FY 1998 Budget Update
Appropriations
(Actual budget for FY 1998)
Budget
Authorizations (Sets caps for appropriations committees)
Budget
Resolutions (Non-binding guidance for authorization and
appropriations
committees)
Technology
Administration FY 1998 Appropriations Summary (table)
| STRS | Scientific and Technical Research and Services (appropriation for laboratory and research services and BNQP) |
| ITS | Industrial Technology Services (appropriation for the ATP and MEP) |
| CRF | Construction of Research Facilities (appropriation for facilities construction; renovating the existing NIST labs; and conducting safety, maintenance and capacity activities for existing facilities) |
| ATP | Advanced Technology Program |
| MEP | Manufacturing Extension Partnership |
| BNQP | Baldrige National Quality Program |
| DoC | Department of Commerce |
APPROPRIATIONS (Actual budget for FY 1998)
White House: P.L. 105-119 was signed into law by President Clinton on 11/26/97. There were no changes from the Conference Report on H.R.2267. On 12/1/97, President Clinton line-item vetoed the $5.0 million for natural resources and green building research at Montana State University. If the veto holds, the NIST appropriation will be reduced by that amount.
Conference: H.Report 105-405 on H.R. 2267 was approved by the House and Senate on 11/13/97 (House by a vote of 282-110 and Senate by unanimous consent). The conference agreement provides the following for NIST: STRS, $276.9 million ($265.1 million for the labs, $3.0 million for the BNQP, $5.0 million for natural resources and green building research at Montana State University and $3.8 million for wind engineering research at Texas Tech University); ITS, $306.0 million ($192.5 million for ATP and $113.5 million for MEP); and CRF, $95.0 million. The total appropriation is $677.9 million.
The bill:
House:
FLOOR – H.R. 2267, including an approved amendment introduced by Alan Mollohan (D-WV) to reduce the STRS by $6.0 million, was passed by the full House on 9/30/97 by a vote of 227-199. The Mollohan amendment (passed 246-176) would use the $6.0 million to help offset a $109.0 million increase for the Legal Services Corporation.
The NIST levels are: STRS, $276.9 million ($278.8 million for the labs and $4.1 million for BNQP minus a $6.0 million reduction); ITS, $298.6 million ($185.1 million for ATP and $113.5 million for MEP); and CRF, $111.1 million. The total appropriation is $686.6 million.
Two other amendments were introduced during the House’s consideration of the bill. The first, introduced by Tom Coburn (R-Ok.), would have reduced funding for the ATP by $74.0 million and transferred the funds to the Department of Justice’s Juvenile Justice programs. It was defeated 261-163. The second amendment, introduced by John Hostettler, would have reduced ATP funding by $175.0 million and left the $10.1 million remainder to close out the program. It was defeated 235-177.
COMMITTEE -- The Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee marked up the President's FY 1998 budget request for the Departments of Commerce, Justice and State on 7/10/97.
The NIST levels are: STRS, $282.9 million ($278.8 million for the labs and $4.1 million for BNQP); ITS, $298.6 million ($185.1 million for ATP and $113.5 million for MEP); and CRF, $111.1 million. The total appropriation is $692.6 million. The bill:
The full appropriations committee approved H.R. 2267 as submitted by a voice vote on 7/22/97.
Senate:
FLOOR -- S.1022, as approved by the Appropriations Committee, was introduced on 7/16/97. On 7/24/97, Sam Brownback (R-Kans.) proposed an amendment that would bar companies with annual revenues of greater than $2.5 billion from consideration for ATP awards. The measure was defeated 42-57.
The Senate approved S.1022 by a vote of 99-0 on 7/29/97.
COMMITTEE -- The Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee marked up the President's FY 1998 budget request for the Departments of Commerce, Justice and State on 7/11/97. The full committee approved the bill on 7/15/97 as submitted.
The NIST levels are: STRS, $276.9 million ($3 million for BNQP); ITS, $311 million ($200 million for ATP and $111 million for MEP); and CRF, $16 million. The total appropriation is $603.9 million. The bill:
In addition, the report accompanying S.1022 requires the Secretary of Commerce to make recommendations for assisting MEP centers to become self-supporting after their sixth year of operation and assumes that $2 million will be used to continue support of the seven Small Business Development Centers manufacturing field offices.
BUDGET AUTHORIZATIONS (Sets caps for appropriations committees)
House:
FLOOR: H.R. 1274 , " National Institute of Standards and Technology Authorization Act of 1997," was approved by voice vote on 4/24/97.
COMMITTEE: H.R. 1274 was introduced on 4/10/97 and reported out favorably by the House Science Committee on 4/21/97. It proposed the following authorizations:
STRS:
FY 1998 -- $278.6 million for labs, $4.1 million for BNQP
FY 1999 -- $286.9 million for labs, $5.3 million for BNQP
ITS:
FY 1998 -- $185.1 million for ATP, $117.8 million for MEP
FY 1999 -- $150.0 million for ATP, $111.3 million for MEP
CRF:
FY 1998 -- $16.7 million
FY 1999 -- $67.0 million
Provisions in the authorizing legislation include: using CRF funding for construction only after Congress approves a new plan for facilities needs; permanent removal of the six-year cap on federal funding to MEP centers; and ATP modifications such as requiring non-small business grantees and joint ventures to put up 60 percent of project costs, allowing intellectual property rights to be determined by partners in a joint venture, disposition of property and equipment, and no financial cost time extensions for ATP grantees.
Senate:
COMMITTEE: S.1325 was introduced on 10/28/97. It proposed the following authorizations:
STRS:
FY 1998 -- $278.4 million for labs (BNQP portion not specified)
FY 1999 -- $287.7 million for labs (BNQP portion not specified)
ITS:
FY 1998 -- $198.0 million for ATP, $111.0 million for MEP
FY 1999 -- $204.0 million for ATP, $114.4 million for MEP
CRF:
FY 1998 -- $16.7 million
FY 1999 -- $67.0 million
Provisions in the authorizing legislation include: using CRF funding for construction only after Congress approves a new plan for facilities needs; permanent removal of the six-year cap on federal funding to MEP centers; ATP modifications such as requiring large businesses to be members of joint ventures involving at least small businesses, and having applicants certify that private sector funding was previously sought; and establishment of a science and technology training program for elementary, middle and secondary school teachers.
BUDGET RESOLUTIONS (Non-binding guidance for authorization and appropriations committees)
White House:
The White House and Congress agreed in principle to the balanced budget agreement on 7/28/97. Various pieces of legislation are expected to implement the agreement’s planned actions, including all FY 1998 and future year appropriations bills.
Conference:
House/Senate conference committee filed H. Rept. 105-116 on 6/4/97. Both the Senate and House agreed to the conference report on 6/5/97.
House:
FLOOR: House Concurrent Resolution 84, "Concurrent Resolution on the Budget, Fiscal Year 1998" was passed by the House on 5/21/97 by a vote of 333-99. An amendment by George Brown (D-Calif.) to increase funding for NIST was defeated 91-339.
The blueprint for balancing the Federal budget by 2002 singles out NIST as a "protected domestic discretionary priority" (the only federal R&D program marked as such) and funded at the President's requested FY 1998 level.
COMMITTEE: H.Con.Res. 84 was reported from the House Budget Committee on 5/18/97.
Senate:
FLOOR: The Senate inserted its language into H.Con.Res. 84, titled it S.Con.Res. 27 and approved the resolution on 5/23/97 by a vote of 78-22.
COMMITTEE: H.Con.Res. 84 was reported out favorably by the Senate Budget Committee on 5/19/97.
There have been six continuing resolutions to provide for federal agencies – including DoC – without appropriations bills. They are Public Law 105-46, 10/1/97-10/23/97; Public Law 105-64, 10/24/97-11/7/97; Public Law 105-68, 11/8-11/9/97; Public Law 105-69, 11/10/97; Public Law 105-71, 11/11/97-11/14/97; and Public Law 105-84, 11/15/97-11/26/97
TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION FY 1998 APPROPRIATIONS SUMMARY TABLE
Prepared by: Michael E. Newman, NIST Public
and Business Affairs
(301) 975-3025 e-mail: michael.newman@nist.gov
Data from: NIST Budget Office, NIST Office
of Congressional and Legislative Affairs
Budget chart produced by: NIST Budget Office
HTML Conversion: Crissy Wines
Last updated: July 15, 1998