Skip to content
News and updates

Category: Environment

Initial Details of Senate CJS, Interior Bills Available

Posted on

As noted yesterday, two of the Senate appropriations subcommittees approved the FY2019 Commerce-Justice-Science and Interior spending bills. While the detailed reports accompanying the bills are not yet available, some from the measures are known.

The CJS bill would fund some of the agencies in the following manner:

  • $8.1 billion for NSF, $301 million above the FY2018 enacted level, including:
    • $6.56 billion for NSF’s research and research activities, an increase of $222 million above the current level;
    • $915 million for NSF’s education and training programs, an increase of $13 million above FY2018.
  • $21.3 billion for NASA, $587 million above current level, including:
    • $6.4 billion for Science, $179 million above the FY2018 level, including $1.9 billion for Earth science, $2.2 billion for Planetary science, $1.5 billion for astrophysics (including $304 million for the Webb telescope), and $720 million for Heliophysics;
    • $725 million for Aeronautics, an increase of $40 million;
    • $933 million for Space Technology, $173-million increase.
  • $5.48 billion for NOAA, a $426-million decrease below the current level, including $71 million for the Sea Grant program, which is a $6-million increase.

The Interior bill, which funds, among other agencies the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).  It would appropriate $1.15 billion to the USGS and $155 million to the NEH.

We will continue to provide additional details as they become available.

Two More Spending Bills Cleared by Senate Subcommittees

Posted on

Earlier today, two Senate subcommittees cleared for consideration by the full Appropriations Committee later this week two FY2019 spending bills of great interest to the University of Washington.

The Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved its bill, which funds, among other agencies and programs, the U.S. Geological Service, the EPA, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.  The Commerce-Justice-Science Subcommittee adopted its measure, which provides funding for NSF, NASA, and NOAA, as well as other programs and agencies.

The full Appropriations Committee is scheduled to take up the two bills on Thursday.

The House versions of the bills have already been approved by the Appropriations Committee in that chamber.

More Progress Seen on Appropriations Front

Posted on

Both chambers of Congress continue to make progress on the FY2019 appropriations bills.

The House is expected to start its debate on its first “minibus” package of bills today.  The measure includes the Energy and Water Development, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bills.  The Appropriations Committee approved its Interior spending bill yesterday evening.

On the Senate side, the Appropriations Committee earlier this morning approved both the Transportation-Housing and Urban Development and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs bills.  Four of the 12 spending bills have been cleared by the committee in the Senate so far.  Seven bills have been approved by the House committee.

Interior Appropriations Bill to Move Next

Posted on

The next item on the agenda for the House Appropriations Committee is its FY2019 Interior spending bill, with the committee scheduled to take it up tomorrow, Tuesday, May 22.

Among the agencies that the bill funds is the U.S Geological Survey (USGS), which in turn supports a number of programs of interest to the University of Washington.  For example, the bill would instruct the USGS to support the Earthquake Early Warning system on the West Coast at a total of $21.1 million, with $16.1 million dedicated to the continued development of the system and $5 million for its capital infrastructure needs.

The  legislation would dedicate $19.29 million for the Cooperative Research Units (CRUs), another USGS program, which represents an increase of $1.9 million.  The increase would be dedicated to filling the number of vacancies across the country at participating universities.  The CRUs were proposed for elimination by the Administration.

The newly renamed Climate Adaptation Science Centers program would be level-funded at $25.3 million.  The Administration is seeking a cut of more than $12 million to the program.

A copy of the bill report is available here.

 

New NOAA Administrator Nominee Named

Posted on

Yesterday, the White House announced the President’s intent to nominate Barry Myers as Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere at the Department of Commerce.  Myers has served at the CEO of AccuWeather since 2007.

Read more about the nomination here and here.