U.S. House, Senate budget talks show potential impact government science programs

As the year winds down, so does government funding, as a budget is on the table with an omnibus funding package with 12 appropriation bills that include funding that directly impacts the science community.

A continuing resolution for funding the government was set to expire on Dec. 11. The Hosue passed a bill this week to extend negotiations for a week. 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) has signaled a desire to reach an agreement on the appropriation bills along with a pandemic relief measure. The House passed 10 of the 12 appropriation bills earlier this summer, the American Institute of Biological Sciences reported.

The desire to reach an agreement offers hope to the science community, which wants to increase funding for most of its government programs despite pushback from the White House. Several budgets have been earmarked for a decrease in funding by President Donald J. Trump, while the Senate and House have taken a different approach.

One example is the National Science Foundation, in which Trump proposed a 6% cut, the American Institute of Biological Sciences reported. On the other hand, the House and Senate have proposed budget increases. 

Under the Senate Commerce, Justice and Science spending bill, it would receive $8.5 billion, a $200 million expansion. The Foundation's core basic research would be budgeted at $6.9 billion, an increase of $170 million, the American Institute of Biological Sciences reported.

NASA would receive a flat spending plan of $22.63. billion under the White House proposal while the Senate would like to increase the budget by $866.5 million, the American Institute of Biological Sciences reported. 

The Senate bill also proposes raises for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which would receive $1.05 billion, an increase of $16 million and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which would receive a $51 million hike to $5.4 billion, the American Institute of Biological Sciences reported.

The Senate and House are at a disagreement in the Senate Interior-Environment bill, the American Institute of Biological Sciences reported. The Senate offered $35.8 billion, $1 billion less than the House. The Department of Interior is earmarked for a $13.65 billion budget, $18 million less than the House.

Some of the notable decisions include $258 million in funding for the Ecosystems Mission Area, including $25 million for the Environmental Health Program, which Trump proposed for elimination, the American Institute of Biological Sciences reported. The House had approved $23.5 million for the program. Other programs that could see a budget decrease include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and Smithsonian Institute. The Senate and House are in agreement over the Environmental Protection Agency, which the President has targeted for a 26% budget decrease.