s Research, Engineering, and Development (RE&D) account, a reduction of $26.5
million (17.7%) from the FY2017 level. Funding within the RE&D account seeks to improve
aircraft safety through research in fields such as fire safety, advanced materials, propulsion
systems, aircraft icing, and continued airworthiness. The FY2018 request for RE&D would also
include funds for research on the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems and commercial
space operations into the national airspace system.
Federal Highway Administration
The House committee print would provide $170 million for FAA's RE&D account, an increase of $20 million or 11.8% above the FY2018 request.
S. 1655 as reported by the Senate Appropriations Committee would provide $179 million for FAA's RE&D account, an increase of $2.5 million or 1.4% above the FY2017 enacted level, $29 million or 19.3% above the FY2018 request, and $9 million or 5.3% above the House-reported level.
Federal Highway Administration
According to DOT, the primary goal of the R&D programs at FHWA is
“"to sustain a research
agenda for federal policymakers and highway stakeholders that focuses on critical knowledge
gaps, collaboration methods, and accelerated innovation to meet current and future highway
transportation needs.
”97
"100
The President
’'s request of $333 million for R&D activities and facilities at FHWA would be an
increase of $15.3 million (4.6%) from the FY2017 enacted level. The request includes $85
million for FHWA
’'s Highway Research and Development program which seeks to improve
safety, enhance the transportation infrastructure, and reduce congestion. The program supports
highway research in such areas as innovative materials, new construction techniques, durability
and resilience, and the factors that contribute to death and injury related to roadway design,
construction, and maintenance. The request also includes $79 million for research to facilitate the
development of a connected, integrated, and automated transportation system under the agency
’s
's Intelligent Transportation Systems program.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The President is requesting $85.6 million in R&D and R&D facilities funding in FY2018 for
NHTSA, $4.5 million (5.2%) below the FY2017 enacted level. NHTSA R&D focuses on
automation, advanced vehicle safety technology, ways of improving vehicle crashworthiness and
crash avoidance, reducing unsafe driving behaviors, and alternative fuels vehicle safety.
Other DOT Components
R&D activities are also supported by several other DOT components or agencies. (See Table 16
.) .)
The President
’'s FY2018 request includes DOT R&D and R&D facilities funding for
97
U.S. Department of Transportation, Research, Development, and Technology Strategic Plan FY2017-2021, January
2017, p. 23, https://www.transportation.gov/administrations/assistant-secretary-research-and-technology/dot-five-yearrdt-strategic-plan.
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the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), totaling $43.6 million, $900,000
(2%) below the FY2017 enacted level of $44.5 million;
the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), totaling $28 million, the same amount
as the FY2017 enacted level;
the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), totaling
$21.4 million, slightly below the FY2017 enacted level of $21.5 million;
the Office of the Secretary (OST), totaling $16.6 million, $4.6 million (27.5%)
above the FY2017 enacted level of $12 million; and
the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), totaling $9.1 million,
the same amount as the FY2017 enacted level.
Table 16. Department of Transportation R&D Activities and Facilities
(budget authority, in millions of dollars)
FY2017
Enacted
Federal Aviation Administration
FY2018
Request
386.5
361.5
176.5
150.0
321.4
333.0
Highway Research and Development
78.9
85.0
Intelligent Transportation Systems
73.3
79.0
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
90.0
85.6
Federal Railroad Administration
44.5
43.6
Federal Transit Administration
28.0
28.0
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration
21.5
21.4
Office of the Secretary
12.0
16.6
9.1
9.1
$909.3
$898.8
Research, Engineering, and Development
Federal Highway Administration
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
DOT, R&D Total
FY2018
House
FY2018
Senate
FY2018
Enacted
Sources:
(budget authority, in millions of dollars)
FY2017 Enacted
|
FY2018 Request
|
FY2018 H. Cmte.
|
FY2018 S.Cmte.
|
FY2018 Enacted
|
Federal Aviation Administration
|
386.5
|
361.5
|
____a
____a
Research, Engineering, and Development
|
176.5
|
150.0
|
170.0
|
179.0
|
Federal Highway Administration
|
321.4
|
333.0
|
____a
____a
Highway Research and Development
|
78.9
|
85.0
|
____a
____a
Intelligent Transportation Systems
|
73.3
|
79.0
|
____a
____a
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
|
90.0
|
85.6
|
____a
____a
Federal Railroad Administration
|
44.5
|
43.6
|
____a
____a
Railroad Research and Development
|
40.1
|
39.1
|
40.1
|
40.1
|
Federal Transit Administration
|
28.0
|
28.0
|
____a
____a
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
|
21.5
|
21.4
|
____a
____a
Office of the Secretary
|
12.0
|
16.6
|
____a
____a
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
|
9.1
|
9.1
|
____a
____a
DOT, R&D Total
|
$909.3
|
$898.8
|
____a
____a
Sources: U.S. Department of Transportation, Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Estimates
,
, https://www.transportation.gov/mission/budget/fy-2018-budget-estimates; email communication between CRS
and Department of Transportation, June 20, 2017
.
; H.R. 3353; H.Rept. 115-237; S. 1655; and S.Rept. 115-138.
Notes: Amounts include R&D and R&D facilities. Components may not add to total due to rounding. Lines in
italics are components of the agency lines above them and are not counted separately in the total. Figures for the
columns headed
“"FY2018 House,
” “" "FY2018 Senate
”" and
“"FY2018 Enacted
”" will be added, if available, as
Congress completes each action.
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Department of Homeland Security98
a.
Cannot be determined as R&D is included in accounts with non-R&D funding.
Department of Homeland Security101
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified five core missions: to prevent
terrorism and enhance security, to secure and manage the borders, to enforce and administer
immigration laws, to safeguard and secure cyberspace, and to ensure resilience to disasters. New
technology resulting from research and development can contribute to achieving all these goals.
The Directorate of Science and Technology (S&T) has primary responsibility for establishing,
administering, and coordinating DHS R&D activities. The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office
(DNDO) is responsible for R&D relating to nuclear and radiological threats. Other components,
such as the U.S. Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration, conduct R&D
relating to their specific missions.
The President
’'s FY2018 budget request for DHS includes $570 million for activities identified as
R&D. This would be a reduction of 16.0% from $678 million in FY2017. The total includes $373
million for the S&T Directorate, $144 million for DNDO, and smaller amounts for five other
DHS components. See Table 17.
DHS components. The House committee recommendation (based on H.R. 3355 as reported and H.Rept. 115-239) is $580 million, including $11 million more than the request for the S&T Directorate. See Table 17.
Directorate of Science and Technology (S&T)
The S&T Directorate is the primary DHS R&D organization. Led by a Senate-confirmed Under
Secretary for Science and Technology, it performs R&D in several laboratories of its own and
funds R&D performed by the Department of Energy national laboratories, industry, universities,
and others. It also conducts testing and other technology-related activities in support of
acquisitions by other DHS components.
The Administration
’'s FY2018 request of $373 million for the S&T Directorate R&D account is a
decrease of 20.8% from $471 million in FY2017. All six thrust areas within Research,
Development, and Innovation would decrease, by amounts ranging from 8.6% (Chemical,
Biological, and Explosive Defense) to 32.9% (Apex program). Funding for University Programs,
which primarily funds the S&T Directorate
’'s university centers of excellence, would decrease by
26.6%.
Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO)
The House bill would provide the requested amount for Research, Development, and Innovation and $11 million more than the request for University Programs "to ensure S&T's ability to maintain 10 Centers of Excellence." The House report gives no guidance regarding the allocation of Research, Development, and Innovation funding to particular thrust areas.
Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO)
DNDO is the DHS organization responsible for nuclear detection research, development, testing,
evaluation, acquisition, and operational support. It is led by a presidentially appointed Director. In
addition to its responsibilities within DHS, it is charged with coordinating federal nuclear
forensics programs and the U.S. portion of the global nuclear detection architecture. The Obama
Administration’ Administration's FY2017 budget proposed to incorporate DNDO and certain other activities into
a new Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Office. The
FY2018 budget does not repeat this proposal.
The Administration
’'s FY2018 request for DNDO includes $144 million for the R&D account, a
decrease of 7.0% from $155 million in FY2017.
98
This section was written by (name redacted), Specialist in Science and Technology Policy, CRS Resources, Science,
and Industry Division.
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
The House bill would provide the requested amount, allocated as requested.
Table 17. Department of Homeland Security R&D Accounts
(budget authority, in millions of dollars)
FY2017
Enacted
FY2018
Request
$471
$373
430
343
Apex
79a
53
Border Security
57a
48
Chemical, Biological, and Explosive Defense
58a
53
100a
81
Cyber Security/Information Analytics
66a
46
First Responder/Disaster Resilience
73a
61
Science and Technology Directorate
Research, Development, and Innovation
Counter Terrorist
University Programs
41
30
155
144
Architecture Planning and Analysis
15
16
Transformational R&D
62
61
Detection Capability Development
20
15
Detection Capability Assessments
39
34
Nuclear Forensics
19
18
Domestic Nuclear Detection Office
Transportation Security Administration
5
20
36
19
National Protection and Programs Directorate
6
11
Office of the Under Secretary for Management
3
3
U.S. Secret Service
3
<1
678
570
U.S. Coast Guard
Total
FY2018
House
FY2018
Senate
FY2018
Enacted
Sources: P.L. 115-31
(budget authority, in millions of dollars)
FY2017Enacted
FY2018Request
FY2018 H.Cte.
|
FY2018 Senate
|
FY2018 Enacted
|
Science and Technology Directorate
|
Research, Development, and Innovation
|
Apex
|
79a
Border Security
|
57a
Chemical, Biological, and Explosive Defense
|
58a
Counter Terrorist
|
100a
Cyber Security/Information Analytics
|
66a
First Responder/Disaster Resilience
|
73a
University Programs
|
Domestic Nuclear Detection Office
|
Architecture Planning and Analysis
|
Transformational R&D
|
Detection Capability Development
|
Detection Capability Assessments
|
Nuclear Forensics
|
Transportation Security Administration
|
U.S. Coast Guard
|
National Protection and Programs Directorate
|
Office of the Under Secretary for Management
|
U.S. Secret Service
|
Total
|
Sources: FY2017 enacted from P.L. 115-31 and explanatory statement, Congressional Record, May 3, 2017
; and. FY2018 request from FY2018 DHS
congressional budget justification.
FY2018 House Committee from H.R. 3355 as reported and H.Rept. 115-239.
Notes: Table includes accounts titled
“"Research and Development
”" in each DHS component (
“"Research,
Development, Test, and Evaluation
”" in the case of the U.S. Coast Guard). Some other accounts may also fund
R&D-related activities. Some totals may not add because of rounding. Figures for the columns headed
“FY2018
House,” “"FY2018 Senate
”" and
“"FY2018 Enacted
”" will be added, if available, as Congress completes each action.
a.
a.
FY2017 amounts for thrust areas within Research, Development, and Innovation are not specified in P.L.
115-31 or the explanatory statement. The
“"FY2017 Enacted
”" column for these amounts is based on DHS
plans under the FY2017 continuing resolution, as shown in the FY2018 budget justification.
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Environmental Protection Agency99
Environmental Protection Agency102
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the federal regulatory agency responsible for
administering a number of environmental pollution control laws, funds a broad range of R&D
activities to provide scientific tools and knowledge that support decisions relating to preventing,
regulating, and abating environmental pollution. Since FY2006, Congress has funded EPA
through the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations act.
Appropriations for EPA R&D are generally included in line-items that also include non-R&D
activities. Annual appropriations bills and the accompanying committee reports do not identify
precisely how much funding provided in appropriations bills is allocated to EPA R&D alone. EPA
determines its R&D funding levels in operation through allocating its appropriations to specific
activities and reporting those amounts.
The agency
’'s Science and Technology (S&T) account
funds much of EPA
’'s scientific research activities. These activities include R&D conducted by the
agency at its own laboratories and facilities, and R&D and other related scientific research
conducted by universities, foundations, and other
non-federalnonfederal entities that receive EPA grants.
The S&T account receives a base appropriation and a transfer from the Hazardous Substance
Superfund (Superfund) account.
100103 The transferred funds are authorized for research on more
effective methods to clean up contaminated sites.
The EPA
’'s Office of Research and Development (ORD) is the primary manager of R&D at EPA
headquarters and laboratories around the
countrynation, as well as external R&D. A large portion of the
S&T account funds EPA R&D activities managed by ORD, including the agency
’'s research
laboratories and research grants. Many of the programs implemented by other offices within EPA
have a research component, but the research component is not necessarily the primary focus of
the program.
The President’s budget request proposes reductions and eliminations of funding for FY2018
across a number of EPA programs and activities. The President’s FY2018 request includes a total
of $5.66 billion for EPA, $2.40 billion (29.8%) less than the FY2017 enacted appropriations
(including rescissions) of $8.06 billion. The reductions proposed in the FY2018 request are
distributed across EPA operational functions and activities as well as grants for states, tribes and
local governments. The FY2018 request proposes to reduce funding below FY2017 enacted
levels for all nine EPA appropriations accounts, including the S&T account, although funding for
some program areas within the accounts would increase or remain constant.101 Some Members
expressed particular concerns regarding proposed reductions and eliminations of funding for EPA
scientific research programs during the House Committee on Appropriations hearing regarding
the agency’s FY2018 budget request.102
99
This section was written by (name redacted), Specialist in E nvironmental Policy, CRS Resources, Science, and
Industry Division.
100
The EPA S&T account incorporates elements of the former EPA Research and Development account, as well as
portions of the former Salaries and Expenses and Program Operations accounts, which were in place until FY1996.
Since 1996, EPA’s annual appropriations have been requested, considered, and enacted according to eight statutory
appropriations accounts established by Congress. A ninth account, Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Fund,
was added during the FY2014 budget process. Because of the differences in the scope of the activities included in these
accounts, comparisons before and after FY1996 are not readily available.
101
For an overview of the President’s FY2018 budget request for EPA see CRS In Focus IF10665, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA): FY2018 President’s Budget Request, by (name redacted) and (name redacted) .
102
House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, FY 2018
Budget Hearing: Environmental Protection Agency, June 15, 2017, https://appropriations.house.gov/calendar/
(continued...)
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The President’s FY2018 budget requests $463.2 million for EPA’s S&T account, including
transfers from the Superfund account ($12.4 million).103 The FY2018 total request for the S&T
account including transfers represents 8.0% of the $5.66 billion FY2018 request for EPA overall.
The total request for the S&T account is $258.8 million (35.8%) less than the $722.0 million
appropriated for FY2017 (P.L. 115-31; including the Superfund transfer and an account
rescission).104
The FY2018 requested total base amount (prior to transfers) for the S&T account is $450.8
million, $255.7 million (36.2%) less than the FY2017 enacted base level of $706.5 million
(including the FY2017 account rescission). The FY2018 requested transfer of $12.4 million from
the Superfund account is less than the $15.5 million transferred in FY2017.
Table 18 at the end of this section includes the President’s FY2018 request for program areas and
activities within EPA’s S&T account as presented in EPA’s FY2018 Congressional Budget
Justification105 compared to the FY2017 enacted106 appropriations as reported in the FY2017
Consolidated Appropriations Explanatory Statement.107
Information is not readily available from the FY2017 enacted appropriations that allow for direct
comparisons for all S&T program areas and activities as requested for FY2018. Certain program
areas as presented in the President’s request are broken down differently than the congressional
the program.
On July 21, 2017, the House Committee on Appropriations reported the FY2018 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies appropriations bill, H.R. 3354 (H.Rept. 115-238). Title II of H.R. 3354 as reported proposes $7.52 billion (after rescissions) for EPA, including $617.7 million for the S&T account. The total for the S&T account includes a transfer of $15.5 million from the Superfund account and a $27.0 million account-specific rescission.
Taking into account the transfers and rescissions, the total for the S&T account for FY2018 proposed in H.R. 3354 as reported is $104.3 million (14.4%) less than the FY2017 enacted appropriations (P.L. 115-31) of $722.0 million.104 The amount proposed for S&T in H.R. 3354 as reported is a $154.5 million (33.4%) increase above the President's FY2018 budget request for the S&T account of $463.2 million.105 The FY2018 requested level was a $258.8 million (35.8%) decrease compared to the FY2017 enacted amount for the S&T account.
Table 18 at the end of this section presents a comparison of the appropriations levels proposed for the S&T account in H.R. 3354 as reported, the President's FY2018 budget request for program areas and activities within EPA's S&T account as presented in EPA's FY2018 Congressional budget justification,106 and the FY2017 enacted appropriations as reported in the FY2017 Consolidated Appropriations Explanatory Statement in the May 3, 2017, Congressional Record.107
During the House Committee on Appropriations hearing regarding the President's FY2018 budget request for EPA,108 some Members expressed concerns regarding a number of proposed reductions and eliminations of funding for EPA, including those proposed for scientific research programs. The reductions proposed in the FY2018 budget request were distributed across EPA operational functions and activities as well as grants for states, tribes, and local governments. The FY2018 budget request proposed to reduce funding below FY2017 enacted levels for eight of the nine EPA appropriations accounts,109 including the S&T account, although funding for some program areas within all the accounts would have increased or remained constant.110
The total $7.52 billion (taking into account rescissions) for EPA included in H.R. 3354 as reported would be a $1.87 billion (33.1%) increase above the FY2018 President's budget request of $5.66 billion; $534.4 million (6.6%) less than the FY2017 enacted appropriations (taking into account rescissions) of $8.06 billion. With the exception of the Buildings and Facilities and the Hazardous Substance Superfund accounts, funding proposed for FY2018 in H.R. 3354 as reported reflects decreases for the other seven EPA appropriations accounts compared to FY2017 enacted appropriations, but these reductions would be proportionally less than those reductions proposed in the President's FY2018 budget request.
Information is not readily available from H.R. 3354 as reported and the accompanying Committee report, or from the FY2017 enacted appropriations that allow for direct comparisons for all S&T program areas and activities as requested for FY2018 and presented in EPA's congressional justification. Certain program areas as presented in the President's FY2018 budget request are broken down differently than the congressional presentations for the FY2017 enacted appropriations.
presentations for the FY2017 enacted appropriations. While funding comparisons can be made
for most of the broader program areas, comparisons for many program activities below the
program area are not available and are denoted on the table as
“"NR.
”" Consistent with recent
previous House and Senate Appropriations Committee reports,
the Explanatory Statement in the May 3,
2017, Congressional RecordH.Rept. 115-238 accompanying H.R. 3354 as reported and the FY2017 Consolidated Appropriations Explanatory Statement, did not specify funding for all sub-program areas and activities as
they were reported in EPA
’'s justification. Additionally, the FY2018 request
has modified the titles
for some of the program areas relative to previous Administrations
’' requests and Congressional
committee reports as noted in Table 18
.
. The House Appropriations Committee adopted the modified program area titles in its report accompanying the H.R. 3354 as reported.
As shown in Table 18
, with one exception the , with few exceptions the requested FY2018 base amount for the S&T
account account proposed by the House Committee on Appropriations for individual EPA program area and activity line items would be less than
the FY2017
enacted appropriations. Exceptions include the requested funding of $3.7 million for Water:
Human Health Protection (Drinking Water Programs) that would be greater than the $3.5 million
FY2017 enacted level, and requested funding of $79.3 million for Operations and Administration
that would be an $11.0 million (16.1%) increase. The requested $11.0 million increase for
FY2018 would support a new activity, “Workforce Reshaping,” described in the EPA’s FY2018
(...continued)
eventsingle.aspx?EventID=394902.
103
U.S. EPA, Fiscal Year 2018 Justification of Appropriations Estimates for the Committee on Appropriations: Science
and Technology, May 2017, pp. 3-5, 29-108, and Table pp. 1093-1094, https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/fy-2018justification-appropriation-estimates-committee-appropriations.
104
Title II of Division G of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31) provides $721.9 million for the
EPA S&T account for FY2017 including a $7.4 million rescission within the S&T account. See also “Explanatory
Statement” submitted by the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations in the Congressional Record, vol.
163, no. 76-Book II (May 3, 2017), p. H3883, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2017-05-03/pdf/CREC-2017-0503-bk2.pdf.
105
See footnote 103.
106
Note that the FY2018 President’s budget request was prepared prior to the enactment of P.L. 115-31; thus, funding
comparisons in the request and supporting documents are based on estimated FY2017 “annualized” levels associated
with the continuing resolutions in effect at the time. These annualized estimates are not presented in this CRS report.
107
See footnote 104.
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Congressional Justification108 as agency-wide organizational restructuring, “reprioritization of
agency activities” and reallocation of resources. According to the EPA justification, the funding
for this program area would include support for: voluntary early-out retirement authority,
voluntary separation incentive pay, and costs for relocation of staff associated with realignment
of work assignments.
For those program areas presented in Table 18 for which requested FY2018 funding would be
reduced but not eliminated, the proposed $80.1 million (59.7%) reduction in funding for
“Research: Sustainable Communities” for FY2018 represents the largest dollar amount
decrease109 ($54.2 million requested compared to the FY2017 enacted amount of $134.3 million).
As indicated in the EPA FY2018 budget justification,110 the reductions for this program area are
primarily associated with the proposed elimination of funding for the Science to Achieve Results
(STAR) program111 and the streamlining of research activities related to: Ecotox database; EPA’s
Report on the Environment (ROE); EnviroAtlas; life cycle of materials in commerce; People,
Prosperity and the Planet (P3) program; the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) approach for
assessing the impact of major planned infrastructure development (e.g. highway construction);
research into the mechanisms of chemical exposures and effects on human health outcomes and
well-being, especially research into cumulative effects; research into the uptake and distribution
of contaminates (e.g., lead, arsenic) within vulnerable populations; and research into the
environmental component of children’s asthma.
The proposed $61.3 million (66.7%) decrease in the FY2018 request for the “Research: Air and
Energy112” program area (formerly labeled “Research: Air, Climate and Energy”) would be the
largest reduction in terms of percentage ($30.6 million requested compared to $91.9 million
FY2017 enacted). As noted in the EPA’s FY2018 budget justification, a significant portion of the
requested FY2018 reduction for this program area is primarily attributed to reduced funding for
air quality research, and the elimination of funding for climate change research and the STAR
program.113
With the exception of “Research: National priorities”114 the FY2018 request does not propose to
completely eliminate funding for the broader program areas presented in Table 18. However,
108
See footnote 103, pp.70-71
For a description of the activities included under this program area within EPA’s S&T account in EPA’s FY2018
budget justification see footnote 103, pp. 91-94.
110
See discussion under the heading FY 2018 Change from FY 2017 Annualized Continuing Resolution (Dollars in
Thousands) within this program area in EPA’s FY2018 budget justification, footnote 103, p. 94.
111
Funding for these competitive grants and graduate fellowships has historically been allocated from enacted
appropriations within multiple program areas within the S&T account. Specific funding levels for STAR have not been
requested or appropriated recently in the annual fiscal year appropriations. For discussion of the STAR program in the
EPA FY2018 budget justification see footnote 103, pp. 83-85, 90, 94, 98, 690, and 732.
112
For a description of the activities included under this program area within EPA’s S&T account see footnote 103, pp.
82-85.
113
See discussion under the heading FY 2018 Change from FY 2017 Annualized Continuing Resolution (Dollars in
Thousands) within this program area in EPA’s FY2018 budget justification, footnote 103, p. 85.
114
Referred to as “Congressional Priorities” in the FY2018 Budget Justification; not requesting funding for this
program is consistent with previous Administrations fiscal year budget requests, see footnote 103, pp. 107-108. For
FY2017 the $4.1 million (the same as FY2016) appropriated for these national priorities for FY2017 was for
competitively awarded extramural research grants to fund “high-priority water quality and availability research by notfor-profit organizations; the grants were to be independent of the STAR grant program and subject to a 25% matching
funds requirement as specified in the Explanatory Statement for the FY2017 Consolidated Appropriations, see footnote
104.
109
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eliminations ($0.0) are proposed for a number of line-items below the program areas as indicated
in the table. Dependent on the specific activities, comparisons of the FY2018 proposed
eliminations included in the request with FY2017 enacted appropriations below the program area
are not generally readily available as funding for these sub-program activities were not reported
in the Explanatory Statement for the FY2017 enacted appropriations.
Table 18. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Science and Technology (S&T)
Account
(budget authority, in millions of dollars)
S&T Program Areas/Activities
Clean Air [and Climate]a
FY2017
Enacted
FY2018
Request
116.5
85.7
Clean Air Allowance Trading Program
NR
5.7
or the same as the FY2017 enacted appropriations. H.R. 3354 as reported would provide $79.3 million for Operations and Administration, the same as requested for FY2018, an $11.0 million (16.1%) increase compared to the FY2017 enacted level. The $11.0 million increase proposed for FY2018 would support a new activity, "Workforce Reshaping," described in the EPA's FY2018 budget justification111 as agency-wide organizational restructuring, "reprioritization of agency activities," and reallocation of resources. According to the EPA justification, the funding for this program area would include support for voluntary early-out retirement authority, voluntary separation incentive pay, and costs for relocation of staff associated with realignment of work assignments. As stated in the report accompanying H.R. 3354 as reported "the bill concurs with the Agency's proposed allocations of resources for workforce reshaping through buyouts and voluntary separation."112
For those program areas presented in Table 18 for which funding would be reduced in the House Committee-reported bill, the proposed $20.1 million (15.0%) reduction in funding for "Research: Sustainable and Healthy Communities" for FY2018 represents the largest dollar amount decrease ($114.2 million proposed compared to the FY2017 enacted appropriations of $134.3 million). The FY2018 funding level proposed by the House Committee on Appropriations for this program area is a $60.0 million (110.6%) increase compared to the FY2018 budget requested level. The proposed $80.1 million (59.7%) reduction in funding for this program area for FY2018 included in the FY2018 budget request reflected the largest dollar amount decrease within the S&T account in the President's FY2018 President's request113 ($54.2 million requested compared to the FY2017 enacted amount of $134.3 million). As described in the EPA FY2018 budget justification, the reductions for this program area were primarily associated with the proposed elimination of funding for the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program114 and the streamlining of several research activities.115
In terms of the largest percentage change within the S&T account, several proposed program area reductions included in the House Committee reported bill reflect a 15% decrease compared to FY2017 enacted levels, but none are larger. The largest reduction below FY2017 enacted levels in terms of percentage proposed for FY2018 in the President's budget request was a 66.7% ($61.3 million) decrease proposed for the "Research: Air and Energy"116 program area (formerly labeled "Research: Air, Climate and Energy"); $30.6 million requested compared to the FY2017 enacted level of $91.9 million. As noted in the EPA's FY2018 budget justification, a significant portion of the requested FY2018 reduction for this program area was primarily attributed to reduce funding for air quality research, and the elimination of funding for climate change research and the STAR program.117 The House Committee-reported bill would provide $78.1 million for this program area for FY2018, 15.0% less than the FY2017 enacted level, but a 155.2% ($47.5 million) increase compared to the FY2018 budget request.
H.R. 3354 as reported proposed the allocation of $4.1 million within the S&T account for FY2018 for "Research: National Priorities," the same as enacted for FY2017. These funds would be used for competitively awarded extramural research grants to fund "high-priority water quality and availability research by not-for-profit organizations. These grants are to be independent of the STAR grant program and subject to a 25% matching funds requirement as specified in H.Rept. 115-238 accompanying H.R. 3354. As in previous administrations' requests, the President's FY2018 budget request did not include funding for "Congressional Priorities" in the S&T or other EPA appropriations accounts.118
H.R. 3354 as reported also contains a number of administrative and general provisions. Several of these provisions would restrict or prohibit the use of FY2018 funds by EPA for implementing or proceeding with a number of regulatory actions, including in some instances conducting research to support these actions. The general provisions can be found in Title II of H.R. 3354 as reported, and the general provisions in Title IV.
Table 18. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Science and Technology (S&T) Account
(budget authority, in millions of dollars)
S&T Program Areas/Activities
FY2017 Enacted
|
FY2018Request
FY2018 H.Cmte.
|
FY2018 Senate
|
FY2018 Enacted
|
Clean Air [and Climate]a
116.5
|
85.7
|
99.1
|
Clean Air Allowance Trading Program
|
NR
|
5.7
|
NR
|
GHG (greenhouse gas) Reporting Program
[Climate Protection Program]a
8.0
0.0
Federal Support for Air Quality Management
NR
4.0
Federal Vehicle and Fuel Standards and
Certification
NR
76.0
Enforcement
13.7
10.4
Homeland Security
33.1
23.1
Critical Infrastructure
NR
0.0
Preparedness, Response, & Recovery
NR
22.6
Protection of EPA Personnel & Infrastructure
NR
0.5
6.0
3.3
[Climate Protection Program]a
8.0
|
0.0
|
6.8
|
Federal Support for Air Quality Management
|
NR
|
4.0
|
NR
|
Federal Vehicle and Fuel Standards and Certification
|
NR
|
76.0
|
NR
|
Enforcement
|
13.7
|
10.4
|
11.6
|
Homeland Security
|
33.1
|
23.1
|
28.2
|
Critical Infrastructure
|
NR
|
0.0
|
NR
|
Preparedness, Response, and Recovery
|
NR
|
22.6
|
NR
|
Protection of EPA Personnel and Infrastructure
|
NR
|
0.5
|
NR
|
Indoor Air and Radiation
|
6.0
|
3.3
|
5.1
|
Indoor Air: Radon
Program
NR
|
0.0
|
NR
|
Radiation: Protection
|
NR
|
0.0
|
NR
|
Radiation: Response Preparedness
|
NR
|
3.3
|
NR
|
Reduce Risks from Indoor Air
|
NR
|
0.0
|
NR
|
Information Technology/Data Management/Security
|
3.1
|
2.7
|
2.7
|
Operations and Administration
|
68.3
|
79.3
|
79.3
|
Facilities Infrastructure and Operations
|
NR
|
68.3
|
NR
|
Workforce Reshapingb
NR
|
11.0
|
NR
|
Pesticide Licensing
|
6.0
|
5.0
|
5.1
|
Research: Air [Climate] and Energya
91.9
|
30.6
|
78.1
|
Research: Chemical Safety and Sustainability
|
126.9
|
84.2
|
107.9
|
Human Health Risk Assessment
|
NR
|
22.5
|
NR
|
Research: Computational Toxicology
|
21.4
|
17.2
|
21.4
|
Research: Endocrine Disruptor
|
16.3
|
10.1
|
16.3
|
Research: Other Activities
|
NR
|
34.4
|
NR
|
Research: Safe and Sustainable Water Resources
|
106.3
|
68.5
|
90.3
|
Research: Sustainable and Healthy Communities
|
134.3
|
54.2
|
114.2
|
Water: Human Health Protection (Drinking Water Programs)
|
3.5
|
3.7
|
3.5
|
Research: National [Congressional] Priorities (Water Quality and Support Grants)c
4.1
|
0.0
|
4.1
|
Subtotal Base Appropriations
|
713.8
|
450.8
|
629.2
|
Program
NR
0.0
Radiation: Protection
NR
0.0
Radiation: Response Preparedness
NR
3.3
Reduce Risks from Indoor Air
NR
0.0
Information Technology/Data
Management/Security
3.1
2.7
68.3
79.3
Facilities Infrastructure and Operations
NR
68.3
Workforce Reshapingb
NR
11.0
6.0
5.0
91.9
30.6
126.9
84.2
NR
22.5
Research: Computational Toxicology
21.4
17.2
Research: Endocrine Disruptor
16.3
10.1
NR
34.4
Indoor Air and Radiation
Operations and Administration
Pesticide Licensing
Research: Air [Climate] and
Energya
Research: Chemical Safety and Sustainability
Human Health Risk Assessment
Research: Other Activities
Congressional Research Service
FY2018
House
FY2018
Senate
FY2018
Enacted
51
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
S&T Program Areas/Activities
FY2017
Enacted
FY2018
Request
Research: Safe and Sustainable Water Resources
106.3
68.5
Research: Sustainable and Healthy Communities
134.3
54.2
Water: Human Health Protection (Drinking
Water Programs)
3.5
3.7
Research: National [Congressional] Priorities
(Water Quality and Support Grants)c
4.1
0.0
Subtotal Base Appropriations
713.8
450.8
S&T Account
Specific Rescission
(7.3)d
—
|
(27.0)
|
Total Base Appropriations
|
706.5
|
450.8
|
602.2
|
Specific Rescission
(7.3)d
--
706.5
450.8
15.5
12.4
722.0
463.2
Total Base Appropriations
Transfer in from Hazardous Substance
Superfund Account
Total (Net Appropriations)
FY2018
House
FY2018
Senate
FY2018
Enacted
Source: Prepared by CRS. For FY2017 enacted appropriations see the “Explanatory Statement” submitted by
the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations in the Congressional Record, vol. 163, no. 76-Book II
(May 3, 2017), https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2017-05-03/pdf/CREC-2017-05-03-bk2.pdf. Under Division
G, see discussion under “Title II—Environmental Protection Agency,” p. H3883; and in the funding table, pp.
H3920-H3928. FY2018 requested amounts are as reported in EPA’s Fiscal Year 2018 Justification of Appropriations
Estimates for the Committee on Appropriations: Science and Technology, May 2017, pp. 3-5, 87-200, and Table pp.
1093-1094,
15.5
|
12.4
|
15.5
|
Total (Net Appropriations)
|
722.0
|
463.2
|
617.7
|
Source: Prepared by CRS. The FY2017 enacted appropriations and the FY2018 proposed appropriations are as reported in H.Rept. 115-238 accompanying H.R. 3354 as reported. FY2018 requested amounts are as reported in EPA's Fiscal Year 2018 Justification of Appropriations Estimates for the Committee on Appropriations, May 2017, pp. 3-5, 87-200, https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/fy-2018-justification-appropriation-estimates-
committeeappropriationscommittee-appropriations. Figures for
the columns headed “"FY2018 House,
” “" "FY2018 Senate
”" and
“"FY2018 Enacted
”" will
be added, if available, as Congress completes each action.
Notes: NR (not reported) indicates those instances where the May 3, 2017, Congressional Record
, did not specify
funding amounts for these sub-program area activities.
a.
a.
Brackets [ ] denotes title language as presented in previous Administrations EPA budget justifications and
congressional reports/explanatory statements.
b.
b.
This program activity is included in multiple EPA accounts in the FY2018 budget request and has not been
included in previous EPA budget justifications.
c. Referred to as “Congressional Priorities” As stated in H.Rept. 115-238 accompanying H.R. 3354 as reported, the "bill concurs with the Agency's proposed allocation of resources for workforce reshaping through buyouts and voluntary separation agreements offered to employees," p. 56.
c.
Referred to as "Congressional Priorities" in the FY2018 and previous Administrations budget justifications.
d.
d.
P.L. 115-31 stipulated that the rescission of unobligated balances of prior fiscal years appropriations within
the S&T account was to be applied to program project areas to
“..."reflect changes to funding projections
due to routine attrition
...”" during FY2017. In the Explanatory Statement, the House Committee on
Appropriations noted that EPA
’'s current workforce was below FY2016 levels and therefore included
separate rescissions within the S&T and the Environmental Programs and Management (EPM) accounts to
“... "capture expected savings
”" as a result of the changes. It was further stipulated that this rescission is not to
be applied to
“"Research: National Priorities
”" within the S&T account.
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Appendix A.
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Glossary
ACF
Administration for Children and Families
AFRI
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
AHRQ
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
AMP
Advanced Manufacturing Partnership – or – Accelerating Medicines Partnership
AOAM
Agency Operations and Award Management
ARPA-E
Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy
ARS
Agricultural Research Service
ASCR
Advanced Scientific Computing Research
B&F
Buildings and Facilities
BER
Biological and Environmental Research
BES
Basic Energy Sciences
BIA
Bureau of Indian Affairs
BLM
Bureau of Land Management
BOEM
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
BRAIN
Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies
BSEE
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
CBRNE
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives
CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CEBAF
Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility
CEMMSS
Cyber-enabled Materials, Manufacturing, and Smart Systems
CLARREO
Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory
CMS
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
CRF
Construction of Research Facilities
DARPA
Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency
DHP
Defense Health Program
DHS
Department of Homeland Security
DNDO
Domestic Nuclear Detection Office
DOC
Department of Commerce
DOD
Department of Defense
DOE
Department of Energy
DOI
Department of the Interior
DOT
Department of Transportation
DSCOVR
Deep Space Climate Observatory
EHR
Education and Human Resources
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency
EPM
Environmental Programs and Management
EPSCoR
Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research –or–
Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research
ERS
Economic Research Service
FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
Congressional Research Service
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
FDA
Food and Drug Administration
FHWA
Federal Highway Administration
FIC
Fogarty International Center
FMCSA
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
FRA
Federal Railroad Administration
FTA
Federal Transit Administration
FWS
Fish and Wildlife Service
GDP
Gross Domestic Product
GRF
Graduate Research Fellowship
GWOT
Global War on Terror
HBCU
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
HHS
Department of Health and Human Services
HRSA
Health Resources and Services Administration
HIA
Health Impact Assessment
ICs
Institutes and Centers
I-Corps
Innovation Corps
IFF
Iraqi Freedom Fund
INCLUDES
Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers
in Engineering and Science
ISS
International Space Station
ITER
International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
ITS
Industrial Technology Services
JIDF
Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Fund
JIDO
The Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization
LBNF/DUNE
Long Baseline Neutrino Facility/Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment
LHHS
Labor, HHS, and Education appropriations act
MEP
Manufacturing Extension Partnership
MGI
Materials Genome Initiative
MPS
Mathematical and Physical Sciences
MREFC
Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction
Mu2E
Muon to Electron Conversion Experiment
NASA
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASS
National Agricultural Statistics Service
NCATS
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
NCCIH
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
NCI
National Cancer Institute
NEI
National Eye Institute
NEON
National Ecological Observatory Network
NESDIS
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
NHGRI
National Human Genome Research Institute
NHLBI
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
NHTSA
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
NIA
National Institute on Aging
NIAAA
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Congressional Research Service
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
NIAID
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
NIAMS
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
NIBIB
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
NICHD
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
NIDA
National Institute on Drug Abuse
NIDCD
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
NIDCR
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
NIDDK
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
NIEHS
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
NIFA
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
NIGMS
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
NIH
National Institutes of Health
NIMH
National Institute of Mental Health
NIMHD
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
NINDS
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
NINR
National Institute of Nursing Research
NIRSQ
National Institute for Research on Safety and Quality
NIST
National Institute of Standards and Technology
NITRD
Networking and Information Technology Research and Development
NLM
National Library of Medicine
NMFS
National Marine Fisheries Service
NMI
Network for Manufacturing Innovation
NNI
National Nanotechnology Initiative
NNMI
National Network for Manufacturing Innovation
NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOS
National Ocean Service
NPS
National Park Service
NRI
National Robotics Initiative
NRT
NSF Research Traineeships
NSB
National Science Board
NSET
Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSTC Subcommittee)
NSF
National Science Foundation
NSTC
National Science and Technology Council
NWS
National Weather Service
OAR
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
OCO
Overseas Contingency Operations
OD
NIH Office of the Director
OIG
Office of the Inspector General
OMAO
Office of Marine and Aviation Operations
OMB
Office of Management and Budget
ONC
Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
ORD
Office of Research and Development
OSMRE
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
OST
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
Congressional Research Service
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
OSTP
Office of Science and Technology Policy
PE
Program Element
PHMSA
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
PHS
Public Health Service
PMI
Precision Medicine Initiative
P3
People, Prosperity and the Planet
R&D
Research and Development
RAMI Act
Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2014
RBI
Radiation Budget Instrument
RCDC
Research, Condition, and Disease Categories
RCRV
Regional Class Research Vessels
RDT&E
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation
RE&D
Research, Engineering, and Development
REE
Research, Education, and Economics
RHIC
Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider
ROE
Report on the Environment
RPG
Research Project Grant
RRA
Research and Related Activities
S&T
Science and Technology
SaTC
Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace
SCAP
Single Cell Analysis Program
SEES
Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability
SIR
Surveys, Investigations, and Research
SLS
Space Launch System
SSW
Safe and Sustainable Water
STAG
State and Tribal Assistance Grants
STAR
Science to Achieve Results
STEM
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
STEP
Supercritical Transformational Electric Power
STRS
Scientific and Technical Research and Services
USARC
U.S. Arctic Research Commission
USDA
Department of Agriculture
USGCRP
U.S. Global Change Research Program
USGS
U.S. Geological Survey
USPSTF
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
UtB
Understanding the Brain
VA
Department of Veterans Affairs
Congressional Research Service
56
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Appendix B. CRS Contacts for Agency R&D
The following list provides contact information for the primary CRS expert on R&D funding for
the agencies covered in this report:
Agency
CRS Contact
Department of Agriculture
(name redacted)
Specialist in Agricultural Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov,-....7
Department of Commerce
National Institute of Standards and Technology
(name redacted), Coordinator
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov,-....
7
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(name redacted)
Analyst in Natural Resources Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov,
-....7
Department of Defense
(name redacted), Coordinator
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov,-....
7
Department of Energy
(name redacted)
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov, -....
7
Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
(name redacted)
Specialist in Biomedical Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov, 7-....
Department of Homeland Security
(name redacted)
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov, -....
7
Department of the Interior
(name redacted)
Analyst in Science and Technology Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov,
-....7
Department of Transportation
(name redacted)
Analyst in Science and Technology Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov,
-....7
Department of Veterans Affairs
(name redacted)
Analyst in Science and Technology Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov,
-....7
Environmental Protection Agency
(name redacted)
Specialist in Environmental Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov, 7-....
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(name redacted)
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov, -....
7
National Science Foundation
(name redacted)
Analyst in Science and Technology Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov,
-....7
Congressional Research Service
57
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018
Author Contact Information
(name redacted), Coordinator
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov
, 7-....
(name redacted)
Specialist in Biomedical Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov, 7-....
(name redacted)
Specialist in Environmental Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov, 7-....
(name redacted)
Specialist in Agricultural Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov
, 7-....
(name redacted)
Analyst in Science and Technology Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov
, 7-....
(name redacted)
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov,7-....
(name redacted)
Analyst in Science and Technology Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov
, 7-....
(name redacted)
Analyst in Natural Resources Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov
, 7-. ...
Congressional Research Service
58
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Acronyms and Abbreviations
|
ACF
|
Administration for Children and Families
|
|
AFRI
|
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
|
|
AHRQ
|
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
|
|
AMP
|
Advanced Manufacturing Partnership – or – Accelerating Medicines Partnership
|
|
AOAM
|
Agency Operations and Award Management
|
|
ARPA-E
|
Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy
|
|
ARS
|
Agricultural Research Service
|
|
ASCR
|
Advanced Scientific Computing Research
|
|
B&F
|
Buildings and Facilities
|
|
BER
|
Biological and Environmental Research
|
|
BES
|
Basic Energy Sciences
|
|
BIA
|
Bureau of Indian Affairs
|
|
BLM
|
Bureau of Land Management
|
|
BOEM
|
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
|
|
BRAIN
|
Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies
|
|
BSEE
|
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
|
|
CBRNE
|
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives
|
|
CDC
|
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
|
|
CEBAF
|
Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility
|
|
CEMMSS
|
Cyber-enabled Materials, Manufacturing, and Smart Systems
|
|
CLARREO
|
Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory
|
|
CMS
|
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
|
|
CRF
|
Construction of Research Facilities
|
|
DARPA
|
Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency
|
|
DHP
|
Defense Health Program
|
|
DHS
|
Department of Homeland Security
|
|
DNDO
|
Domestic Nuclear Detection Office
|
|
DOC
|
Department of Commerce
|
|
DOD
|
Department of Defense
|
|
DOE
|
Department of Energy
|
|
DOI
|
Department of the Interior
|
|
DOT
|
Department of Transportation
|
|
DSCOVR
|
Deep Space Climate Observatory
|
|
EHR
|
Education and Human Resources
|
|
EPA
|
Environmental Protection Agency
|
|
EPM
|
Environmental Programs and Management
|
|
EPSCoR
|
Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research –or–
Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research
|
|
ERS
|
Economic Research Service
|
|
FAA
|
Federal Aviation Administration
|
|
FDA
|
Food and Drug Administration
|
|
FHWA
|
Federal Highway Administration
|
|
FIC
|
Fogarty International Center
|
|
FMCSA
|
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
|
|
FRA
|
Federal Railroad Administration
|
|
FTA
|
Federal Transit Administration
|
|
FWS
|
Fish and Wildlife Service
|
|
GDP
|
Gross Domestic Product
|
|
GRF
|
Graduate Research Fellowship
|
|
GWOT
|
Global War on Terror
|
|
HBCU
|
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
|
|
HHS
|
Department of Health and Human Services
|
|
HRSA
|
Health Resources and Services Administration
|
|
HIA
|
Health Impact Assessment
|
|
ICs
|
Institutes and Centers
|
|
I-Corps
|
Innovation Corps
|
|
IFF
|
Iraqi Freedom Fund
|
|
INCLUDES
|
Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science
|
|
ISS
|
International Space Station
|
|
ITER
|
International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
|
|
ITS
|
Industrial Technology Services
|
|
JIDF
|
Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Fund
|
|
JIDO
|
The Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization
|
|
LBNF/DUNE
|
Long Baseline Neutrino Facility/Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment
|
|
LHHS
|
Labor, HHS, and Education appropriations act
|
|
MEP
|
Manufacturing Extension Partnership
|
|
MGI
|
Materials Genome Initiative
|
|
MPS
|
Mathematical and Physical Sciences
|
|
MREFC
|
Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction
|
|
Mu2E
|
Muon to Electron Conversion Experiment
|
|
NASA
|
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
|
|
NASS
|
National Agricultural Statistics Service
|
|
NCATS
|
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
|
|
NCCIH
|
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
|
|
NCI
|
National Cancer Institute
|
|
NEI
|
National Eye Institute
|
|
NEON
|
National Ecological Observatory Network
|
|
NESDIS
|
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
|
|
NHGRI
|
National Human Genome Research Institute
|
|
NHLBI
|
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
|
|
NHTSA
|
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
|
|
NIA
|
National Institute on Aging
|
|
NIAAA
|
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
|
|
NIAID
|
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
|
|
NIAMS
|
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
|
|
NIBIB
|
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
|
|
NICHD
|
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
|
|
NIDA
|
National Institute on Drug Abuse
|
|
NIDCD
|
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
|
|
NIDCR
|
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
|
|
NIDDK
|
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
|
|
NIEHS
|
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
|
|
NIFA
|
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
|
|
NIGMS
|
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
|
|
NIH
|
National Institutes of Health
|
|
NIMH
|
National Institute of Mental Health
|
|
NIMHD
|
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
|
|
NINDS
|
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
|
|
NINR
|
National Institute of Nursing Research
|
|
NIRSQ
|
National Institute for Research on Safety and Quality
|
|
NIST
|
National Institute of Standards and Technology
|
|
NITRD
|
Networking and Information Technology Research and Development
|
|
NLM
|
National Library of Medicine
|
|
NMFS
|
National Marine Fisheries Service
|
|
NMI
|
Network for Manufacturing Innovation
|
|
NNI
|
National Nanotechnology Initiative
|
|
NNMI
|
National Network for Manufacturing Innovation
|
|
NOAA
|
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|
|
NOS
|
National Ocean Service
|
|
NPS
|
National Park Service
|
|
NRI
|
National Robotics Initiative
|
|
NRT
|
NSF Research Traineeships
|
|
NSB
|
National Science Board
|
|
NSET
|
Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSTC Subcommittee)
|
|
NSF
|
National Science Foundation
|
|
NSTC
|
National Science and Technology Council
|
|
NWS
|
National Weather Service
|
|
OAR
|
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
|
|
OCO
|
Overseas Contingency Operations
|
|
OD
|
NIH Office of the Director
|
|
OIG
|
Office of the Inspector General
|
|
OMAO
|
Office of Marine and Aviation Operations
|
|
OMB
|
Office of Management and Budget
|
|
ONC
|
Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
|
|
ORD
|
Office of Research and Development
|
|
OSMRE
|
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
|
|
OST
|
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
|
|
OSTP
|
Office of Science and Technology Policy
|
|
PE
|
Program Element
|
|
PHMSA
|
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
|
|
PHS
|
Public Health Service
|
|
PMI
|
Precision Medicine Initiative
|
|
P3
|
People, Prosperity and the Planet
|
|
R&D
|
Research and Development
|
|
RAMI Act
|
Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2014
|
|
RBI
|
Radiation Budget Instrument
|
|
RCDC
|
Research, Condition, and Disease Categories
|
|
RCRV
|
Regional Class Research Vessels
|
|
RDT&E
|
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation
|
|
RE&D
|
Research, Engineering, and Development
|
|
REE
|
Research, Education, and Economics
|
|
RHIC
|
Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider
|
|
ROE
|
Report on the Environment
|
|
RPG
|
Research Project Grant
|
|
RRA
|
Research and Related Activities
|
|
S&T
|
Science and Technology
|
|
SaTC
|
Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace
|
|
SCAP
|
Single Cell Analysis Program
|
|
SEES
|
Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability
|
|
SIR
|
Surveys, Investigations, and Research
|
|
SLS
|
Space Launch System
|
|
SSW
|
Safe and Sustainable Water
|
|
STAG
|
State and Tribal Assistance Grants
|
|
STAR
|
Science to Achieve Results
|
|
STEM
|
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
|
|
STEP
|
Supercritical Transformational Electric Power
|
|
STRS
|
Scientific and Technical Research and Services
|
|
USARC
|
U.S. Arctic Research Commission
|
|
USDA
|
Department of Agriculture
|
|
USGCRP
|
U.S. Global Change Research Program
|
|
USGS
|
U.S. Geological Survey
|
|
USPSTF
|
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
|
|
UtB
|
Understanding the Brain
|
|
VA
|
Department of Veterans Affairs
|
Appendix B.
CRS Contacts for Agency R&D
The following list provides contact information for the primary CRS expert on R&D funding for the agencies covered in this report:
|
Agency
|
CRS Contact
|
Department of Agriculture
|
[author name scrubbed]Specialist in Agricultural Policy[email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed]
Department of Commerce
|
National Institute of Standards and Technology
|
[author name scrubbed], CoordinatorSpecialist in Science and Technology Policy[email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed]
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|
[author name scrubbed]Analyst in Natural Resources Policy[email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed]
Department of Defense
|
[author name scrubbed], CoordinatorSpecialist in Science and Technology Policy[email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed]
Department of Energy
|
[author name scrubbed]Specialist in Science and Technology Policy[email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed]
Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health
[author name scrubbed]Specialist in Biomedical Policy[email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed]
Department of Homeland Security
|
[author name scrubbed]Specialist in Science and Technology Policy[email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed]
Department of the Interior
|
[author name scrubbed]Analyst in Science and Technology Policy[email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed]
Department of Transportation
|
[author name scrubbed]Analyst in Science and Technology Policy[email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed]
Department of Veterans Affairs
|
[author name scrubbed]Analyst in Science and Technology Policy[email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed]
Environmental Protection Agency
|
[author name scrubbed]Specialist in Environmental Policy[email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed]
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
|
[author name scrubbed]Specialist in Science and Technology Policy[email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed]
National Science Foundation
|
[author name scrubbed]Analyst in Science and Technology Policy[email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed]
Author Contact Information
[author name scrubbed], Coordinator, Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])
[author name scrubbed], Specialist in Environmental Policy
([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])
[author name scrubbed], Analyst in Science and Technology Policy
([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])
[author name scrubbed], Analyst in Science and Technology Policy
([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])
[author name scrubbed], Specialist in Biomedical Policy
([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])
[author name scrubbed], Specialist in Agricultural Policy
([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])
[author name scrubbed], Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])
[author name scrubbed], Analyst in Natural Resources Policy
([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])
Footnotes
| 1.
|
Email correspondence from OMB to CRS on May 26, 2017.
|
| 2.
|
Funding levels included in this document are in current dollars unless otherwise noted. Inflation diminishes the purchasing power of federal R&D funds, so an increase that falls short of the inflation rate may reduce real purchasing power.
|
| 3.
|
As calculated by CRS using the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (chained) price index for FY2017 and FY2018 in Table 10.1, "Gross Domestic Product and Deflators Used in the Historical Tables: 1940–2022," Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2018, https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/budget/fy2018/hist10z1.xls.
|
| 4.
|
EOP, OMB, Analytical Perspectives, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2018, May 23, 2017, pp. 203-205, https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Analytical_Perspectives.
|
| 5.
|
DOD R&D would be $31.036 billion higher for FY2018 using the FY2016 definition of R&D than reported by OMB for FY2018 using the new definition. Email correspondence from OMB to CRS on May 26, 2017.
|
| 6.
|
NASA R&D would be $2.511 billion higher for FY2018 using the FY2016 definition of R&D than reported by OMB for FY2018 using the new definition. Email correspondence from OMB to CRS on May 26, 2017.
|
| 7.
|
CRS analysis of data from the National Science Foundation, National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2014–15 Data Update, March 14, 2017. More recent data regarding business and other R&D funding are not yet available.
|
| 8.
|
Ibid.
|
| 9.
|
Ibid.
|
| 10.
|
Ibid.
|
| 11.
|
EOP, OMB, Analytical Perspectives, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2018, May 23, 2017, pp. 203-205, https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Analytical_Perspectives.
|
| 12.
|
For additional information on the NITRD program, see CRS Report RL33586, The Federal Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program: Background, Funding, and Activities, by [author name scrubbed].
|
| 13.
|
For additional information on the USGCRP, see CRS Report R43227, Federal Climate Change Funding from FY2008 to FY2014, by [author name scrubbed], [author name scrubbed], and [author name scrubbed].
|
| 14.
|
U.S. Global Change Research Program website, http://www.globalchange.gov/about/mission-vision-strategic-plan.
|
| 15.
|
For additional information on the NNI, see CRS Report RL34401, The National Nanotechnology Initiative: Overview, Reauthorization, and Appropriations Issues, by [author name scrubbed]
|
| 16.
|
In the context of the NNI and nanotechnology, the nanoscale refers to lengths of 1 to 100 nanometers. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter, or about the width of 10 hydrogen atoms arranged side by side in a line.
|
| 17.
|
This section was written by [author name scrubbed], Specialist in Science and Technology Policy, CRS Resources, Science, and Industry Division.
|
18.
|
Department of Defense, https://www.defense.gov/.
| 19.
|
OCO/GWOT is included in Title IX of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2018, but supports the PEs in Title IV.
|
| 20.
|
For additional information on the structure of Defense RDT&E, see CRS Report R44711, Department of Defense Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E): Appropriations Structure, by [author name scrubbed]
|
| 21.
|
For this calculation, CRS allocated the $50 million undistributed reduction in FY2017 DARPA funding to DOD S&T since most DARPA funding (more than 94% in FY2016) supports DOD S&T. An amendment to the committee-reported bill added $6 million for the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center; these funds have not been distributed by account activity.
|
22.
|
The budget activity levels discussed in this paragraph do not account for increases and decreases that may result from undistributed amounts identified in Table 5.
| 23.
|
HHS, "About," http://www.hhs.gov/about.
|
| 24.
|
CRS analysis of data presented in the Office of Management and Budget's Analytical Perspectives, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2018, May 23, 2017, pp. 203-205, https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Analytical_Perspectives.
|
| 25.
|
Ibid.
|
| 26.
|
This section was written by [author name scrubbed], Specialist in Biomedical Policy, CRS Domestic Social Policy Division. For background information on NIH, see CRS Report R41705, The National Institutes of Health (NIH): Background and Congressional Issues, by [author name scrubbed].
|
| 27.
|
National Institutes of Health, "About NIH, What We Do, Mission and Goals," at http://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/mission-goals.
|
| 28.
|
Department of Health and Human Services, Fiscal Year 2018 Budget in Brief, Washington, DC, May 2017, p. 38, https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/Consolidated%20BIB_ONLINE_remediated.pdf.
|
| 29.
|
The NIH website states that Fogarty "is dedicated to advancing the mission of [NIH] by supporting and facilitating global health research conducted by U.S. and international investigators, building partnerships between health research institutions in the U.S. and abroad, and training the next generation of scientists to address global health needs." https://www.fic.nih.gov/About/Pages/mission-vision.aspx.
|
| 30.
|
Department of Health and Human Services, Fiscal Year 2018 Budget in Brief, Washington, DC, May 2017, p. 37, https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/Consolidated%20BIB_ONLINE_remediated.pdf.
|
| 31.
|
Ibid., p. 41. This is a reduction of $4 million below AHRQ's FY2017 Continuing Resolution level of administrative support for the USPSTF.
|
| 32.
|
NIH, FY2018 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees, Vol. I, Overview, "Overview of Budget Request, Introduction" p. 3. The Affordable Care Act (ACA, P.L. 111-148) created the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund (PCORTF) to help build the national capacity and infrastructure needed to conduct patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR), and to enable PCOR findings to be integrated into clinical practice. See https://aspe.hhs.gov/patient-centered-outcomes-research-trust-fund.
|
| 33.
|
The Superfund amount is provided in the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Acts. Mandatory funds for type 1 diabetes research (under PHS Act §330B) were provided by P.L. 114-10 for FY2016 and FY2017 and are proposed for FY2018.
|
34.
|
For more information, see the "PHS Evaluation Set-Aside" section of CRS Report R44505, Public Health Service Agencies: Overview and Funding (FY2015-FY2017), coordinated by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed]. By convention, budget tables such as Table 6 do not subtract the amount of the evaluation tap from the donor agencies' appropriations.
| 35.
|
Department of Health and Human Services, Fiscal Year 2018 Budget in Brief, Washington, DC, May 2017, p. 37 and p. 43, https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/Consolidated%20BIB_ONLINE_remediated.pdf.
|
| 36.
|
NIH, FY2018 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees, Vol. I, Overview, "Statistical Data: Direct and Indirect Cost Awarded," p. 95.
|
| 37.
|
Ibid, p. 96.
|
| 38.
|
See NIH website, "Estimates of Funding for Various Research, Condition, and Disease Categories (RCDC)," http://report.nih.gov/categorical_spending.aspx.
|
| 39.
|
For example, in the year before this new pattern developed, the explanatory statement accompanying the FY2015 omnibus stated the following:
In keeping with longstanding practice, the agreement does not recommend a specific amount of NIH funding for this purpose or for any other individual disease. Doing so would establish a dangerous precedent that could politicize the NIH peer review system. Nevertheless, in recognition that Alzheimer's disease poses a serious threat to the Nation's long-term health and economic stability, the agreement expects that a significant portion of the recommended increase for NIA should be directed to research on Alzheimer's. The exact amount should be determined by scientific opportunity of additional research on this disease and the quality of grant applications that are submitted for Alzheimer's relative to those submitted for other diseases.
See Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 160, no. 151, Book II (December 11, 2014), p. H9832, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2014-12-11/pdf/CREC-2014-12-11-pt2-PgH9307-2.pdf.
|
| 40.
|
U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2018, report to accompany H.R. 3358, 115th Cong., 1st sess., July 24, 2017, H.Rept. 115-244 (Washington: GPO, 2017), p. 50.
|
| 41.
|
Ibid.
|
| 42.
|
Ibid., pp. 59-60.
|
| 43.
|
NIH FY2018 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees, Vol. I, Overview, p. 4.
|
| 44.
|
The NIH Common Fund is part of OD; it supports large complex research efforts that involve the collaboration of two or more research ICs.
|
| 45.
|
NIH, FY2018 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees, Vol. I, Overview, p. 5.
|
| 46.
|
Ibid., p. 10.
|
| 47.
|
Ibid.
|
| 48.
|
NIH, Rigor and Reproducibility, at https://grants.nih.gov/reproducibility/index.htm.
|
| 49.
|
NIH, FY2018 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees, Vol. I, Overview, p. 10.
|
| 50.
|
This section was written by [author name scrubbed], Specialist in Science and Technology Policy, CRS Resources, Science, and Industry Division.
|
| 51.
|
For more detailed information about energy efficiency and renewable energy funding, see CRS In Focus IF10661, DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: FY2017 Appropriations and the FY2018 Budget Request, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].
|
| 52.
|
This section was written by [author name scrubbed], Specialist in Science and Technology Policy, CRS Resources, Science, and Industry Division. For more information, see CRS Report R44397, NASA: FY2017 Budget and Appropriations, by [author name scrubbed].
|
| 53.
|
See NASA comments in Government Accountability Office, NASA Human Space Exploration: Delay Likely for First Exploration Mission, GAO-17-414, April 2017, http://www.gao.gov/assets/690/684360.pdf, p. 18.
|
| 54.
|
This section was written by Laurie Harris, Analyst in Science and Technology Policy, CRS Resources, Science, and Industry Division.
|
| 55.
|
The National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (P.L. 81-507).
|
| 56.
|
For more information about NSF and the agency's funding history, see CRS Report R44679, The National Science Foundation: FY2017 Appropriations and Funding History, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].
|
| 57.
|
Explanatory Statement, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, Division B (Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017), Congressional Record, vol. 163, no. 76—Book II (May 3, 2017), p. H3375.
|
| 58.
|
Long-term, multi-year construction projects supported through the MREFC account are an exception, as NSF is able to provide FY2017 estimated funding amounts for these projects.
|
| 59.
|
R&D prior year (FY2016) and requested (FY2018) amounts are reported in the "Quantitative Data Tables" section of the FY2018 NSF Budget Request to Congress, May 23, 2017, pp. QDT-1 – QDT-7.
|
| 60.
|
Explanatory statement accompanying P.L. 114-113.
|
| 61.
|
H.Rept. 115-231, p. 69.
|
| 62.
|
The explanatory statement further directed, of the $55 million provided for CyberCorps in FY2017, "no less than $7.5 million for qualified community colleges as directed by the Senate."
|
| 63.
|
This section was written by [author name scrubbed], Specialist in Agricultural Policy, CRS Resources, Science, and Industry Division.
|
| 64.
|
For background on agricultural research, see CRS Report R40819, Agricultural Research: Background and Issues, by [author name scrubbed]. For background on agricultural appropriations, see CRS Insight IN10710, The President's FY2018 Budget Request for Agriculture Appropriations and the Farm Bill, by [author name scrubbed], and CRS Report R44588, Agriculture and Related Agencies: FY2017 Appropriations, coordinated by [author name scrubbed].
|
65.
|
USDA-ARS, The USDA Agricultural Research Service Capital Investment Strategy, April 2012, http://www.ars.usda.gov/sp2UserFiles/Subsite/ARSLegisAffrs/USDA_ARS_Capital_Investment_Strategy_FINAL_eeo.pdf. In FY2016, funding went to construction of a biocontainment laboratory at the ARS poultry research facility in Athens, GA ($145 million); a foreign disease-weed science facility in Frederick, MD ($70 million); and an animal science, human nutrition, and bee research center in Beltsville, MD ($33 million). The priorities funded in FY2017 include completion of the Foreign Disease and Weed Science Research Unit in Fort Detrick, MD ($30.2 million) and Phase I of the Agricultural Research Technology Center in Salinas, CA ($64.3 million).
| 66.
|
The numbers 1862, 1890, and 1994 in this context refer to the years that laws were enacted creating these classifications of colleges and universities, not to the number of institutions.
|
| 67.
|
USDA, Office of Budget and Program Analysis, FY2018 Congressional Budget Justification for the National Agricultural Statistics Service, p. 8.
|
| 68.
|
This section was written by [author name scrubbed], Specialist in Science and Technology Policy, CRS Resources, Science, and Industry Division.
|
| 69.
|
NIST website, "General Information," http://nist.gov/public_affairs/general_information.cfm.
|
| 70.
|
15 U.S.C. 272.
|
| 71.
|
U.S. Department of Commerce, Department of Commerce, Budget in Brief, Fiscal Year 2018, http://www.osec.doc.gov/bmi/budget/FY18BIB/All508.pdf.
|
| 72.
|
Ibid. For additional information on the MEP program, see CRS Report R44308, The Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program, by [author name scrubbed]
|
| 73.
|
U.S. Department of Commerce, Department of Commerce, Budget in Brief, Fiscal Year 2018.
|
| 74.
|
This section was written by [author name scrubbed], Analyst in Natural Resources, CRS Resources, Science, and Industry Division.
|
| 75.
|
"Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970," 35 Federal Register 15627-15630, October 6, 1970; see also http://www.lib.noaa.gov/noaainfo/heritage/ReorganizationPlan4.html.
|
| 76.
|
Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, NOAA Response to the NOAA Science Advisory Board's Portfolio Review Task Force Report, NOAA, April 15, 2014, http://www.sab.noaa.gov/Reports/2014/NOAA.Response.to.PRTF.Report_2014.04.15.pdf.
|
| 77.
|
According to NOAA, "The NOAA Research Council is an internal body composed of senior scientific personnel from every line office in the agency who provide corporate oversight to ensure NOAA's research and development activities are of the highest quality, meet near- to long-term mission requirements and societal needs, take advantage of emerging scientific and technological opportunities, shape a forward-looking research agenda, and are accomplished in an efficient and cost-effective manner." Source: NOAA website, "NOAA Research Council," http://nrc.noaa.gov.
|
| 78.
|
NOAA, Research and Development at NOAA, Five-Year Research and Development Plan 2013-2017, Washington, DC, 2014, http://nrc.noaa.gov/CouncilProducts/ResearchPlans/5YearRDPlan/NOAA5YRPHome/Preface/Purpose.aspx.
|
| 79.
|
NOAA, NOAA's Next-Generation Strategic Plan, Silver Spring, MD, December 2010, http://www.ppi.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/NOAA_NGSP.pdf.
|
| 80.
|
According to NOAA, a weather-ready nation is envisioned as a society that is prepared for and responds to weather-related events.
|
| 81.
|
NOAA Budget Office, email to CRS, June 14, 2017.
|
| 82.
|
Most of NOAA's discretionary funding for the five offices, OMAO, and Mission Support is from the Operations, Research and Facilities and the Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction accounts.
|
| 83.
|
Ibid.
|
| 84.
|
Ibid.
|
| 85.
|
Approximately one-third of climate research funding is provided for laboratories and cooperative institutes (e.g., $60.0 million in FY2017).
|
| 86.
|
This section was written by [author name scrubbed], Analyst in Science and Technology Policy, CRS Resources, Science, and Industry Division.
|
| 87.
|
Department of Veterans Affairs, Volume II: Medical Programs and Information Technology Programs, Congressional Submission, FY 2018 Funding and FY 2019 Advance Appropriations, pp. VHA-419-459, https://www.va.gov/budget/docs/summary/fy2018VAbudgetVolumeIImedicalProgramsAndInformationTechnology.pdf.
|
| 88.
|
https://www.research.va.gov/about/default.cfm.
|
| 89.
|
Department of Veterans Affairs, Volume II: Medical Programs and Information Technology Programs, Congressional Submission, FY 2018 Funding and FY 2019 Advance Appropriations, p. VHA-454, https://www.va.gov/budget/docs/summary/fy2018VAbudgetVolumeIImedicalProgramsAndInformationTechnology.pdf.
|
| 90.
|
This section was written by Laurie Harris, Analyst in Science and Technology Policy, CRS Resources, Science, and Industry Division.
|
| 91.
|
Department of the Interior, Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2014-2018, https://www.doi.gov/pmb/ppp/upload/DOI-Strategic-Plan-for-FY-2014-2018-POSTED-ON-WEBSITE-4.pdf.
|
| 92.
|
Department of the Interior, Fiscal Year 2018: The Interior Budget in Brief, May 2017, p. DH-5. DOI also proposes transferring $124 million from the Department of Defense "for commitments to the Republic of Palau, which would increase DOI's total FY2018 budget request to $11.9 billion in current budget authority."
|
| 93.
|
Email correspondence between the DOI and CRS on July 5, 2017.
|
| 94.
|
Email correspondence between the DOI and CRS on July 5, 2017.
|
| 95.
|
Ibid.
|
| 96.
|
Department of the Interior, Fiscal Year 2018: The Interior Budget in Brief, May 2017, p. BH-50.
|
| 97.
|
Department of the Interior, Fiscal Year 2018: The Interior Budget in Brief, May 2017, p. BH-51.
|
| 98.
|
Ibid.
|
| 99.
|
This section was written by [author name scrubbed], Analyst in Science and Technology Policy, CRS Resources, Science, and Industry Division.
|
| 100.
|
U.S. Department of Transportation, Research, Development, and Technology Strategic Plan FY2017-2021, January 2017, p. 23, https://www.transportation.gov/administrations/assistant-secretary-research-and-technology/dot-five-year-rdt-strategic-plan.
|
| 101.
|
This section was written by [author name scrubbed], Specialist in Science and Technology Policy, CRS Resources, Science, and Industry Division.
|
| 102.
|
This section was written by [author name scrubbed], Specialist in Environmental Policy, CRS Resources, Science, and Industry Division.
|
| 103.
|
The EPA S&T account incorporates elements of the former EPA Research and Development account, as well as portions of the former Salaries and Expenses and Program Operations accounts, which were in place until FY1996. Since 1996, EPA's annual appropriations have been requested, considered, and enacted according to eight statutory appropriations accounts established by Congress. A ninth account, Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Fund, was added during the FY2014 budget process. Because of the differences in the scope of the activities included in these accounts, comparisons before and after FY1996 are not readily available.
|
| 104.
|
Title II of Division G of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31). See also "Explanatory Statement" submitted by the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations in the Congressional Record, vol. 163, no. 76-Book II (May 3, 2017), p. H3883, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2017-05-03/pdf/CREC-2017-05-03-bk2.pdf.
|
| 105.
|
U.S. EPA, Fiscal Year 2018 Justification of Appropriations Estimates for the Committee on Appropriations, May 2017, pp. 3-5, 29-108, https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/fy-2018-justification-appropriation-estimates-committee-appropriations. Note that the FY2018 President's budget request was prepared prior to the enactment of P.L. 115-31; thus, funding comparisons in the request and supporting documents are based on estimated FY2017 "annualized" levels associated with the continuing resolutions in effect at the time. These annualized estimates are not presented in this CRS report.
|
| 106.
|
See footnote 105.
|
| 107.
|
See footnote 104.
|
| 108.
|
House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, FY 2018 Budget Hearing: Environmental Protection Agency, June 15, 2017, https://appropriations.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=394902.
|
| 109.
|
The FY2018 budget request included $39.6 million for EPA's Building and Facilities appropriations account, an increase of $5.1 million compared to the $34.5 million FY2017 enacted appropriations. See footnote 105, pp. 323-333.
|
| 110.
|
For an overview of the President's FY2018 budget request for EPA see CRS In Focus IF10665, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): FY2018 President's Budget Request, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].
|
| 111.
|
See footnote 105, pp. 70-71.
|
| 112.
|
H.Rept. 115-238, p. 56.
|
| 113.
|
For a description of the activities included under this program area within EPA's S&T account in EPA's FY2018 budget justification see footnote 105, pp. 91-94.
|
| 114.
|
Funding for these competitive grants and graduate fellowships has historically been allocated from enacted appropriations within multiple program areas within the S&T account. Specific funding levels for STAR have not been requested or appropriated recently in the annual fiscal year appropriations. For discussion of the STAR program in the EPA FY2018 budget justification see footnote 105, pp. 83-85, 90, 94, 98, 690, and 732.
|
| 115.
|
See discussion under the heading FY 2018 Change from FY 2017 Annualized Continuing Resolution (Dollars in Thousands) within this program area in EPA's FY2018 budget justification, footnote 105, p. 94.
|
| 116.
|
For a description of the activities included under this program area within EPA's S&T account see footnote 105, pp. 82-85.
|
| 117.
|
See discussion under the heading FY 2018 Change from FY 2017 Annualized Continuing Resolution (Dollars in Thousands) within this program area in EPA's FY2018 budget justification, footnote 105, p. 85.
|
| 118.
|
Referred to as "Congressional Priorities" in the FY2018 Budget Justification; not requesting funding for this program is consistent with previous Administrations fiscal year budget requests, see footnote 105, pp. 107-108.
|