House science panel lobbies for NSF appropriations

House science panel lobbies for NSF appropriations

The members of the House Committee on Science unanimously approved a package of legislation designed to enhance US economic competitiveness by strengthening funding for education in science, engineering and mathematics and enhancing grant programs for scientific research, primarily at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DOE). The Committee passed two bipartisan bills: HR 5358, Science and Mathematics Education for Competitiveness Act; and HR 5356, Early Career Research Act. For FY2007, HR 5358 would allow a total of $162 million in new funds to:

Advance training for teachers
Draw students with math and science majors to teaching careers
Better develop undergraduate math and science programs
Promote interdisciplinary graduate work

On the other hand, HR 5356 allows programs at NSF and in the DOE Office of Science to expand grant funding for new investigators to carry out high-risk, high-impact studies at the forefront of new scientific fields. Read the June 7 press release about the Competitiveness Package or browse various background documents.

Source: Federal Grants and Contracts Weekly, Vol. 30, No. 25 (June 15, 2006) and House Committee on Science