Two more Appropriations bills have joined the rush of FY 2021 funding bills working their way through the House Appropriations Committee. The Subcommittees on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies and the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies both completed work on their respective funding bills this week and each contains several programs supported by ASCE.
On Wednesday, July 8th, the Subcommittees on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies finalized its FY 2021 funding bill. Among the highlights for ASCE is the allocations for the National Science Foundation (NSF) of $8.55 billion, an increase of $270 million above the FY 2020 enacted level; the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of $1.04 billion, an increase of $7 million above the FY 2020 enacted level; the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of $356 million for an increase of $23 million above the FY 2020 enacted level; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of $22.63 billion equal to the FY 2020 enacted level; and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of $5.45 billion, $102 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.
On July 7th, the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies completed work on its FY 2021 funding bill. Highlights include a number of Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics (STEM) Education programs supported by ASCE. The bill provides the Department of Education with $73.5 billion in discretionary appropriations, an increase of $716 million above the FY 2020 enacted level. Among specific STEM programs the bill includes $16.6 billion for Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies which can be used for STEM programs, an increase of $254 million above the FY 2020 enacted level; and $85 million for grants to expand opportunities in STEM, an increase of $20 million over the FY 2020 enacted level. The bill also contains $2.6 billion for higher education programs, an increase of $81 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.
These bills now each head to the House Committee on Appropriations for full Committee mark-ups. After they pass out of the Committee, they will join other appropriations bills that await action on the House floor.