The National Institute of Standards and Technology: An Appropriations Overview

The National Institute of Standards and Technology: An Appropriations Overview

The National Institute of Standards and
Technology: An Appropriations Overview
Wendy H. Schacht
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
November 20, 2013
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
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The National Institute of Standards and Technology: An Appropriations Overview

Summary
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a laboratory of the Department of
Commerce, is mandated to provide technical services to facilitate the competitiveness of U.S.
industry. NIST is directed to offer support to the private sector for the development of pre-
competitive generic technologies and the diffusion of government-developed innovation to users
in all segments of the American economy. Laboratory research is to provide measurement,
calibration, and quality assurance techniques that underpin U.S. commerce, technological
progress, improved product reliability, manufacturing processes, and public safety.
Continued funding for NIST extramural programs directed toward increased private sector
commercialization has been a major issue. Some Members of Congress have expressed
skepticism over a “technology policy” based on providing federal funds to industry for
development of pre-competitive generic technologies. This approach, coupled with pressures to
balance the federal budget, led to significant reductions in funding for NIST. The Advanced
Technology Program (ATP) and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), which
accounted for over 50% of the FY1995 NIST budget, were proposed for elimination. In 2007,
ATP was terminated and replaced by the Technology Innovation Program (TIP). However,
funding for TIP was eliminated in the FY2012 appropriations legislation.
While much of the legislative debate has focused on ATP, TIP, and MEP, increases in spending for
the NIST laboratories that perform the research essential to the mission responsibilities of the
agency have tended to remain small. As part of the American Competitiveness Initiative,
announced by former President Bush in the 2006 State of the Union, the Administration stated its
intention to double over 10 years funding for “innovation-enabling research” done at NIST
through its “core” programs (defined as internal research in the Scientific and Technical Research
and Services [STRS] account and the construction budget). In April 2009, the current President
stated his decision to double the budget of key science agencies, including NIST, over the next 10
years. In President Obama’s FY2011 budget the timeframe for doubling slipped to 11 years; his
FY2012 budget was silent on a timeframe for doubling. There is no mention of doubling or a
timeframe in the FY2014 budget request. While additional funding has been forthcoming, it
remains to be seen how support for internal research and development (R&D) at NIST will
evolve and how this might affect financing of extramural efforts such as MEP. The dispensation
of funding for NIST programs may influence the way by which the federal government supports
technology development for commercial application.

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The National Institute of Standards and Technology: An Appropriations Overview

Contents
Mission and Background ................................................................................................................. 1
NIST Appropriations ........................................................................................................................ 3
Issues for Congress .......................................................................................................................... 9

Contacts
Author Contact Information........................................................................................................... 10

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The National Institute of Standards and Technology: An Appropriations Overview

Mission and Background
The National Institute of Standards and Technology, formerly the National Bureau of Standards
(NBS), was established by the NBS Organic Act of 1901 (P.L. 56-177) as a laboratory of the
Department of Commerce. Unlike most federal laboratories, NIST has a mission specified by
statute (15 U.S.C. 271-282a), has a separate authorization and appropriation, and is headed by a
Senate-confirmed presidential appointee.
Prior to 1988, the mission of NBS was to develop and maintain standards and measurement
support for scientific investigations, engineering, manufacturing, and commerce and educational
institutions, as well as to provide technical and advisory services to other government agencies on
scientific and engineering problems. The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (P.L.
100-418) changed the name of NBS to the National Institute of Standards and Technology and
mandated that the agency provide technical services to facilitate the competitiveness of U.S.
industry. NIST is directed to offer support to the private sector for the development of pre-
competitive generic technologies and the diffusion of government-developed innovation to users
in all segments of the American economy. Laboratory research is to provide measurement,
calibration, and quality assurance techniques that underpin U.S. commerce, technological
progress, improved product reliability, manufacturing processes, and public safety.
A dual approach is used to accomplish this mission. Research and development typically is
performed within the NIST laboratory facilities while two extramural initiatives, the Technology
Innovation Program (TIP) and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), are administered
by the organization.
The NIST in-house R&D effort, involving approximately 2,800 scientists, engineers, technicians,
and support personnel (plus some 1,800 visiting scientists from industry, academia, and other
government agencies and “1,400 affiliated field agents”), is conducted at laboratories in Maryland
and Colorado. Research is focused on measurement, evaluated data, standards, and test methods;
and basic “infrastructural technologies” that enable development of advanced technologies, and
which industry can use to characterize new materials, monitor production processes, and ensure
the quality of new product lines. Cooperative research with industry to overcome technical
barriers to commercialization of emerging technologies is a major component of the work at
NIST; the laboratory participates with U.S. companies in collaborative R&D programs in
numerous research areas.1 After an October 2010 realignment, there are six internal research
laboratories at NIST, including the Materials Measurement Laboratory; the Physical
Measurement Laboratory; the Engineering Laboratory; the Information Technology Laboratory;
the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology; and the Center for Neutron Research.
In response to what was perceived as the necessity of maintaining a strong manufacturing base,
Title V of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act (P.L. 100-418) “significantly expand[ed]
the role of NIST as the Government’s lead laboratory in support of U.S. industrial quality and
competitiveness.” To this end, NIST was given specific technology transfer functions as several
programs were created including the now terminated Advanced Technology Program (ATP),
Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology, and State Technology Extension.
These efforts were designed to facilitate industrial activities to utilize advanced process

1 Available at the National Institute of Standards and Technology website: http://www.nist.gov/.
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technology; to promote cooperative ventures among industry, universities, and government
laboratories; and to encourage shared risks, accelerated development, and increased skills.
Prior to its elimination in 2007, the Advanced Technology Program provided seed funding,
matched by private sector investment (generally 50% or more of costs), to companies or consortia
of universities, businesses, and government laboratories for development of generic technologies
that have broad application across industries.2 Awards, based on technical and business merit,
were made for high-risk work past the basic research stage but not yet ready for
commercialization. The first awards were made in 1991; 824 projects were funded.
The Technology Innovation Program3 was authorized to replace ATP in the America COMPETES
Act (P.L. 110-69) and funded in the FY2008 appropriations legislation. While similar to ATP in
the intent to promote high risk R&D that would be of broad economic benefit to the nation, under
TIP large firms were not eligible to receive grants. In addition, TIP permited universities to
qualify for grants if they are partnered with a small or medium-sized firm, whereas in the ATP
program universities participating in a joint venture could not be the direct recipient of an ATP
award. Support for TIP was substantially decreased in FY2011 such that no new project awards
were made; there is no funding for the program in the FY2012 appropriations legislation.
The original Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology were expanded in
1994 to include the State Technology Extension Program and are now known as the Hollings
Manufacturing Extension Partnership.4 NIST also assumed support of the 36 centers originally
funded by the Department of Defense through its Technology Reinvestment Project when funding
for this program was terminated in FY1994. This activity is designed to transfer expertise and
technologies developed under NIST programs to small and mid-sized U.S.-based manufacturing
firms. Funded through cooperative agreements with non-profit or state and local organizations,
competitive awards were originally made for up to six years (now extended). Non-federal sources
are required to provide 50% or more of each Center’s capital and costs during this time period.
P.L. 105-309 permits the federal government to support centers after the six years if a positive,
independent evaluation is made every two years. Federal funding is limited to one-third of the
capital and annual operating and maintenance costs of the center. Manufacturers are offered
expertise, needs evaluation, application demonstrations for new production technologies, training,
and information dissemination. Centers are located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico with
approximately 400 regional offices.
The America COMPETES Act authorized the creation of (but did not fund) several new
manufacturing programs to be administered by NIST including collaborative manufacturing
research pilot grants for partnerships between industry and other educational or research
institutions to develop new manufacturing processes, techniques, or materials; a manufacturing
fellowship program with stipends available for post-doctoral work at NIST; and a manufacturing
research database.
In October 2010, NIST announced $9.1 million in cooperative agreements for 22 projects
“designed to enhance the productivity, technological performance and global competitiveness of

2 For more information on ATP see CRS Report 95-36, The Advanced Technology Program, by Wendy H. Schacht.
3 See CRS Report RS22815, The Technology Innovation Program, by Wendy H. Schacht.
4 For more information on the MEP see CRS Report 97-104, Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program: An
Overview, by Wendy H. Schacht.
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U.S. manufacturers.”5 The funding was granted on a competitive basis to non-profit organizations
that will work with the MEP centers and address one or more of the areas that have been
identified by NIST as critical to U.S. manufacturing. These activities differ from the established
MEP effort in which no new manufacturing research is conducted and funded as existing
manufacturing technology is applied to the needs of small and medium-sized firms.
In July of 2013, NIST announced a new pilot program under MEP, Manufacturing Technology
Acceleration Centers (M-TACs), designed to address “the technical and business challenges
encountered by small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers as they attempt to adopt, integrate, and
execute advanced product and process technologies into their operations.”6 According to NIST,
two pilot projects are expected to be funded at approximately $500,000 each for one year.
That same month, NIST put out a solicitation under the Advanced Manufacturing Technology
Consortia Program (AMTech) for “grants to industry-led consortia to identify and prioritize
research projects addressing long-term U.S. industrial research needs.”7 The program “anticipates
awarding $4 million in two-year planning grants in fiscal year 2013” for between $250,000 and
$500,000.8
NIST Appropriations
Beginning in FY1991, the NIST budget experienced marked growth as Congress funded external
grant programs—the Advanced Technology Program and the Manufacturing Extension
Partnership—authorized by P.L. 100-418. However, the 104th Congress curtailed the expansion of
support for NIST and overall funding levels decreased 18% between FY1995 and FY1997. In
FY1998, the NIST budget again increased as P.L. 105-119 appropriated $677.9 million. Under
P.L. 105-277, NIST received $641.1 million in FY1999 funding, approximately 5% less than the
previous year. For FY2000, P.L. 106-113 provided NIST with $635.8 million after a mandated
rescission. P.L. 106-553 funded NIST at $598.3 million in FY2001. The following year, P.L. 107-
77 financed NIST at $674.5 million, an increase of 13% over the earlier figure.
The Bush Administration first offered a significant cut in support for MEP in the FY2003 budget.
The proposed 89% decline in MEP funding was due to the President’s recommendation that
centers in operation for more than six years do so without federal financing. However, P.L. 108-7
provided NIST with $707.5 million in FY2003 funds and maintained support for manufacturing
extension.
FY2004 appropriations of $610.7 million for NIST were included in P.L. 108-199. In-house R&D
under the Scientific and Technical Research and Services (STRS) account was funded at $337.2
million. Financing for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program decreased significantly

5 National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership Awards $9.1 Million for
22 Projects to Enhance U.S. Manufacturers’ Global Competitiveness, Press Release, October 5, 2010, available at
http://www.nist.gov/mep/upload/100410-MEP-Competition-press-release-FINAL.pdf.
6 Explaining AMTech, M-TAC and NNMI: New NIST Programs in Support of Advanced Manufacturing, available at
http://www.manufacturing.gov/docs/Explaining_AMTech_M-TAC_NNMI.pdf.
7 Ibid.
8 NIST AMTech Prrogram Announces Grants for Industry-led Consortia to Explore Issues Hampering Advanced
Manufacturing in U.S., available at http://www.nist.gov/director/amtech-072413.cfm.
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to $38.7 million. ATP received $170.5 million and construction totaled $64.2 million. The
following year, P.L. 108-447 provided NIST with funding of $695.3 million with MEP support
increased to pre-FY2004 levels at $107.5 million. The STRS account received $378.8 million,
ATP was financed at $136.5 million, and the construction budget totaled $72.5 million.
NIST appropriations totaled $752 million in FY2006. Support for the STRS account increased to
$394.8 million. MEP was funded at $104.6 million, while financing for ATP declined to $79
million. Construction more than doubled to $173.6 million. No final FY2007 appropriations
legislation was enacted until the 110th Congress passed P.L. 110-5, providing $676.9 million for
NIST. The STRS account increased to $434.4 million, construction support decreased to $58.7
million, while ATP was financed at $79.1 million and MEP received $104.7 million.
The Administration’s FY2008 budget request included $640.7 million for NIST, 5.3% below
FY2007, due primarily to the absence of financing for ATP and reduced support for MEP. The
STRS account would have received $500.5 million (including the Baldrige National Quality
Program) while funding for MEP would be reduced to $46.3 million. The construction budget
would have totaled $93.9 million.
The FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, provided NIST with $755.8 million, an increase of
11.7% over FY2007. Support for the STRS account increased 1.4% to $440.5 million (including
the Quality Program). The Technology Innovation Program, which replaced ATP, was
appropriated $65.2 million (with an additional $5 million from FY2007 ATP unobligated
balances), 17.6% below the previous fiscal year. Funding for MEP totaled $89.6 million, 14.4%
less than FY2007. Support for construction almost tripled to $160.5 million.
The Bush Administration’s original FY2009 budget request proposed $638 million in funding for
NIST. On June 6, 2008, the former President submitted a series of amendments to his budget
including a reduction of $2 million in the amount requested for NIST (from the MEP program).
The new request of $636 million was 15.9% below the earlier fiscal year due to an absence of
support for TIP and a significant decrease in financing MEP. Funding for the STRS account
(including the Quality Program) was to increase 21.5% to $535 million, while MEP would be
provided $2 million to close out the federally financed portion of the program. Construction
support would decline 38.3% to $99 million.
During the 110th Congress, H.R. 7322, as reported from House Committee on Appropriations,
would have funded NIST at $816.9 million, 8.1% above FY2008. The STRS account would have
increased 13.7% to $500.7 million while support for TIP at $65.2 million would remain constant
and MEP funding would increase 36.2% to $122.0 million. Construction spending was to
decrease 19.6% to $129.0 million. S. 3182, as reported by the Senate Committee on
Appropriations, would have provided $813.5 million for NIST, an increase of 7.6% over FY2008.
Included was $489.5 million for the STRS account (an 11.1% increase), $65.0 million for TIP,
and $110.0 million for MEP (a 22.8% increase). The construction budget would have declined
7.2% to $149.0 million.
No final FY2009 appropriations legislation was enacted by the close of the 110th Congress. P.L.
110-329, the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act,
2009, provided, in part, funding for NIST at FY2008 levels through March 6, 2009. In the current
Congress, P.L. 111-8, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, provided NIST with $819.0
million. The STRS account received a 7.2% increase to $472.0 million while support for MEP
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The National Institute of Standards and Technology: An Appropriations Overview

totaled $110.0 million (a 22.8% increase) and financing for TIP remained constant at $65.0
million. The $172.0 million for construction reflected a 7.2% increase in funding.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, P.L. 111-5, provided an extra $220.0
million for the STRS account to be used (in FY2009 and FY2010) for “research, competitive
grants, additional research fellowships and advanced research and measurement equipment and
supplies,” as noted in the Joint Explanatory Statement of the Committee on Conference. An
additional $360.0 million was included for construction, of which $180.0 million “shall be for the
competitive construction grant program for research science buildings.” The law also directed the
transfer of $20.0 million from the Health Information Technology initiative to NIST to “create
and test standards related to health security and interoperability in conjunction with partners at the
Department of Health and Human Services,” according to the Joint Statement.
The President’s FY2010 budget requested $846.1 million in funding for NIST, an increase of
3.3% over the FY2009 appropriation. Support for in-house research and development under the
STRS account would have increased by 13.3% to $534.6 million. The Manufacturing Extension
Program would have received $124.7 million, 13.4% more than FY2009, while financing for the
Technology Innovation Program was budgeted at $69.9 million, an increase of 7.5% over the
FY2009 appropriation. Construction funding would decline 32.0% to $116.9 million.
The original FY2010 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, H.R.
2847, as passed by the House, would have provided $781.1 million for NIST, 4.6% below
FY2009 funding (due primarily to decreased funding for construction). Included in this figure
was $510.0 million for the STRS account, 8.1% more than FY2009. The $124.7 million in
support for MEP represented a 13.4% increase while funding for TIP would increase 7.5% to
$69.9 million. Construction spending would have amounted to $76.5 million, a 55.5% decrease
from FY2009.
The version of H.R. 2847 passed by the Senate would have funded NIST at $878.8 million, 7.3%
above FY2009. Support for the STRS account totaled $520.3 million, an increase of 10.2% over
FY2009. Funding for MEP would increase 13.4% to $124.7 million and financing for TIP would
increase 7.5% to 69.9 million. The $163.9 million for construction represented a 4.7% decrease
from FY2009.
The final legislation, P.L. 111-117, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010, provided $856.6
million in funding for NIST, an increase of 4.6% over the FY2009 appropriation, 1.2% below the
Administration’s request, 9.7% above the original House-passed bill, and 2.5% below the version
of H.R. 2847 passed by the Senate. Support for in-house research and development under the
STRS account increased 9.1% from FY2009 to $515.0 million. The MEP program received
$124.7 million, 13.4% more than the previous fiscal year, while financing for TIP was budgeted
at $69.9 million, an increase of 7.5% over the FY2009 appropriation. Support for construction
totaled $147.0 million, 14.5% below the FY2009 figure.
The Administration’s FY2011 budget proposed $918.9 million in funding NIST, a 7.3% increase
over the FY2010 appropriation. The STRS account (including the Baldrige National Quality
Program) would have increased 13.5% to $584.5 million. The Manufacturing Extension
Partnership program would have been funded at $129.7 million, 4.0% more than the FY2010
figure, while financing for the Technology Innovation Program would have increased 14.3% over
FY2010 financing. The construction budget would decline 15.1% to $124.8 million.
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In the 111th Congress, the FY2011 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill reported from
the Senate Committee on Appropriations, S. 3636, would have provided NIST with $940.8
million for FY2011, a 9.8% increase over FY2010 and 2.4% more than the amount contained in
the Administration’s budget. The $584.5 million proposed for the STRS account and the $129.7
million for MEP were identical to the President’s request and respectively reflected a 13.5% and a
4.0% increase from FY2010. Funding for TIP would have remained at the FY2010 level of $69.9
million, which was 12.5% below the Administration’s proposal. Support for construction would
total $156.7 million, 6.6% more than the FY2010 figure and 25.6% more than the figure
contained in the President’s budget. No FY2011 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill
was reported from the House Appropriations Committee.
NIST operated under several Continuing Resolutions (CR) until final legislation was enacted. The
last CR, P.L. 112-6, in effect through April 8, 2011, funded NIST at $799.1 million, $57.5 million
less than the FY2010 appropriation. Support for the STRS account was decreased by $10.5
million to $504.5 million, while support for construction decreased $47.0 million to $100.0
million under the “three week” CR.
Under H.R. 1, as passed by the House (the “Full-Year” CR), NIST would have received an
appropriation of $697.1 million, 18.6% below the FY2010-enacted figure of $856.6 million. This
proposed amount was 24.1% less than the Administration’s FY2011 request and 25.9% less than
the amount in the bill reported from the Senate Committee on Appropriations during the 111th
Congress. Included in the Full-Year CR was $469.5 million for the STRS account, $124.7 million
for the MEP program, $44.9 million for TIP, and $58.0 million for construction.
The final FY2011 appropriations legislation, P.L. 112-10, funded NIST at $750.1 million after the
0.2% across the board rescission, 12.4% below the FY2010 appropriation, 18.4% below the
President’s budget request, and 7.6% more than the figure in H.R. 1. Support for the STRS
account (including the Baldrige National Quality Program) totaled $507.0 million, 1.6% less than
the FY2010 figure, 13.3% less than the Administration proposed, and 8.0% above the amount in
the Full-Year CR. The MEP program received $128.4 million, 3.0% more than both the FY2010
appropriation and the funding included in the Full-Year CR, and 1.0% below the Administration’s
budget. The $44.8 million for TIP represented a decrease of 35.9% from FY2010, was 43.9% less
than the President requested, and almost the same as the amount in H.R. 1. The construction
budget declined 52.4% from FY2010 funding to $69.9 million, was 44.0% below the
Administration’s proposal, and 20.5% above the funding in the Full-Year CR. (Please note that
the figures may not add up due to rounding.)
The Administration’s FY2012 budget proposed $1.001 billion in funding for NIST, a 33.4%
increase over the FY2011 appropriation. Support for research and development under the STRS
account would have increased 33.9% to $678.9 million (not including funding for the Baldrige
Program which would be moved to the Industrial Technology Services (ITS) account). Under the
ITS account, the MEP program would receive $142.6 million, 11.1% more than FY2011;
financing for TIP would increase to $75.0 million, 67.4% over the FY2011 figure; and support for
the Baldrige National Quality Program would decrease 19.8% from $9.6 million to $7.7 million.
A new program, the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia (AMTech) was to be created
and funded at $12.3 million. The construction budget would have increased 21.0 % to $84.6
million.
H.R. 2596, as reported from the House Committee on Appropriations, would have provided
$700.8 million for NIST, 6.6% below the FY2011 appropriation and 30.0% below the President’s
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request. Funding for the STRS account would have increased 3.9% over FY2011 to $517.0
million, which was 23.8% below the proposed budget number. The $128.4 million for MEP
remained the same as FY2011, but would have been 10.0% less than the Administration’s request.
Support for construction, at $55.4 million, reflected a 20.7% decrease from the FY2011 figure
and was 34.5% below the budget proposal. No funding was provided for TIP, the Baldrige
program, or AMTech.
The FY2012 consolidated appropriations bill covering the Department of Commerce (among
other agencies) originally passed by the Senate, H.R. 2112, would have funded NIST at $680.0
million, 2.9% below the amount in H.R. 2596, 32.1% below the Administration’s budget request,
and 9.3% below the FY2011 appropriation. Funding for the STRS account would have totaled
$500.0 million, 3.2% below the figure in H.R. 2596, 26.4% less than the budget request, and
1.4% below the amount appropriated in FY2011. Under the ITS account, $120.0 million would be
provided for the MEP program. This amount was 6.5% less than that recommended in H.R. 2596
and that appropriated for FY2011 ($128.4 million), as well as 15.8% less than the
Administration’s budget figure. No funding was provided for TIP, the Baldrige National Quality
Program, or AMTech. Construction support would total $60.0 million, 8.3% more than the
amount included in the House bill, 29.1% below the President’s budget number, and 14.2% below
the FY2011 appropriation.
P.L. 112-55, the final FY2012 appropriation for NIST, included $750.8 million, essentially the
same as that provided in FY2011. This amount was 25.0% below the Administration’s request,
7.1% above H.R. 2596, as reported from the House Committee on Appropriations, and 10.4%
more than H.R. 2112 as originally passed by the Senate. Support for research and development
under the STRS account increased 14% from FY2011 to $567.0 million. This figure represented a
16.5% decrease from the President’s proposal, but was 9.7% more than that contained in H.R.
2596 and 13.4% above the amount in the initial Senate-passed version of H.R. 2112. Under the
ITS account, the MEP program received $128.4 million, the same appropriation as FY2011, 10%
less than the budget request, identical to the support included in H.R. 2596, and 7% above H.R.
2112 as first passed by the Senate. No funding was provided for TIP, the Baldrige National
Quality Program, or AMTech. The construction budget was $55.4 million, 20.7% less than
FY2011, 34.5% below the budget proposal, the same as in H.R. 2596, and 7.7% less than the
original Senate-passed version of H.R. 2112.
The President’s FY2013 budget requested $857.0 million for NIST, an increase of 14.1% over the
FY2012 appropriation. Included in this figure was $648.0 million for the STRS account, 14.3%
above the funding approved for FY2012. Under the ITS account, the Manufacturing Extension
Partnership program would have received $128.0 million, 0.3% below the FY2012 figure. Also
included in ITS, the Administration again proposed the creation of a new activity, AMTech, which
was not funded when it was included in the FY2012 budget. Support for AMTech would total
$21.0 million. The requested appropriation for the construction budget was $60.0 million, 8.3%
above FY2012 funding.
In addition to the appropriations included in the budget request that were to be addressed through
the annual appropriations process, the Administration proposed two new programs that were to be
funded through mandatory appropriations (spending that is typically “provided in permanent or
multi-year appropriations contained in the authorizing law, and therefore, the funding becomes
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available automatically each year, without legislative action by Congress”)9. Up to $300.0 million
generated by the proceeds of the spectrum auction was to support the Wireless Innovation Fund
and $1.000 billion was to be provided for establishment of the National Network for
Manufacturing Innovation.
S. 2323, as reported from the Senate Committee on Appropriations, would have provided $826.0
million in FY2013 funding for NIST, 10.0% above the FY2012 appropriation but 3.6% below the
Administration’s request. Support for the STRS account totaled $623.0 million, 9.9% more than
the previous fiscal year and 3.9% less than the President proposed. MEP would receive $128.5
million, 0.1% above the FY2012 figure and 0.4% more than the budget request, while AMTech
would be financed at $14.5 million, 31.0% below what the Administration included in the budget
proposal. The $60.0 million in the construction account was 8.3% more than in FY2012 and the
same as the budget request.
H.R. 5326, as passed by the House, would have funded NIST at $830.6 million, an increase of
10.6% ($79.8 million) over FY2012, 3.1% ($26.4 million) less than the Administration’s budget,
and 0.6% ($4.6 million) more than the Senate figure. The $621.2 million for the STRS account
was an increase of 9.6% above the earlier fiscal year, but 4.1% less than the President’s request,
and 0.3% less than the amount included in S. 2323. Financing for MEP would total $128.4
million, the same as in FY2012, 0.3% less than the budget proposal, and 0.1% below the Senate-
reported bill. AMTech would receive $21.0 million, equal to the amount in the Administration
request, and 44.8% more than in S. 2323. The $60.0 million included for construction was 8.3%
above the current fiscal year and the same as that in the proposed budget and the Senate bill.
The final appropriations bill, P.L. 113-6, provided $769.4 million for NIST, an increase of 2.4%
after rescissions and sequestration.10 Included in this funding was $579.8 million for the STRS
account which was 2.3% above the earlier fiscal year. The $119.4 million for MEP was 7% less
than FY2012, while the AMTech program received initial funding of $14.2 million. The
construction budget increased 1% to $56.0 million.
The President’s FY2014 budget request would provide $928.3 million for NIST. Included in this
figure is $693.7 million for the STRS account, $153.1 million for the MEP program, $21.4
million for AMTech, and $60.0 million for construction. The request also provides for the two
programs to be funded under mandatory appropriations mentioned above. Accordingly, NIST
would receive $100 million generated by the proceeds of the spectrum auction to “conduct public
safety R&D” as part of the Wireless Innovation (WIN) Fund (under provisions of the Middle
Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012) as well as $1.000 billion in support for the
establishment of a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation.
The House Committee on Appropriations report to accompany H.R. 2787 recommends funding
NIST at $784.0 million, 15.5% below the budget request. The $609.0 million provided for the
STRS account is 12.2% less than the Administration’s proposal, while the $120.0 million for
MEP is 21.6% below the President’s figure. There is no funding provided for AMTech. The $55.0
million for construction is 8.3% less than the budget request.

9 See CRS Report RL33074, Mandatory Spending Since 1962, by Mindy R. Levit and D. Andrew Austin.
10 Figures from the National Institute of Standards and Technology Appropriations Summary available at
http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/approps-summary2014.cfm.
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The National Institute of Standards and Technology: An Appropriations Overview

The Senate Committee on Appropriations report to accompany S. 1329 includes $947.5 million
for NIST, 2.1% more than proposed by the President. Funding for the STRS account would
amount to $703.0 million, 1.3% higher than the budget request. Support for MEP would total
$153.1 million, the same as the Administration’s proposal; however, the $31.4 million for
AMTech represents a 46.7% increase over the President’s recommendation. The $60.0 million for
construction is identical to the budget request.
Issues for Congress
Continued funding for the extramural programs at NIST has been a major issue. Beginning with
the 104th Congress, many Members expressed skepticism over a “technology policy” based on
providing federal funds to industry for development of pre-competitive generic technologies. This
philosophical shift from previous Congresses, coupled with pressures to balance the federal
budget, led to significant reductions in funding for NIST. The Advanced Technology Program and
the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which accounted for over 50% of the FY1995 NIST
budget, were proposed for elimination. While, in the past, strong support by the Senate led to
their continued financing, funding for ATP remained controversial. Beginning in FY2000, the
original appropriations bills as passed by the House did not contain funding for ATP and many of
the budget proposals submitted by former President Bush called for abolishing the program. In
the 110th Congress, legislation replaced ATP with the TIP initiative and provided financing for the
new program. However, with no funding in the FY2012 appropriation, TIP also has been
terminated. In the FY2003 budget proposal, the Bush Administration also recommended
suspension of federal support for those manufacturing extension centers in operation for more
than six years and the following year funding for the MEP program was significantly reduced.
However, the FY2005 Omnibus Appropriations Act brought support for MEP back up to the level
necessary to fully fund the existing centers.
While much of the legislative debate has focused on the extramural programs (e.g., ATP, TIP, and
MEP), increases in spending for the NIST laboratories that perform the research essential to the
mission responsibilities of the agency have tended to remain small: a 3.7% increase between
FY1995 and FY1996, a 3.5% increase in FY1997, no increase for FY1998, and 3.1% for
FY1999. During FY2000, there was less than a 1% increase in support. However, FY2001
appropriations were 11% above the previous year while the figure for FY2002 included a 2.7%
increase in funding. Support for in-house R&D in FY2003 was 12% more than the previous fiscal
year; although the FY2004 figure decreased by 5.5%, funding for FY2005 included a 12%
increase. In FY2006, financing of these in-house activities once again increased. As part of the
American Competitiveness Initiative, announced by former President Bush in the 2006 State of
the Union, the Administration stated its intention to double over 10 years funding for “innovation-
enabling research” done at NIST through its “core” programs (defined as internal research in the
STRS account and the construction budget). To this end, the then President’s FY2007 budget
requested an increase of 18.3% for intramural R&D at NIST; the final FY2007 appropriations
legislation included a 10% increase for the STRS account. For FY2008, the increase in support
for internal research and development was 1.4%, well below the 15.2% and 15.6% increases in
the initial House and Senate FY2008 appropriations bills and the President’s FY2008 budget
proposal. While the former Administration’s FY2009 budget contained a 21.5% increase in
funding for the STRS account, the amount in P.L. 110-5 reflected a 7.2% increase for these
activities.
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The National Institute of Standards and Technology: An Appropriations Overview

In April 2009, President Obama indicated his decision to double the budget of key science
agencies, including NIST, over the next 10 years. Support for the STRS account expanded 9.1%
in FY2010, less than the President’s request but more than the amount included in the original
House and Senate appropriation bills. Both the FY2011 and FY2012 budget proposals included
large increases in funding for the STRS account, although the later was silent on a timeframe for
doubling. The final FY2011 appropriation for the STRS account was below the earlier fiscal year
but the figure included in the actual FY2012 appropriation was 14% more than FY2011. The final
FY2013 appropriation after rescissions and sequestration contained a smaller 2.3% increase in
support for the STRS account. There is no mention of doubling or a timeframe in the FY2014
budget request. It remains to be seen how support for internal R&D at NIST will evolve and how
this might affect financing of extramural efforts such as MEP now that TIP is no longer funded.
As Congress continues to debate appropriation issues, the resulting dispensation of funding for
NIST programs may influence the way by which the federal government supports technology
development for commercial application.

Author Contact Information

Wendy H. Schacht

Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
wschacht@crs.loc.gov, 7-7066

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