As the U.S. economy slides deeper into a recession, universities are following other sectors in freezing salaries, canceling job searches, and trimming expenses. At the same time, however, academic researchers are on the verge of receiving a major influx of federal funding as part of a 2-year, $825 billion economic stimulus package moving rapidly through Congress.
The bills, drawn up in consultation with the new Obama Administration, include some $360 billion in new spending, along with $275 billion in tax breaks and a large expansion of mandatory programs. The research and science infrastructure components tucked into the first category amount to roughly $15 billion spread across several federal research agencies. Democratic leaders have promised to have the bill ready for the president's signature by mid-February.
The table below shows the major science components, by agency, of each bill.
AGENCY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SENATE NIH
Total: $3.5 billion
$1.5 billion for extramural research, $1.5 billion for extramural facilities,
and $500 million for on-campus buildings.Total: $3.5 billion
$2.7 billion split between director's office and the institutes, $500 million
for on-campus buildings, and $300 million for extramural instrumentation.NSF
Total: $3 billion
$2 billion for research, $100 million for education, $400 million for new facilities,
$300 million for instrumentation, and $200 million for academic renovation.Total: $1.4 billion
$1 billion for research, $50 million for education, $150 million
for new facilities, and $200 million for instrumentation.DOE
Total: $41 billion
$2 billion for Office of Science and $400 million for ARPA-E.
Total: $40 billion
$430 million for Office of Science, $2.6 billion for energy efficiency
and renewable-energy research.NASA
Total: $600 million
$400 million for science, $150 million for aeronautics, and $50 million
for hurricane repairs.Total: $1.5 billion
$500 million for science, $250 million for aeronautics, $500 million
for human exploration, and $250 million for hurricane repairs.NOAA
Total: $1 billion
$600 million for climate sensors and modeling, $400 million for habitat restoration.Total: $1.2 billion
$795 million for facilities/equipment, $427 million for restoration/maintenance.NIST
Total: $520 million
$300 million for extramural buildings, $100 million for intramural research,
and $70 million for Technology Innovation Program.Total: $575 million
$357 million for intramural facilities, $218 million for competitive grants.
Biodefense
Total: $900 million
$430 million for BARDA and $420 million for pandemic flu vaccine.$870 million for pandemic flu vaccine.
USGS
Total: $200 million
Upgrade laboratories; enhance National Map project and various monitoring networks.Total: $135 million
SOURCE: Science magazine, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE
