America COMPETES Act and the
FY2010 Budget
Deborah D. Stine
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
June 15, 2009
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
R40519
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress

America COMPETES Act and the FY2010 Budget

Summary
The America COMPETES Act (P.L. 110-69) became law on August 9, 2007. The act is intended
to increase the nation’s investment in research and development (R&D), and in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. It is designed to focus on two
perceived concerns believed to influence future U.S. competitiveness: inadequate R&D funding
to generate sufficient technological progress, and inadequate numbers of American students
proficient in STEM or interested in STEM careers relative to other countries.
The act authorizes funding increases for the National Science Foundation (NSF), National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratories, and the Department of Energy Office
of Science (DOE SC) over FY2008-FY2010. If maintained, the increases would double the
budgets of those entities over seven years. The act establishes the Advanced Research Projects
Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) within DOE, designed to support transformational energy
technology research projects with the goal of enhancing U.S. economic and energy security. A
new program, Discovery Science and Engineering Innovation Institutes, would establish
multidisciplinary institutes at DOE National Laboratories to “apply fundamental science and
engineering discoveries to technological innovations,” according to the act.
Among the act’s education activities, many of which are focused on high-need school districts,
are programs to recruit new K-12 STEM teachers, enhance existing STEM teacher skills, and
provide more STEM education opportunities for students. The new Department of Education
(ED) Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow and existing NSF Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship
(Noyce) programs provide opportunities, through institutional grants, for students pursuing
STEM degrees and STEM professionals to gain teaching skills and teacher certification, and for
current STEM teachers to enhance their teaching skills and understanding of STEM content. The
act also authorizes a new program at NSF that would provide grants to create or improve
professional science master’s degree (PSM) programs that emphasize practical training and
preparation for the workforce in high-need fields.
The America COMPETES Act is an authorization act. New programs established by the act will
not be initiated and authorized increases in appropriations for existing programs will not occur
unless funded through subsequent appropriation acts. The 110th Congress provided FY2008
appropriations to establish ED’s Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow program, and NIST’s
Technology Improvement Program (TIP), which replaced the existing Advanced Technology
Program. The 111th Congress provided FY2009 appropriations, supplemented by the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), to establish DOE’s ARPA-E and NSF’s PSM program.
Although some America COMPETES Act research and STEM education programs received
appropriations at authorized levels in FY2009, others did not.
As Congress deliberates the FY2010 budget, an issue for Congress is what level, if any, it will
appropriate funds for America COMPETES Act programs. Although the Obama Administration
requested FY2010 funding for most America COMPETES Act R&D programs at levels below
that authorized, it contends that FY2009 (due to ARRA funding), and if approved as requested,
FY2010 appropriations would fund federal R&D programs at the highest levels in U.S. history.
Several programs newly authorized in the act have never been appropriated funds and the Obama
Administration has not proposed funding them. An issue for these programs is whether or not
they will receive the funding necessary to establish them. The America COMPETES Act provides
authorization levels only through FY2010.

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America COMPETES Act and the FY2010 Budget

Contents
Overview of the America COMPETES Act ................................................................................. 1
Overview of FY2008 and FY2009 Appropriations....................................................................... 1
Obama Administration Budget Request ....................................................................................... 2
Research ............................................................................................................................... 3
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education............................... 5
Congressional Activities.............................................................................................................. 6
Budget Resolution................................................................................................................. 7
Appropriations Committee .................................................................................................... 7
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies ......................................................... 8
Future Activities.............................................................................................................. 9
Issues for Congress ............................................................................................................... 9

Figures
Figure 1. Obama Administration Plan for Science and Innovation, FY2006-2016 ........................ 3
Figure 2. Comparison of America COMPETES Act Authorized and
Appropriated/Requested funding for NSF, DOE Office of Science (SC), and NIST
Scientific and Technical Research and Services (STRS) ........................................................... 4
Figure 3. Obama Administration FY2010 Budget Request for STEM Education Programs .......... 6

Tables
Table 1. America COMPETES Act Programs and Appropriations Status.................................... 10

Contacts
Author Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 22

Congressional Research Service

America COMPETES Act and the FY2010 Budget

ongress passed the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence
in Technology, Education, and Science Act (P.L. 110-69), known as the America
C COMPETES Act, in August 2007. In response to concerns about U.S. competitiveness,
the act provides for investments in science and engineering research and science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in the present so that the United States can
enhance its potential to be more competitive with other nations in the future.
The purpose of this report is to provide information on the President’s FY2010 budget request
and the status of Congressional budget and appropriation activities regarding that budget relative
to the America COMPETES Act. For more general information on the America COMPETES Act,
see CRS Report RL34328, America COMPETES Act: Programs, Funding, and Selected Issues,
by Deborah D. Stine, and for information on the FY2009 budget, see CRS Report RL34396, The
America COMPETES Act and the FY2009 Budget, by Deborah D. Stine.
Overview of the America COMPETES Act
The America COMPETES Act was a response to concerns that the United States may not be able
to compete economically with other nations in the future. Many believe that investments in
science and engineering research; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
education; and STEM workforce development will enhance U.S. competitiveness. As a result, the
act mainly addresses concerns about insufficient investment in those areas.
The America COMPETES Act authorizes an increase in federal science and engineering research
funding and support for kindergarten through postdoctoral education. The act authorizes funding
increases through FY2010 for the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratories, and the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of
Science (DOE SC). The act also authorizes within DOE the establishment of the Advanced
Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E)1 and Discovery Science and Engineering Innovation
Institutes. In addition, the act authorizes new STEM education programs at DOE, the Department
of Education (ED), and NSF, and increases the authorization level for several existing NSF
STEM education programs.
The America COMPETES Act is an authorization act. New programs established by the act will
not be initiated unless funded through subsequent federal appropriations. Similarly, increases in
the authorization level of existing programs may or may not translate into increased federal
funding.
Overview of FY2008 and FY2009 Appropriations
The America COMPETES Act was passed after much of the FY2008 appropriations process had
already taken place during the 110th Congress. Although America COMPETES Act programs
were not funded at authorized levels, the 110th Congress did provide FY2008 appropriations to
establish ED’s Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow program, and NIST’s Technology
Improvement Program (TIP), which replaced the existing Advanced Technology Program.

1 For more information on ARPA-E, see CRS Report RL34497, Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-
E): Background, Status, and Selected Issues for Congress, by Deborah D. Stine.
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America COMPETES Act and the FY2010 Budget

The 111th Congress passed the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (P.L. 111-8) and the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (P.L. 111-5) to supplement FY2009 funds. Although some
America COMPETES Act programs were funded at authorized levels, others were not. The
following activities were funded at or above authorized levels: NIST Scientific & Technical
Research and Services (STRS); NIST Construction and Maintenance; DOE SC; NSF and its
Research and Related Activities; Major Research Instrumentation; Major Research Equipment
and Facilities Construction; Professional Science Master's; Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship;
and Graduate Research Fellowship programs. Other programs were funded either below
authorized levels or not funded. The acts provided funding to establish DOE’s ARPA-E and
NSF’s PSM program. In addition, portions of the P-16 Alignment of Secondary School Graduate
Requirements with the Demands of 21st Century Postsecondary Endeavors and Support for P-16
Education Data Systems were funded through the ARRA.
As was the case for the Bush Administration, the Obama Administration contends that the
following America COMPETES Act programs correspond to existing DOE programs:
• Summer Institutes (§5003) to the pre-existing DOE Academies Creating Teacher
Scientists program (DOE ACTS);
• Early Career Awards for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Researchers
(§5006) to pre-existing High Energy Physics Outstanding Junior Investigator,
Nuclear Physics Outstanding Junior Investigator, Fusion Energy Sciences Plasma
Physics Junior Faculty Development; Advanced Scientific Computing Research
Early Career Principle Investigator; and the Office of Science Early Career
Scientist and Engineer Award programs;
• Discovery Science and Engineering Innovation Institutes (§5008) with pre-
existing Bioenergy Research Centers, SciDAC Institutes, and the Energy Frontier
Research Centers; and
• Protecting America’s Competitive Edge (PACE) Graduate Fellowship Program
(§5009) to pre-existing Computer Science Graduate Fellowships; Graduate
Research Environmental Fellowships; American Meteorological
Society/Industry/Government Graduate Fellowships; Spallation Neutron Source
Instrumentation Fellowships, and the Fusion Energy Sciences Graduate
Fellowships.2
If members of Congress agree with this contention, these America COMPETES Act programs
were funded as well.
Obama Administration Budget Request
This section provides an overview of the Obama Administration’s FY2010 budget request for
research and STEM education activities. Table 1 (located at the end of this report) provides a
program-specific comparison of the Obama Administration’s FY2010 budget request to America
COMPETES Act authorization levels.

2 According to an email communication between CRS and the Bush Administration OMB and OSTP received on
October 14, 2008, and between CRS and the Obama Administration OSTP on May 19, 2009.
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America COMPETES Act and the FY2010 Budget

Research
In its budget request to Congress, the Administration states that it plans to double the budget for
the NSF, NIST laboratories, and DOE SC between 2006 and 2016 (see Figure 1). The Obama
Administration’s proposed plan would continue the efforts of the Bush Administration’s
American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI)3 which had the goal of doubling these agency’s
budgets over ten years. This differs from the doubling path of the America COMPETES Act
which placed these same agencies on a track to double their budgets over seven years.
Figure 1. Obama Administration Plan for Science and Innovation, FY2006-2016
Budget Authority in Billions of Current Dollars

Source: Office of Science and Technology Policy, A Renewed Commitment to Science and Technology: Federal R&D,
Technology, and STEM Education in the 2010 Budget, May 2009 at http://www.ostp.gov/galleries/budget/
FY2010RD.pdf.
Notes: 2006-2009 figures are enacted budget authority; 2011-2016 figures are projections in the 2010 budget.
As a result, the funding requested for these agencies by the Obama Administration are below that
authorized in the America COMPETES Act in FY2010. When the total funds authorized and
appropriated in FY2008 and FY2009 or requested for FY2010 by the President are compared,
however, the funding appropriated/requested for FY2008-FY2010 exceeds that authorized for
NSF and NIST STRS. For DOE SC, the funding appropriated/requested is slightly below that
authorized. As shown in Figure 2, the total authorized for NSF during this time period is $22,058
million, while the total appropriated/requested is $22,665 million—resulting in funding that, if
appropriated at this level in FY2010, would be $607 million above the authorized level. For NIST
STRS, the total authorized is $1,629 million, the funding appropriated/requested is $1,667
million, so the appropriated/requested funding exceeds that authorized by $38 million For DOE
SC, the total authorized is $15,500 million, while the total appropriated/requested is $15,335
million, resulting in $165 million below or 99% of the authorized level.

3 U.S. President (G.W. Bush), American Competitiveness Initiative, Domestic Policy Council/Office of Science and
Technology Policy, February 2006, p. 19, at http://www.ostp.gov/pdf/acibooklet.pdf.
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America COMPETES Act and the FY2010 Budget

Figure 2. Comparison of America COMPETES Act Authorized and
Appropriated/Requested funding for NSF, DOE Office of Science (SC), and NIST
Scientific and Technical Research and Services (STRS)

25000
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a 20000
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FY2010
D 15000
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FY2008
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.
./P
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F
op.
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op.
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Req
Au
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Req.
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IST
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A
Agency

Source: Congressional Research Service.
Notes: Auth. = Authorized; Approp. = Appropriated. PB Req. = President’s Budget Request. NSF = National Science
Foundation. DOE SC = Department of Energy Office of Science. NIST = National Institute of Standards and
Technology. STRS = Scientific and Technical Research and Services. FY2008 and FY2009 are as appropriated by
Congress. FY2010 is as requested by the President. This analysis does not take into account inflation.

At NIST, funding of $69.9 million is requested for the TIP program, slightly above that received
in FY2009 of $65.0 million and half that authorized at $140.5 million. MEP funding is requested
at $124.7 million, slightly below that authorized ($131.89 million), and above that appropriated in
FY2009 ($110.0 million). Funding for NIST’s construction and maintenance account is requested
at $116.9 million more than double the authorized level of $49.7 million.
The Obama Administration is requesting $10 million of FY2010 funding for DOE’s ARPA-E,
which received $415 million in funding in FY2009 ($15 million as part of the regular FY2009
appropriation, $400 million in the ARRA). The Obama Administration is proposing to focus $280
million of its FY2010 funds on new Energy Innovation Hubs. As stated by Secretary of Energy
Chu in congressional testimony:
Specifically, this budget request includes three initiatives designed to cover the spectrum of
basic to applied science to maximize our chances of energy breakthroughs. The FY 2010
budget will launch eight Energy Innovation Hubs, while the Energy Frontier Research
Centers (EFRCs) and ARPA-E were launched last month. Let me briefly explain the
differences and why I believe launching these Hubs is so important.
EFRCs are small-scale collaborations (predominantly at universities) that focus on
overcoming known hurdles in basic science that block energy breakthroughs – not on
developing energy technologies themselves.
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ARPA-E is a highly entrepreneurial funding model that explores potentially revolutionary
technologies that are too risky for industry to fund.
The proposed Energy Innovation Hubs will take a very different approach – they will be
multi-disciplinary, highly collaborative teams ideally working under one roof to solve
priority technology challenges, such as artificial photosynthesis (creating fuels from
sunlight).4
At NSF, the Obama Administration is requesting funding at the authorized level of $203.8 million
for the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program. Funding for the Experimental
Programs to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program is proposed for $147.2 million,
similar to the authorized level of $147.8 million. The Research and Related Activities (R&RA)
Directorate portion of NSF’s Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) program is proposed for 19.4
million above the authorized level of $15.0 million; however, the Education and Human
Resources (EHR) Directorate portion of GRF proposed funding of $102.6 million is below the
authorized level of $119.0 million. No FY2010 funding is requested for NSF’s Professional
Science Master’s (PSM) program, newly established in FY2009 through ARRA funding.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
Education
The Obama Administration is not requesting funding to establish the new STEM education
programs authorized in the America COMPETES Act. As shown in Figure 3, however, the
administration does indicate it is funding other STEM education initiatives. For example, at DOE,
the Obama Administration is proposing to establish a new DOE-NSF initiative called “REgaining
our ENERGY Science and Engineering Edge” (RE-ENERGYSE) to encourage American
students to pursue STEM careers, particularly in clean energy, with DOE funding of $115 million.
As a point of comparison, the total FY2010 authorization level for all the DOE STEM education
programs authorized in the America COMPETES Act is $117.5 million. As stated by Secretary of
Energy Chu during congressional testimony:
As part of this initiative, the Department will launch a comprehensive K-20+ science and
engineering initiative, funded at $115 million in FY 2010, to educate thousands of students at
all levels in the fields contributing to the fundamental understanding of energy science and
engineering systems. This initiative, which complements the Department’s other education
efforts, will provide graduate research fellowships in scientific and technical fields that
advance the Department’s energy mission; provide training grants to universities that
establish multidisciplinary research and education programs related to clean energy; support
universities that dramatically expand energy-related research opportunities for
undergraduates; build partnerships between community colleges and different segments of
the clean tech industry to develop customized curriculum for “green collar” jobs; and
increase public awareness, particularly among young people, about the role that science and
technology can play in responsible environmental stewardship.5

4 Testimony of Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, FY 2010 Appropriations Hearing, Senate Committee on
Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies, May 19, 2009 at
http://appropriations.senate.gov/Hearings/2009_05_19_-Energy-
_Testimony_of_Secretary_Chu_at_May_19_Energy_and_Water_Subcommittee_Hearing.pdf?CFID=3770527&
CFTOKEN=27868417.
5 Testimony of Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, FY 2010 Appropriations Hearing, Senate Committee on
(continued...)
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Figure 3. Obama Administration FY2010 Budget Request for STEM Education
Programs
Budget Authority in Millions

Source: Office of Science and Technology Policy, A Renewed Commitment to Science and Technology: Federal R&D,
Technology, and STEM Education in the 2010 Budget, May 2009 at http://www.ostp.gov/galleries/budget/
FY2010RD.pdf.
Notes: 1/ Based on preliminary allocations of Recovery Act (P.L. 111-5) appropriations. These figures may
change. 2/ Excludes Recovery Act appropriations. Change is regular FY2009 appropriations to FY2010 request.
As discussed earlier, the Obama Administration is maintaining the Bush Administration’s
decision that several existing DOE STEM education programs serve the same purpose as those
newly authorized in the America COMPETES Act.
No new funding is requested for America COMPETES Act STEM education programs at ED,
although the Obama Administration does request the same funding as that appropriated in
FY2009 for ED’s Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow program of $2 million. At NSF, funding
at the authorized level of $64.0 million is requested for its Advanced Technological Education
(ATE) program. All other requested funding is below authorized FY2010 levels. No funding is
requested for the Laboratory Science Pilot program, newly authorized in the act, which has never
received funding.
Congressional Activities
Following the Obama Administration’s release of its FY2010 budget outline, Congress developed
a budget resolution that sets the budgetary spending amounts for each functional category of the

(...continued)
Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies, May 19, 2009 at
http://appropriations.senate.gov/Hearings/2009_05_19_-Energy-
_Testimony_of_Secretary_Chu_at_May_19_Energy_and_Water_Subcommittee_Hearing.pdf?CFID=3770527&
CFTOKEN=27868417.
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budget.6 The budget resolution does not allocate funds among specific programs or accounts.
Major program assumptions underlying the functional amounts, however, are often discussed in
the reports accompanying the resolution. These program assumptions and budget functions are
not binding, although congressional action has been taken.7
Budget Resolution
In April 2009, the House and Senate agreed to the concurrent budget resolution (S.Con.Res. 13),
which states the following:
SEC. 603. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS ON PROMOTING AMERICAN INNOVATION
AND ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS.
It is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) the Congress should provide sufficient investments to enable our Nation to continue to be
the world leader in education ,innovation, and economic growth as envisioned in the goals of
the America COMPETES Act;
(2) this resolution builds on significant funding provided in the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act for scientific research and education in Function 250 (General Science,
Space and Technology), Function 270 (Energy), Function 300 (Natural Resources and
Environment), Function 500 (Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services), and
Function 550(Health);
(3) the Congress also should pursue policies designed to ensure that American students,
teachers, businesses, and workers are prepared to continue leading the world in innovation,
research, and technology well into the future; and
(4) this resolution recognizes the importance of the extension of investments and tax policies
that promote research and development and encourage innovation and future technologies
that will ensure American economic competitiveness.
Appropriations Committee
Following the budget resolution, the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate
Committee on Appropriations subdivides the budget allocations among the appropriations
committees’ 12 subcommittees. The committee’s jurisdictions8 for the federal agencies that have
programs authorized by the America COMPETES Act programs are divided among at least three
Appropriations subcommittees:

6 CRS Report 97-684, The Congressional Appropriations Process: An Introduction, by Sandy Streeter.
7 CRS Report 98-721, Introduction to the Federal Budget Process, by Robert Keith. This process is set forth in the
Congressional Budget Act, Titles I-IX of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-
344; July 12, 1974; 88 Stat. 297-339), as amended and codified at 2 U.S.C. 621-692.
8 It is important to note that the House and Senate Parliamentarians are the sole definitive authorities on questions
relating to the jurisdiction of congressional committees and should be consulted for a formal opinion on any specific
jurisdictional question.
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America COMPETES Act and the FY2010 Budget

• Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS): NSF, NIST, NASA,
and OSTP;
• Energy and Water Development (Energy-Water): DOE;
• Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-
HHS-Education): ED.
Typically, these subcommittees will review the President’s budget request and provide their
recommendations to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.9 This report will be
updated to reflect these recommendations as they are available.
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
On June 9, 2009, the House Committee on Appropriations approved the CJS bill (H.R. 2847) and
report (H.Rept. 111-149) for consideration by the House. Table 1 provides the committee’s
funding recommendations for NSF and NIST.
At NIST, the House committee recommended funding for STRS and construction at a level less
than that requested by the Administration, and funding for MEP and TIP was at the same level as
requested. According to the committee, the reduction in the STRS activities funding was in order
to support higher priority activities, and those in the construction program were due to the
availability of funding from prior years.10
The House committee proposed overall NSF funding of $6.9 billion, $108 million less that that
requested by the Administration. Funding is less than that requested in the Research and Related
Activities (R&RA) directorate, although it is more than that requested in the Education and
Human Resources (EHR) directorate. Within R&RA, reductions were made in proposed funding
for Major Research Instrumentation due to the availability of prior year funds such that it would
receive no new funding in FY2010.11 EPSCoR funding was specified for the same level as that
requested by the Administration. An increase in funding of $14.0 million greater than the request
was recommended for the Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) program to enable support for an
additional 2,000 new fellows in FY2010 so that, overall, the agency would be able to fund
approximately 3,654 fellows and reach its overall goal of funding 3,000 fellows by FY2013 at a
faster pace. The House Committee on Appropriations CJS subcommittee report also supported the
proposal in NSF’s budget request to set aside a minimum of $2 million in each reach division to
explore methodologies that support transformative research.
In NSF’s EHR directorate, funding was $10 million higher than that requested for the Robert
Noyce program, $2.6 million higher for the STEM talent expansion program, and $2.78 higher
for the MSP program. The ATE program funding recommendation was $42 million less that that
requested due to the availability of prior year funds.12 In addition, the committee recommended
that future requests for the ATE program be made in a more appropriate department or agency

9 For additional information on the appropriations process, see CRS Report 97-684, The Congressional Appropriations
Process: An Introduction, by Sandy Streeter.
10 House Committee on Appropriations, “Fiscal Year 2010: Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill,
Terminations & Reductions,” at http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/CJS_Cuts_Table_FC2010-06-09-2009.pdf.
11 Ibid.
12 Ibid.
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such as ED. Funding for MREFC was reduced in response to the availability of prior year funds,
and funding for agency operations and award management was reduced to support higher priority
programs.13
In addition, the House Committee on Appropriations CJS subcommittee notes in its report that
missing from the America COMPETES Act investment plan for science and technology are
“critical elements of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which equally support the science
enterprise of our Nation” and which are “not markedly different or less important than other
science disciplines funded by the NSF and NIST,” leading the subcommittee to provide
“appropriate increases for NSF, and NIST, while also providing appropriate and necessary
increases for critical science activities of NASA and NOAA.”
Future Activities
A tentative schedule14 available from the House Committee on Appropriations states that the
Energy and Water Development bill may be considered by the relevant subcommittee on June 25,
2009, and voted upon by the House on July 7, 2009. The Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education, and Related Agencies bill may be considered by the subcommittee on July 8, 2009,
and by the House on July 14, 2009. A schedule of Senate Committee on Appropriations activities
is not available.
Issues for Congress
As Congress deliberates the FY2010 budget, an issue for Congress is what level, if any, will it
appropriate funding for America COMPETES Act programs. Several programs newly authorized
in the act have never been appropriated funds. An issue for these programs is whether or not they
will receive the funding necessary to establish them. The America COMPETES Act provides
authorization levels only through FY2010.

13 Ibid.
14 For more information, see http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/Tentative_2010_Schedule-06-09-2009.pdf.
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Table 1. America COMPETES Act Programs and Appropriations Status
(in millions of dollars)
FY2008
FY2009

FY2010
FY2010
Consolidated
Omnibus

Programs with
Appropriations Act,
Appropriations
FY2010
House Committee
Senate Committee
FY2010
on Appropriations
on Appropriations
Specific
2008 (P.L. 110-161); Act, 2009 (P.L. 111-
America
Authorized
Supplemental
8); American
COMPETES Act
President’s Budget
(NIST and NSF
Budgets in the
Appropriations Act,
Recovery and
(P.L. 110-69)
Request
only)
America
2008 (P.L. 110-
Reinvestment Act
Authorization of
COMPETES Act
252))
(ARRA; P.L. 111-5)
Appropriation
Department of

Commerce
National

Institute of
Standards and
Technology (Sec.
3001)
—Scientific &
$440.5 $692.0 $584.8 $534.6 $510.0

Technical Research
(472.0 omnibus
and Services (STRS)
(Sec. 3001)
+ 220.0 ARRA)
—Construction &
160.5 532.0 49.7 116.9 76.5

Maintenance
(172.0 omnibus
(Sec. 3001)
+360.0 ARRA)
—Technology
65.2a 65.0 140.5 69.9 69.9

Innovation Program
(TIP) (Sec.
3001/3012) [NEW]
—Manufacturing
89.6 110.0 131.8 124.7 $124.7

Extension
Partnership (MEP)
(Sec. 3001/3003)
CRS-10

FY2008
FY2009

FY2010
FY2010
Consolidated
Omnibus

House Committee
Senate Committee
Programs with
Appropriations Act,
Appropriations
FY2010
on Appropriations
on Appropriations
Specific
2008 (P.L. 110-161); Act, 2009 (P.L. 111-
America
FY2010
Authorized
Supplemental
8); American
COMPETES Act
President’s Budget
(NIST and NSF
Budgets in the
Appropriations Act,
Recovery and
(P.L. 110-69)
Request
only)
America
2008 (P.L. 110-
Reinvestment Act
Authorization of
COMPETES Act
252))
(ARRA; P.L. 111-5)
Appropriation
—Early Career
Not Included
Not Included
25.0 Not
Includedd

Awards for

Science,
Engineering, and
Mathematics
Researchers (Sec.
5006)[NEW]
Discovery
Not Included
Not Included
10.0-30.0e Not
Includedf

Science and

Engineering
Innovation
Institutes (Sec.
5008) [NEW]
Protecting
Not Included
Not Included
20.0 Not
Includedg

America’s

Competitive
Edge (PACE)
Graduate
Fellowship
Program (Sec.
5009)[NEW]
Distinguished
Not Included
Not Included
30.0 Not
Included

Scientist

Program (Sec.
5011) [NEW]
Advanced
Not Included
*415.0
Such sums as are
10.0
Research
(15.0 Omnibus
necessary
Projects
Agency—Energy
+ 400.0 ARRA)
[ARPA-E] (Sec.
5012) [NEW]
CRS-14

FY2008
FY2009

FY2010
FY2010
Consolidated
Omnibus

House Committee
Senate Committee
Programs with
Appropriations Act,
Appropriations
FY2010
on Appropriations
on Appropriations
Specific
2008 (P.L. 110-161); Act, 2009 (P.L. 111-
America
FY2010
Authorized
Supplemental
8); American
COMPETES Act
President’s Budget
(NIST and NSF
Budgets in the
Appropriations Act,
Recovery and
(P.L. 110-69)
Request
only)
America
2008 (P.L. 110-
Reinvestment Act
Authorization of
COMPETES Act
252))
(ARRA; P.L. 111-5)
Appropriation
Department of

Education
Teachers for a
*0.98 *1.1 151.2 1.1

Competitive
Tomorrow:
Baccalaureate
Degrees (Sec.
6113, 6115, 6116)
[NEW]
Teachers for a
*0.98 *1.1 125.0 1.1

Competitive
Tomorrow:
Master’s
Degrees (Sec.
6114-6116) [NEW]
Advanced
Not Included
*0.0
Such sums as may be
0.0
Placement and

necessary
International
Baccalaureate
Programs (Sec.
6121-6123) [NEW]
Math Now (Sec.
*0.0
*0.0
Such sums as may be
Not Included

6201) [NEW]
necessary

Summer Term
Not Included
Not Included
Such sums as may be
Not Included

Education

necessary

Programs (Sec.
6202) [NEW]
Math Skills for
Not Included
Not Included
95.0 Not
Included

Secondary

School Students
(Sec. 6203) [NEW]
CRS-15

FY2008
FY2009

FY2010
FY2010
Consolidated
Omnibus

House Committee
Senate Committee
Programs with
Appropriations Act,
Appropriations
FY2010
on Appropriations
on Appropriations
Specific
2008 (P.L. 110-161); Act, 2009 (P.L. 111-
America
FY2010
Authorized
Supplemental
8); American
COMPETES Act
President’s Budget
(NIST and NSF
Budgets in the
Appropriations Act,
Recovery and
(P.L. 110-69)
Request
only)
America
2008 (P.L. 110-
Reinvestment Act
Authorization of
COMPETES Act
252))
(ARRA; P.L. 111-5)
Appropriation
Advancing
Not Included
*0.0
Such sums as may be
Not Included

America
necessary

Through Foreign
Language
Partnership
Programh (Sec.
6301-6304) [NEW]
P-16 Alignment
Not Included
Not Includedi
Such sums as may be
Not Included

of Secondary

necessary

School Graduate
Requirements
with the
Demands of 21st
Century
Postsecondary
Endeavors and
Support for P-16
Education Data
Systems (Sec.
6401) [NEW]
Mathematics and
Not Included
Not Included
Such sums as may be
Not Included

Science

necessary

Partnership
Bonus Grants
(Sec. 6501) [NEW]
National Science
6,127.5
9,492.4
8,132.0 7,045.0 6936.5

Foundation (Sec.
(6,065.0 consolidated
(6,490.4 omnibus
7002)
+62.5 supplemental)
+3,002.0 ARRA)
Research and
4,844.0j
7,683.1
6,401.0 5,733.2 5642.1

Related
(4,821.5 consolidated
(5,183.1 omnibus
Activities
(R&RA)
+22.5 supplemental)
+2,500.0 ARRA)
CRS-16

FY2008
FY2009

FY2010
FY2010
Consolidated
Omnibus

House Committee
Senate Committee
Programs with
Appropriations Act,
Appropriations
FY2010
on Appropriations
on Appropriations
Specific
2008 (P.L. 110-161); Act, 2009 (P.L. 111-
America
FY2010
Authorized
Supplemental
8); American
COMPETES Act
President’s Budget
(NIST and NSF
Budgets in the
Appropriations Act,
Recovery and
(P.L. 110-69)
Request
only)
America
2008 (P.L. 110-
Reinvestment Act
Authorization of
COMPETES Act
252))
(ARRA; P.L. 111-5)
Appropriation
—Major Research
Not Included
*300.0
131.7 100.0 0.0

Instrumentation

(Not Included
(MRI) (Sec.
omnibus
7002/Sec. 7036)
+300.0 ARRA)

—Faculty Early
Not Included
Not Included
203.8 203.8
Not
Included

Career

Development
(CAREER)
(Sec.7002)
—Research
Not Included
Not Included
75.9 67.7
Not
Included

Experiences for

Undergraduates
(REU) (Sec.7002)
—Experimental
*120.0
133.0 147.8 147.1 147.1

Programs to
(115.0 consolidated
Stimulate
Competitive
+5.0k supplemental)
Research (EPSCoR)
(Sec.7002)
—Integrative
Not Included
Not Included
58.3 39.0
Not
Included

Graduate

Education and
Research
Traineeship/R&RA
(IGERT)
(Sec.7002)m
CRS-17

FY2008
FY2009

FY2010
FY2010
Consolidated
Omnibus

House Committee
Senate Committee
Programs with
Appropriations Act,
Appropriations
FY2010
on Appropriations
on Appropriations
Specific
2008 (P.L. 110-161); Act, 2009 (P.L. 111-
America
FY2010
Authorized
Supplemental
8); American
COMPETES Act
President’s Budget
(NIST and NSF
Budgets in the
Appropriations Act,
Recovery and
(P.L. 110-69)
Request
only)
America
2008 (P.L. 110-
Reinvestment Act
Authorization of
COMPETES Act
252))
(ARRA; P.L. 111-5)
Appropriation
—Graduate
Not Included
Not Included
11.1 19.4 *33.4

Research

Fellowship/R&RA
(GRF) (Sec.7002)
—Professional
Not Included
15.0n
15.0 0.0
Not Included

Science Master’s
(Not Included

Degree Program
omnibus
(Sec. 7002/7034)
[NEW]
+15.0 ARRA)

Education and
765.6
945.3
1,104.0 857.8 862.9

Human
(725.6 consolidated
(845.3 omnibus
Resources (EHR)
+40.0 supplemental)
+100.0 ARRA)
—Mathematics and
Not Included
86.0
123.2 58.2 *61.0

Science Education

(*61.0 omnibus

Partnership (MSP)
(Sec.7002/7028)
+*25.0 ARRA)
—Robert Noyce
*55.0
115.0
140.5 55.0 65.0

Teacher
(15.0 consolidated
(55.0l omnibus
Scholarship
Program
+40.0o supplemental)
+*60.0 ARRA)
(Sec.7002/7030)
—Science,
Not Included
Not Included
55.0 31.5p *34.1

Mathematics,

Engineering, and
Technology Talent
Expansion
(Sec.7002/7025)
—Advanced
Not Included
Not Included
64.0 64.0 22.4

Technological

Education (ATE)
(Sec.7002)
CRS-18

FY2008
FY2009

FY2010
FY2010
Consolidated
Omnibus

House Committee
Senate Committee
Programs with
Appropriations Act,
Appropriations
FY2010
on Appropriations
on Appropriations
Specific
2008 (P.L. 110-161); Act, 2009 (P.L. 111-
America
FY2010
Authorized
Supplemental
8); American
COMPETES Act
President’s Budget
(NIST and NSF
Budgets in the
Appropriations Act,
Recovery and
(P.L. 110-69)
Request
only)
America
2008 (P.L. 110-
Reinvestment Act
Authorization of
COMPETES Act
252))
(ARRA; P.L. 111-5)
Appropriation
—Integrative
Not Included
Not Included
33.4 29.9
Not
Included

Graduate

Education and
Research
Traineeship/EHR
(IGERT)
(Sec.7002)m
—Graduate
Not
Included *107.0 119.0 102.6
Not
Included

Research

Fellowship/EHR
(GRF) (Sec.7002)
Major Research
220.7 552.0 280.0 117.3 114.3

Equipment and
(152.0 omnibus
Facilities
Construction
+400.0 ARRA)
(Sec.7002)
Agency
281.8 294.0 329.5 318.4 299.9

Operations and
Award
Management
(Sec.7002)
National Science
4.0 4.0 4.3 4.3 4.3

Board (Sec.7002)
Inspector
11.4 14.0 13.2 14.0 13.0

General
(12.0 omnibus
(Sec.7002)
+2.0 ARRA)
Laboratory
Not Included
Not Included
Such sums as may be
Not Included
Not Included

Science Pilot

necessary

Program (Sec.
7026) [NEW]
Source: America COMPETES Act (P.L. 110-69); Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (P.L. 111-8) and explanatory statement; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 (P.L. 111-5); H.Rept. 111-16 and joint explanatory statement. For FY2008, information is from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (P.L. 110-161) and joint
CRS-19

explanatory statement; Congressional Record, December 17, 2007; Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (P.L. 110-252); H.Rept. 110-240; S.Rept. 110-124; H.Rept. 110-
231; and S.Rept. 110-107. FY2010 budget documents for the following agencies: NIST budget summary at http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/approps-summary2008-
2010.htm; ED budget justification at http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/budget10/justifications/index.html; DOE detailed budget justification (Volume 3 – ARPA-E;
Volume 4- Science) at http://www.cfo.doe.gov/budget/10budget/Start.htm#Detailed%20Budget%20Justifications; and NSF budget request at http://www.nsf.gov/about/
budget/fy2010/toc.jsp. Information in FY2010 House Committee on Appropriations column is from H.R. 2847 and H.Rept. 111-149.
Notes: Section numbers refer to the America COMPETES Act. “[NEW]” means a program that was not authorized prior to the America COMPETES Act. “Not Included”
means that these programs were not specifically identified in the budget request, bill, act, or report, but it does not necessarily mean no funding is being provided for those
programs. * = as recommended in the committee’s report associated with that bill. All other appropriations are numbers from bill language.
a. The following statement is in the Consolidated Appropriations Act joint explanatory statement: “Of the amounts provided to ITS [Industrial Technology Services],
$65,200,000 is for the Technology Innovation Program as authorized by P.L. 110-69 [the America COMPETES Act]. TIP is structured to fund high-risk, high reward
research focused on broad national needs such as advanced automotive batteries, aquaculture, novel lightweight materials, and other emerging technologies. The
funding provided for TIP will address mortgage obligations relating to projects created under the Advanced Technology Program (ATP). The amended bill also includes
language to al ow the TIP immediate access to an additional $5,000,000 from deobligations and prior-year recoveries from ATP.”
b. According to a personal communication between CRS and OSTP, the Obama Administration contends that Summer Institutes correspond to the pre-existing DOE
Academies Creating Teacher Scientists program (DOE ACTS).
c. The P.L. 111-8 explanatory statement provides $4,772.6 million for science at DOE with $15.0 million of that total for the organizational y separate Advanced
Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) and the remainder for DOE Office of Science Activities.
d. According to a personal communication between CRS and OSTP, the Obama Administration contends that Early Career Awards for Science, Engineering, and
Mathematics Researchers correspond to pre-existing High Energy Physics Outstanding Junior Investigator, Nuclear Physics Outstanding Junior Investigator, Fusion
Energy Sciences Plasma Physics Junior Faculty Development; Advanced Scientific Computing Research Early Career Principle Investigator; and the Office of Science
Early Career Scientist and Engineer Award programs.
e. The Secretary of Energy can decide to establish up to three institutes per fiscal year. Each institute could receive $10 million per year for three fiscal years.
f.
According to a personal communication between CRS and OSTP, the Obama Administration contends that Discovery Science and Engineering Innovation Institutes
correspond with pre-existing Bioenergy Research Centers, SciDAC Institutes, and Energy Frontier Research Centers.
g. According to a personal communication between CRS and OSTP, the Obama Administration contends that the Protecting America’s Competitive Edge (PACE)
Graduate Fel owship Program corresponds to pre-existing Computer Science Graduate Fel owships; Graduate Research Environmental Fellowships; American
Meteorological Society/Industry/Government Graduate Fellowships; Spallation Neutron Source Instrumentation Fellowships, and the Fusion Energy Sciences Graduate
Fellowships.
h. The title for this program in the America COMPETES Act is the Foreign Language Partnership Program. The table uses the title for this program from the ED FY2009
congressional budget justification to help distinguish it from other ED foreign language programs such as the existing Foreign Language Assistance program.
i.
P.L. 111-5 indicates that part of the funding provided to States for Institutions of Higher Education as part of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (Title XIV) should be
used for “IMPROVING COLLECTION AND USE OF DATA.—The State will establish a longitudinal data system that includes the elements described in section
6401(e)(2)(D) of the America COMPETES Act (20 U.S.C. 9871).” In addition, the State “will take steps to improve State academic content standards and student
academic achievement standards consistent with 6401(e)(1)(A)(i ) of the America COMPETES Act.” No specific appropriation is noted for either purpose. Section
6401 of the America COMPETES Act addresses the “Alignment of secondary school graduate requirements with the demands of 21st century postsecondary
endeavors and support for P-16 education systems.” With that Section, subsection (e)(2)(D) provides required elements of a statewide P-16 education data system
such as demographic information, yearly test records, teacher identification information, and student-level transcripts and college readiness test scores. Section
(e)(1)(A)(i ) discusses the use of grant funds for “identifying and making changes that need to be made to the State’s secondary school graduation requirements,
academic content standards, academic achievement standards, and assessments preceding graduation from secondary school in order to align requirements, standards,
CRS-20

and assessments with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in academic credit-bearing coursework in postsecondary education, in the 21st century workforce,
and in the Armed Forces without the need for remediation.”
j.
The following statement is in the Consolidated Appropriations Act joint explanatory statement: ”The Appropriations Committees strongly support increases for the
math and physical sciences, computer sciences, and engineering directorates in fiscal year 2008 for research and related activities (R&RA). However, the Committees
also believe the Foundation should maintain comparable growth in fiscal year 2008, to the extent possible, for the biological sciences and social, behavioral and
economic sciences directorates. Each of the science disciplines is valuable in maintaining U.S. competitiveness. The Committees urge NSF to provide each directorate
with funding levels that are consistent with the goals of the America COMPETES Act and look forward to the Foundation’s operating plan in addressing these
concerns.”
k. Although included in the FY2008 supplemental appropriation, the act specifies a section in the America COMPETES Act authorizing funding for the FY2009 EPSCoR
program.
l.
The explanatory statement indicates that “The increase provided in the bill for the Noyce Program is for the purpose of expanding participation in the grants program
established in section10 and section 10A of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1) as amended by the America COMPETES
Act.”
m. Two directorates of the NSF manage the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program—the Education and Human Resources
Directorate (EHR) and the Research and Related Activities (R&RA) directorate. The America COMPETES Act and the NSF budget request both identify the al ocations
for each directorate.
n. The America COMPETES Act provides the authorization amount within R&RA; however, the explanatory language for P.L. 111-5 places the program within EHR.
o. Of this $40 million, $20 million is for the general Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, and $20 million is for the NSF Teaching Fel owships and Master
Teaching Fel owships that are part of the Noyce program.
p. An additional $1 million is proposed for the R&RA portion of the program. According to NSF’s budget request, “The STEP Program seeks to increase the number of
students receiving degrees in established or emerging fields within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Awards are made both to provide for
implementation efforts at academic institutions and to support research degree attainment in STEM. The America Competes Act authorized the establishment of
centers within this program, to be jointly funded with one or more disciplinary directorates, to explore fundamental changes in undergraduate practice that promise to
significantly improve recruitment and retention of students, and lead to improvement in their learning. The $1.83 million increase will permit the establishment of two
additional centers in FY 2010 in col aboration with the R&RA Directorates.“

CRS-21

America COMPETES Act and the FY2010 Budget

Author Contact Information

Deborah D. Stine

Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
dstine@crs.loc.gov, 7-8431

Congressional Research Service
22