America COMPETES Act and the
FY2010 Budget
John F. Sargent Jr.
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
January 29, 2010
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 intended to address two
concerns believed to influence U.S. competitiveness: the adequacy of R&D funding to generate
sufficient technological progress, and the adequacy of the number 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 the rate of increase provided for in the act were
maintained, funding for these agencies would double, in nominal terms, in seven years. The act
establishes the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) within DOE to support
transformational energy technology research projects to enhance U.S. economic and energy
security. A new program, Discovery Science and Engineering Innovation Institutes, is intended to
support the establishment of multidisciplinary institutes at DOE national laboratories to apply
fundamental science and engineering discoveries to technological innovations.
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 the existing NSF Robert Noyce Teacher
Scholarship 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 STEM knowledge. 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 provides authorization levels through FY2010. New programs
established by the act will not be initiated, and authorized increases in appropriations for existing
programs will not occur, unless funded through 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 agency’s 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.
Congress has completed action on the regular FY2010 appropriations acts, providing funding for
some programs authorized under the American COMPETES Act through two acts. Some America
COMPETES Act research and STEM education programs received appropriations at authorized
levels in FY2010, others did not. FY2010 funding for programs at the Department of Commerce,
National Science Foundation, and Department of Education is provided by the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-117). Funding for Department of Energy programs is
provided by the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
(P.L. 111-85). Several programs newly authorized in the act have never been appropriated funds,
nor did President Obama seek funding for them in his FY2010 budget request. Congress is
considering reauthorizing the America COMPETES Act.
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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
The President’s FY2010 Budget Request..................................................................................... 3
Research ............................................................................................................................... 3
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education............................... 4
Congressional Actions................................................................................................................. 6
Budget Resolution................................................................................................................. 6
Appropriations Status............................................................................................................ 7
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies ......................................................... 8
Energy and Water Development .................................................................................... 10
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies ........................... 11
Issues for Congress ................................................................................................................... 11

Figures
Figure 1. Obama Administration Plan for Science and Innovation, FY2006-2016 ........................ 3
Figure 2. President Obama’s FY2010 Budget Request for STEM Education Programs ................ 5
Figure 3. Comparison of America COMPETES Act Authorizations and
Appropriated/Requested Funding for Selected Agencies/Offices/Accounts ............................... 6

Tables
Table 1. America COMPETES Act Programs and Appropriations Status.................................... 12

Contacts
Author Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 21

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 to foster U.S. competitiveness.
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.1 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 about the potential erosion of U.S.
industrial competitiveness and global technological leadership. Many believe that investments in
science and engineering research, STEM education, and STEM workforce development can
contribute to U.S. competitiveness. The act mainly addresses concerns about the adequacy of
investment in these areas.
The America COMPETES Act authorizes an increase in federal science and engineering research
funding and support for STEM education from kindergarten through the postdoctoral level. The
act authorizes funding increases through FY2010 for the National Science Foundation (NSF), the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratories,2 and the Department of
Energy Office of Science (DOE SC). The act also authorizes within DOE the establishment of the
Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E)3 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 levels for
several existing NSF STEM education programs.
The America COMPETES Act is an authorization act. New programs authorized by the act will
not be established unless funded through subsequent appropriations acts. Similarly, realization of
the higher authorization levels of existing programs in the act depends on subsequent
appropriations.
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 their FY2008 authorized levels, the 110th Congress did provide FY2008

1 This report was originally written by Deborah D. Stine.
2 The NIST laboratories are funded under the Scientific and Technical Research and Services (STRS) account.
3 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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appropriations to establish ED’s Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow program, and NIST’s
Technology Improvement Program (TIP), which replaced the agency’s Advanced Technology
Program.
The 111th Congress provided funding in FY2009 for R&D and STEM education through the
Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (P.L. 111-8) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act (P.L. 111-5). Some America COMPETES Act programs were funded at authorized levels;
others were not. The following activities were funded at or above authorized levels:
• NIST’s Scientific & Technical Research and Services (STRS) and Construction
and Maintenance;
• DOE’s Office of Science; and
• NSF’s Research and Related Activities, Major Research Instrumentation, Major
Research Equipment and Facilities Construction, Professional Science Master’s
program, Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program, and Graduate Research
Fellowship program.
Other programs were funded either below authorized levels or not funded. The acts funded the
establishment of DOE’s ARPA-E and NSF’s PSM program. Also, portions of the P-16 Alignment
of Secondary School Graduation Requirements with the Demands of 21st Century Postsecondary
Endeavors and Support for P-16 Education Data Systems were funded through the ARRA.
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 the 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) to the 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 the 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.4

4 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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The President’s FY2010 Budget Request
This section provides an overview of President Obama’s FY2010 budget request for research and
STEM education activities as they relate to the America COMPETES Act. Table 1 (located at the
end of this report) provides a program-specific comparison of the President’s FY2010 budget
request, America COMPETES Act authorization levels, and congressional actions.
Research
The President’s FY2010 budget request stated that the President planned to double funding for the
NSF, NIST laboratories, and DOE SC between 2006 and 2016 (see Figure 1). President Obama’s
proposed plan is consistent with President Bush’s American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI)5
which also sought to double these agencies’ budgets over 10 years. President Obama’s plan
proposes a slower doubling path than that laid out in the America COMPETES Act which placed
these same agencies on a track to double their budgets over seven years.6
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, The White House, 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/
gal eries/budget/FY2010RD.pdf.
Notes: 2006-2009 figures are enacted budget authority; 2011-2016 figures are projections in the 2010 budget.

5 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.
6 Both the America COMPETES Act and President Obama seek to double the research budgets of these agencies in
nominal terms, i.e., not in inflation adjusted terms.
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President Obama’s FY2010 request for NSF’s Research and Related Activities (R&RA) was
$5,733.2 million, $667.8 million below the authorized level of $6,401.0 million. Within the
R&RA account, the President requested funding at the authorized level of $203.8 million for the
NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program. The President’s FY2010 request
also included $147.1 million for NSF’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research
(EPSCoR), similar to its authorized level of $147.8 million. The request also included $19.4
million for R&RA’s portion of NSF’s Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) program, above its
authorized level of $11.1 million, though 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 was requested for NSF’s Professional Science Master’s (PSM)
program, newly established in FY2009 through ARRA funding.
President Obama’s FY2010 request for DOE SC was $4,941.7 million, below the authorization
level of $5,814.0 million. In addition, the President requested $10.0 million in FY2010 for DOE’s
ARPA-E. Congress appropriated $415.0 million for ARPA-E in FY2009 ($15.0 million as part of
the regular FY2009 appropriation and $400.0 million under the ARRA). The America
COMPETES Act authorizes “such sums as are necessary” for ARPA-E in FY2010.
President Obama’s FY2010 request for NIST STRS was $534.6 million, $50.2 million below the
authorization level of $584.8 million. The President requested FY2010 funding of $69.9 million
for the NIST TIP program, less than half the authorization level of $140.5 million. The FY2010
request for MEP was $124.7 million, $7.1 million below the authorization level of $131.8 million.
The President’s FY2010 request for the NIST construction and maintenance account was $116.9
million, more than double the authorization level of $49.7 million.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
Education
President Obama did not request funding in FY2010 to establish the new STEM education
programs authorized in the America COMPETES Act. Although no new funding was requested
for America COMPETES Act STEM education programs at ED, the President’s request funded
ED’s Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow program at its FY2009 enacted level of $2.2 million.
The President requested funding for NSF’s Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program at
its authorized level of $64 million. The President’s request for each of the other NSF STEM
programs was below the America COMPETES Act FY2010 authorization levels. No funding was
requested for the NSF Laboratory Science Pilot program which was authorized by the act “to
improve laboratories and provide instrumentation as part of a comprehensive program to enhance
the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics instruction at the secondary
school level.” The President requested no funding for any of the DOE STEM education programs
authorized under the America COMPETES Act.
However, as shown in Figure 2, the President requested funding for other STEM education
programs not part of the America COMPETES Act. For example, the President proposed 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, requesting DOE funding of $115.0 million. As a point of comparison, the total FY2010
authorization level for all the DOE STEM education programs authorized in the America
COMPETES Act was $117.5 million.
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Figure 2. President Obama’s FY2010 Budget Request for STEM Education Programs
Budget Authority in Millions

Source: Office of Science and Technology Policy, The White House, 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/
gal eries/budget/FY2010RD.pdf.
Notes: (1) Based on preliminary al ocations 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.
Also, although the appropriation levels requested by the President for these agencies were below
that authorized in the America COMPETES Act for FY2010, some analysts noted that the total
funds appropriated in FY2008 (regular and supplemental) and FY2009 (regular and ARRA) and
requested for FY2010 by the President for NSF and the NIST laboratories and construction
accounts exceed the aggregate funding authorized for these agencies/accounts during this period
under the America COMPETES Act. For DOE SC, the appropriated/requested funding was
slightly below the authorization level for this period. As shown in Figure 3, the total
authorization for NSF under the America COMPETES Act for FY2006-FY2008 was $22,058
million, while the total appropriated/requested was $22,665 million, $607 million above the
aggregate authorized level. The total authorization for the NIST STRS and Construction accounts
during this period was $1,916 million, while the funding appropriated/requested was $2,477
million, $561 million above the authorized level. For DOE SC, the total authorized for this period
was $15,600 million, while the total appropriated/requested was $15,335 million, $265 million
below the authorized level.
However, examining the FY2010 figures separately shows the President’s FY2010 budget request
for NSF to have been $1,087 million below the America COMPETES Act authorization level, and
$872 million below the authorization level for DOE SC. The President’s NIST
STRS/Construction request for FY2010 was $17 million more than the FY2010 America
COMPETES Act authorization level. If Congress chooses to remain on the seven-year doubling
path for research initiated by the America COMPETES Act, large dollar and percentage increases
would be required in FY2011 for NSF and DOE SC.
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Figure 3. Comparison of America COMPETES Act Authorizations and
Appropriated/Requested Funding for Selected Agencies/Offices/Accounts
(in millions of dollars)
25,000
FY2010
20,000
FY2009
FY2008
15,000
10,000
5,000
-
America
Appropriations/
America
Appropriations/
America
Appropriations/
COMPETES Act
Request
COMPETES Act
Request
COMPETES Act
Request
Authorization
Authorization
Authorization
DOE
NIST STRS and
National Science Foundation
Office of Science
Construction & Maintenance

Source: Congressional Research Service.
Notes: DOE = 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 inflation into account.
Congressional Actions
Following release of the President’s FY2010 budget request, Congress passed a budget resolution
that sets the budgetary spending amounts for each functional category of the budget.7 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.8
Budget Resolution
In April 2009, the House and Senate agreed to the concurrent budget resolution (S.Con.Res. 13),
which stated, in part:

7 CRS Report 97-684, The Congressional Appropriations Process: An Introduction, by Sandy Streeter.
8 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.
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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 Status
In both the House and Senate, jurisdiction for funding the programs addressed by the America
COMPETES Act is divided among multiple appropriations subcommittees.9 As a result, funding
for these programs was contained in multiple FY2010 regular appropriations bills, adding to the
complexity Congress faces in addressing these programs as part of a single initiative, as well as in
tracking program funding. Table 1 summarizes the FY2010 appropriations status of the America
COMPETES Act programs.
Appropriations for America COMPETES Act programs are included in three regular
appropriations bills:
• Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS), for NSF and NIST
programs;
• Energy and Water Development (Energy-Water), for DOE programs;
• Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-
HHS-Education), for ED programs.
Typically, the appropriations subcommittees in the House and Senate review the President’s
budget request and each provides recommendations to its respective Committee on
Appropriations.10 The following sections summarize final FY2010 appropriations for America
COMPETES Act programs.

9 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.
10 For additional information on the appropriations process, see CRS Report 97-684, The Congressional Appropriations
(continued...)
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Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
The House approved the CJS Act (H.R. 2847) on June 18, 2009. The Senate Committee on
Appropriations CJS subcommittee made its report (S.Rept. 111-34) providing funding
recommendations to the full committee on June 24, 2009. The Senate Appropriations Committee
reported the bill on June 25, 2009. Ultimately, regular appropriations for FY2010 for activities
funded in the CJS Appropriations Act were included as Division B in the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-117), which was signed into law on December 16, 2009.
National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce
Scientific and Technical Research Services. P.L. 111-117 includes $515.0 million for the NIST
STRS account for FY2010, $43.0 million (9.1%) above the FY2009 regular appropriation ($472.0
million), below the President’s request ($534.6 million), and below the America COMPETES Act
FY2010 authorization level ($584.8 million).
Construction and Maintenance. Funding for the NIST Construction and Maintenance account
for FY2010 is $147.0 million, above the President’s request ($116.9 million) and the America
COMPETES Act FY2010 authorization level ($49.7 million), but $25.0 million (14.5%) below
the FY2009 regular appropriation ($172.0 million).
Technology Innovation Program. The NIST TIP program is funded at $69.9 million in FY2010,
equal to the President’s request, $4.9 million (7.5%) above the FY2009 regular appropriation
($65.0 million), but less than half the America COMPETES Act FY2010 authorization level
($140.5 million).
Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The NIST MEP program is funded at $124.7 million for
FY2010, equal to the President’s request, $14.7 million (13.4%) above the FY2009 regular
appropriation ($110.0 million), but below the America COMPETES Act FY2010 authorization
level ($131.8 million).
National Science Foundation
Research and Related Activities. FY2010 funding for the NSF R&RA account is $5,617.9,
$115.3 million (2.0%) below the President’s request ($5,733.2 million), $434.8 million (8.4%)
above the FY2009 regular appropriation ($5,183.1 million), but $783.1 million (12.2%) below the
America COMPETES Act FY2010 authorization level of $6,401.0 million.
Several America COMPETES Act programs included in the President’s budget under the R&RA
account were not included11 in P.L. 111-117, including: Faculty Early Career Development,
Research Experiences for Undergraduates, Integrative Graduate Education and Research
Traineeship (R&RA portion), and Graduate Research Fellowship (R&RA portion) programs.

(...continued)
Process: An Introduction, by Sandy Streeter.
11 As used in this report, “not included” means that these programs were not specifically identified in the bill or report,
but it does not necessarily mean no funding is being provided for these programs.
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The President requested $100 million for the Major Research Instrumentation program for
FY2010. Funding is not included in P.L. 111-117 for this program. The report accompanying the
House passed version of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations
Act, 2010 (H.Rept. 111-149) stated that no funds were being provided for the Major Research
Instrumentation program due to new solicitations in FY2009 totaling $400 million but expects to
resume funding in FY2011; the Senate report stated that “The Committee expects the NSF to
fully fund world-class scientific research facilities and instruments” commensurate with the
increase in the number of research grants that it anticipates will result from increased FY2009
funding.
With respect to the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCOR),
funding is provided at the requested level of $147.1 million, approximately equal to the
authorized level. The President did not request funds for the Professional Science Master’s
Degree Program, authorized at $15.0 million, and no funds are included in P.L. 111-117; S.Rept.
111-34 stated that “the Committee strongly encourages NSF to continue support” for the PSM
program and “strongly recommends that NSF incorporate requests for funding in fiscal year 2011
budget and beyond.”
Funding for the Graduate Research Fellowship program is not included in P.L. 111-117. The
House report stated that an additional $14.0 million was provided in the House bill above the
President’s request (for a total of $33.4 million) to enable NSF to select and support 2,000 new
fellows in FY2010; neither the Senate bill nor its accompanying report referenced the program.
Education and Human Resources. P.L. 111-117 provides $872.8 million for the NSF EHR
account, $72.5 million (3.3%) above the FY2009 regular appropriation ($845.3 million), $15.0
million (1.7%) above the President’s request ($857.8 million), and $231.2 million (20.9%) less
than the America COMPETES Act FY2010 authorization level of $1,104.0 million.
The America COMPETES Act provided appropriations authorizations for six EHR programs.
While P.L. 111-117 only specifies the funding level for the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship
Program, the conference report (H.Rept. 111-366) indicates that the act fully funds the President’s
request (as well as providing $15 million for activities not covered by the America COMPETES
Act) which was made at the following levels: Mathematics and Science Education Partnership,
$58.2 million; Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, $55.0 million; Science, Mathematics,
Engineering, and Technology Talent Expansion, $31.5 million; Advanced Technological
Education, $64.0 million; Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship, $29.9
million; and Graduate Research Fellowship, $102.6 million.
Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction. P.L. 111-117 provides $117.3 million
for the NSF MREFC account, equal to the President’s request, $34.7 million (22.8%) below the
FY2009 regular appropriation ($152.0 million), and less than half the level authorized under the
America COMPETES Act ($280.0 million).
Agency Operation and Award Management. P.L. 111-117 provides $300 million for the NSF
Agency Operation and Award Management account, $6.0 million (2.0%) above the FY2009
regular appropriation ($294.0 million), $18.4 million less than the President’s request ($318.4
million), and $29.5 million less than authorized under the America COMPETES Act ($329.5
million).
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National Science Board. P.L. 111-117 provides $4.5 million for the National Science Board, $0.5
million (12.5%) above the FY2009 regular appropriation ($4.0 million), and $0.2 million more
than the President’s request ($4.3 million) and the amount authorized under the America
COMPETES Act ($4.3 million).
Inspector General. P.L. 111-117 provides $14.0 million for the NSF Inspector General, $2.0
million (16.7%) above the FY2009 regular appropriation ($12.0 million), equal to the President’s
request ($14.0 million), and $0.8 million (6.1%) above the level authorized in the America
COMPETES Act ($13.2 million).
Energy and Water Development
P.L. 111-85, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010,
was signed into law on October 28, 2009.
Department of Energy
Office of Science. P.L. 111-85 provides $4,903.7 million for the Office of Science, $146.1 million
(3.1%) above the FY2009 regular appropriation ($4,757.6 million), $38.0 million (0.8%) less than
the President’s request ($4,941.7 million), and $910.3 million (15.7%) below the level authorized
in the America COMPETES Act ($5,814.0 million).
Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). P.L. 111-85 provides no funds for
the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy in FY2010. The report accompanying the
House-passed version of the bill (H.Rept. 111-203) states that funding provided in the FY2009
regular appropriation ($15.0 million) and in the ARRA ($400.0 million) will allow ARPA-E to
fund its first round of awards in FY2010, and adds: “The decision not to provide any additional
funding for ARPA–E in fiscal year 2010 beyond the funding already provided does not in any
way suggest a lack of commitment to this new program by the Committee.” The President had
requested $10.0 million for ARPA-E in FY2010.12
Other Department of Energy Programs Authorized Under the America COMPETES Act.
Twelve new DOE research and education programs authorized in the America COMPETES Act
have not been funded in previous years, received no request for funding in the President’s
FY2010 budget, and are not included in P.L. 111-85. They include: Pilot Program of Grants to
Specialty Schools for Science and Mathematics; Experiential Based Learning Opportunities;
Summer Institutes; National Energy Education Development; Nuclear Science Program
Expansion Grants for Institutions of Higher Education; Nuclear Science Competitiveness Grants
for Institutions of Higher Education; Hydrocarbon Systems Science Program Expansion Grants
for Institutions of Higher Education; Hydrocarbon Systems Science Competitiveness Grants for
Institutions of Higher Education; Early Career Awards for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics
Researchers; Discovery Science and Engineering Innovation Institutes; Protecting America’s
Competitive Edge (PACE) Graduate Fellowship Program; and Distinguished Scientist Program.
Total authorized FY2010 funding for these programs under the America COMPETES Act

12 The President’s request for ARPA-E is referred to as the “Energy Transformation Acceleration Fund” in DOE’s
budget request.
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exceeds $200 million. White House officials have stated that several of these programs are similar
to existing programs that receive support in the President’s budget.13
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
The Labor-HHS Act (H.R. 3293) was included as Division D of the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-117). P.L. 111-117 was signed into law on December 16, 2009.
Department of Education
Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Programs. P.L. 111-117 provides $45.8
million for the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Programs, $2.3 million
(5.3%) more than the President’s FY2010 request. The America COMPETES Act authorizes
“such sums as may be necessary.”
Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow. P.L. 111-117 provides $1.1 million for the Teachers for
a Competitive Tomorrow: Baccalaureate Degrees and $1.1 million for the Teachers for a
Competitive Tomorrow: Master’s Degrees programs, both equal to the President’s request and to
their FY2009 funding level. The America COMPETES Act FY2010 authorization level for these
programs is $151.2 million for the baccalaureate level and $125.0 million for the master’s level.
Other Department of Education Programs Authorized Under the America COMPETES
Act. P.L. 111-117 does not provide funding for five new Department of Education programs
authorized in the America COMPETES Act: Math Now, Summer Term Education Programs,
Math Skills for Secondary School Students, Advancing America Through Foreign Language
Partnership Program, and Mathematics and Science Partnership Bonus Grants. These programs
were not funded in previous years and received no request for funding in the President’s FY2010
budget. Funding for a sixth program authorized under the America COMPETES Act, P-16
Alignment of Secondary School Graduation Requirements with the Demands of 21st Century
Postsecondary Endeavors and Support for P-16 Education Data Systems, is ambiguous.
According to the Department of Education, this program is similar to a program established in
2005 focused on P-12 data systems, but which has since expanded to include P-16 education data
systems per the intent of the America COMPETES Act.14 The America COMPETES Act
authorizes $95 million in FY2010 for the Math Skills for Secondary School Students program and
“such sums as may be necessary” for each of the other programs.
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 new programs authorized in
the act have never been funded. 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 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.
14 Private communication between CRS and the Department of Education, January 22, 2010.
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Table 1. America COMPETES Act Programs and Appropriations Status
(in millions of dollars)
Omnibus
Appropriations Act,
2009 (P.L. 111-8);
America
American Recovery
COMPETES Act
Programs with Specific
and Reinvestment
(P.L. 110-69)
Authorized Budgets in the
Act (ARRA; P.L. 111-
Authorization of
President’s
FY2010
America COMPETES Act
5)
Appropriation
Budget Request
House Passed
Senate Passed
Estimate

National Institute of Standards

and Technology (Sec. 3001)
—Scientific & Technical Research and
$692.0
$584.8 $534.6
$510.0
$520.3
$515.0
Services (STRS) (Sec. 3001)
(472.0 omnibus
+ 220.0 ARRA)
—Construction & Maintenance
532.0
49.7 116.9 76.5
163.9
147.0
(Sec. 3001)
(172.0 omnibus
+360.0 ARRA)
—Technology Innovation Program
65.0 140.5
69.9
69.9
69.9
69.9
(TIP) a (Sec. 3001/3012) [NEW]
—Manufacturing Extension
110.0 131.8
124.7
124.7
124.7
124.7
Partnership (MEP) (Sec. 3001/3003)
Department of Energy

DOE Science, Engineering and

Mathematics Programs
(Sec. 5003)
—Pilot Program of Grants to
0.0
30.0 0.0
0.0 0.0 0.0
Specialty Schools for Science and

Mathematics (Sec. 5003) [NEW]
—Experiential Based Learning
0.0
7.5 0.0
0.0 0.0 0.0
Opportunities (Sec. 5003) [NEW]

—Summer Institutesb (Sec. 5003)
Not Included
25.0
Not Included
Not Included
Not Included
Not Included
[NEW]

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America COMPETES Act and the FY2010 Budget

Omnibus
Appropriations Act,
2009 (P.L. 111-8);
America
American Recovery
COMPETES Act
Programs with Specific
and Reinvestment
(P.L. 110-69)
Authorized Budgets in the
Act (ARRA; P.L. 111-
Authorization of
President’s
FY2010
America COMPETES Act
5)
Appropriation
Budget Request
House Passed
Senate Passed
Estimate
—Graduate Research Fel owship/EHR
107.0 119.0
102.6
102.6
102.6
102.6
(GRF) (Sec.7002)
Major Research Equipment and
552.0
280.0 117.3
114.3
122.3
117.3
Facilities Construction (Sec.7002)
(152.0 omnibus,
+400.0 ARRA)
Agency Operations and Award
294.0 329.5
318.4
299.9
300.4
300.0
Management (Sec.7002)
National Science Board
4.0 4.3
4.3
4.3
4.3
4.5
(Sec.7002)
Inspector General (Sec.7002)
14.0
13.2 14.0
13.0
14.0
14.0
(12.0 omnibus
+2.0 ARRA)
Laboratory Science Pilot
0.0
Such sums as may be
Not Included
Not Included
Not included
Not included
Program (Sec. 7026) [NEW]

necessary
Sources: 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. FY2010 budget documents for the fol owing 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 column is from H.R. 2847, H.Rept. 111-149, H.R. 3183, H.Rept. 111-203,
H.R. 3293, H.Rept. 111-220, and House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, “FY 2010 Energy and Water Development
Appropriations,” at http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/EW_FY_2010_SubC_Summary_Table-06-25-2009.pdf. Information in Senate column is from S.Rept. 111-34, H.R.
3183, S.Rept. 111-45, H.R. 3293, and S.Rept. 111-66. Information in the “FY2010 Estimate” column is from P.L. 111-117, H.Rept. 111-266, P.L. 111-85, H.Rept. 111-278, and
telephone and e-mail communications with agency legislative liaison offices.
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 or as reported by the agencies
in their annual budget requests.
a. The following statement is in the FY2009 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
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America COMPETES Act and the FY2010 Budget

obligations relating to projects created under the Advanced Technology Program (ATP). The amended bill also includes language to allow
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). DOE ACTS received $4.1 million in FY2009; in
FY2010, the President requested and Congress appropriated $3.8 million.
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 organizationally
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 (HEP) 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.
The HEP Outstanding Junior Investigator Awards program received $0.8 million in FY2009 and $0.0 in FY2010. The Nuclear Physics
Outstanding Junior Investigator Awards program received $0.3 million in FY2009 and $0.0 in FY2010. The Fusion Energy Sciences Plasma
Physics Faculty Development Awards program received $1.0 million in FY2009 and $0.6 million in FY2010. The Advanced Scientific
Computing Research Early Career Principle Investigator Awards program received no funding in FY2009 and FY2010. The Office of
Science Early Career Scientist and Engineer Award program received $1.5 million in regular FY2009 appropriations, $85.0 million under
ARRA, and $1.8 million in FY2010.
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. Bioenergy Research Centers received $75.0 million in regular FY2009 appropriations, $13.5 million under ARRA, and
$75.0 million in FY2010. SciDAC Institutes received $8.2 million in FY2009 and $7.6 million in FY2010. Energy Frontier Research Centers
received $45.4 million in FY2009 and $45.4 million in FY2010.
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 program;
the DOE Office of Science Graduate Fel owships program; Applied Mathematics/High Performance Computer Science Fel owships
program; the Graduate Research Environmental Fel owships program; the American Meteorological Society Industry/Government
Graduate Fel owships program; and the Fusion Energy Sciences Graduate Fel owship program. The Computer Science Graduate
Fellowship program received $5.0 million in FY2009 and $6.0 million in FY2010. The American Meteorological Society
Industry/Government Graduate Fel owships program received no funding in FY2009 and FY2010. The Fusion Energy Sciences Graduate
Fellowships program received $0.8 million in FY2009 and $0.9 million in FY2010. The DOE Office of Science Graduate Fellowships
program received $0.1 million in regular FY2009 appropriations, $12.5 million under ARRA, and $5.0 million in FY2010. The Applied
Mathematics/High Performance Computer Science Fellowships program received no funding in FY2009 and $2.0 million in FY2010.
h. Note that the funding request for ARPA-E is listed as “Energy Transformation Acceleration Fund,” in DOE’s budget request.
i.
H.Rept. 111-203 states that funding provided in the FY2009 regular appropriation ($15.0 million) and in the ARRA ($400.0 million) will
al ow ARPA-E to fund its first round of awards in FY2010. In addition, the report clarifies the Committee’s commitment to the program:
“The decision not to provide any additional funding for ARPA–E in fiscal year 2010 beyond the funding already provided does not in any
way suggest a lack of commitment to this new program by the Committee.”
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America COMPETES Act and the FY2010 Budget

j.
Telephone communication with Department of Education, January 21, 2009.
k. 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.
l.
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 graduation 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)(ii) 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, 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.”
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. The Senate Committee on Appropriations CJS subcommittee states the fol owing in S.Rept. 111-34: “The Committee strongly encourages
NSF to continue support for the Professional Science Master’s [PSM] degree programs funded through the American Reinvestment and
Recovery Act (P.L. 111–5) as authorized in the America COMPETES Act (P.L. 110–69). To remain competitive in the global economy,
America needs to develop more expertise in STEM fields; the PSM provides a pathway for students with undergraduate degrees in STEM
fields and is a critical program for preparing future science professionals and leaders. The Committee strongly recommends that NSF
incorporate requests for funding in fiscal year 2011 budget and beyond.”
p. 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 section 10 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.”
q. 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.
r. 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.“
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America COMPETES Act and the FY2010 Budget

s. According to H.Rept. 111-149, “The recommendation supports continuation of al existing grants within the Advanced Technology
Education Program but does not support any new grants. The Committee recommends that future requests for this program of training
technicians to work in industry be made in more appropriated departments or agencies such as the Department of Education.”
t. Although no funds are specifical y designated for the Advanced Technological Education program, according to S.Rept. 111-34, “The
education and human resources appropriation supports a comprehensive set of programs across al levels of education in science,
technology, engineering and mathematics [STEM]. … Undergraduate activities … augment advanced technological education at 2-year
colleges.”

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America COMPETES Act and the FY2010 Budget

Author Contact Information

John F. Sargent Jr.

Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
jsargent@crs.loc.gov, 7-9147

Congressional Research Service
21