Research Funding

The American Physical Society believes that long-term investments in research funding and scientific infrastructure are essential for America’s economic competitiveness, national security, and quality of life. Federal funding of scientific research since the end of World War II has lead to such groundbreaking discoveries and innovations as the microprocessor, the Internet, high temperature superconductors, and MRI machines. To unduly constrain federal spending on scientific programs would jeopardize the future well being of our nation and remove the country’s best tool to compete in a world where many other nations are increasing their national investment in science.

APS Statements on Research Funding:

• Physical Science Research Funding
• DOD Funding for Basic Research
• Broad-Based Funding for Physics
• The Spallation Neutron Source
• The Open Flow of Scientific Information
• Neutron Scattering Facilities

  Read more APS positions and statements.

Recent Activity, FY 2008 Budget Progress

Science Research Budgets - (See also January issue of the Washington Dispatch)

As of the deadline for APS News, there have been no new official developments with regard to the federal budgets for the key science research accounts (Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and NASA Science).  However, the $1.4 billion in approved increases for these agencies are in danger of being lost as Congress rushes to finish the FY08 spending bills. Congress will have considered an omnibus bill that cuts $11 billion from the original bills passed in Congress, a bill the President has vowed to veto. For the latest updates on the FY08 bills please go to http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/approp08.htm or check the APS Budget Chart below.

You may recall, in August, the America COMPETES Act was passed by a wide, bipartisan margin, and it was seen as a positive step for science.  As we stated then, the COMPETES Act only authorizes increases for basic research and education, budgets will increase only if appropriators fund the authorizations.  It now looks like they will not fund the authorizations.

If Congress does not fund the increases, it will be near crippling for these research accounts.  As many APS members know, these accounts have been operating on a continuing resolution for all of FY07; being funded at FY06 levels.  The Washington Office is mustering all its resources to meet this serious challenge, but it will need the assistance of APS members.  If you have not already done so, visit the APS Write Congress webpage, where you can voice your views on the matter to your Congressional delegation.

To track the progress of the appropriations bills, visit  www.aaas.org/spp/rd/approp08.htm or check back for more updates.

Status of FY08 Budget and FY09 Presidential Budget Request for Key Physical Science Research Funding Agencies

Bold Text stands for passed in the full House or Senate chamber.
* - Adjusted for Congressionally Mandated Programs (or Earmarks).
** - New budget structure; comparison with previous years is not appropriate.
^ - NIST Core contains both NIST STRS and NIST CRF.
# - ATP changed to TIP in FY08 Omnibus.
Percentages are changes from  FY07 numbers.
NIST Acronyms: STRS - Scientific and Technical Research; CRF - Construction of Research Facilities; ATP - Advanced Technology Program; TIP - Technology Innovation Program.

Status of Individual DOE Office of Science Programs for FY09

Important Items Concerning Research Funding

• FY 2009 "Dear Colleague" Letters - Has your Congressional Delegation signed these letters? [Signer Tracking page]
• • Senate DOE Office of Science Letter, sponsored by Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) [Download Letter]
  • Senate NSF Letter, sponsored by Senators Christopher Bond (R-MO) and Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT) [Download Letter]
  • House NSF Letter, sponsored by Representatives Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Bob Inglis (R-SC) and Brian Baird (D-WA) [Download Letter]
• National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Impact of the FY08 Omnibus. [Download Report]
• Unofficial Impact of the FY08 Omnibus on the National Science Foundation (NSF). [Download Report]
• DOE Impact Report of the FY08 Omnibus on the Department of Energy, Office of Science. [Download Report]
• FY 2008 "Dear Colleague" Letter - Due to the looming budget battle, Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL), Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), and Rush Holt (D-NJ) have circulated a Dear Colleague letter asking that the House number for the DOE Office of Science, $4.5 billion, be retained in the final bill for FY08.  Go to the Signer Tracking Page to see if your Representative signed.
• FY 2008 "Dear Colleague" Letters - Has your Congressional Delegation signed these letters? [Signer Tracking page]
• • 64 Senators sign DOE Office of Science Letter, sponsored by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) [Download Letter]
  • 44 Senators sign NSF Letter, sponsored by Senators Christopher Bond (R-MO) and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) [Download Letter]
  • 87 Congressman sign House NSF Letter, sponsored by Representatives Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), Rush Holt (D-NJ), and Bob Inglis (R-SC) [Download Letter]
• FY 2007 Continuing Resolution "Dear Colleague" Letters
• • 45 Senators sign DOE Office of Science Letter: Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)  [Download Letter]
  • 62 Congressmen sign DOE Office of Science Letter: Representatives Judy Biggert (R-IL), Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), and Rush Holt (D-NJ) [Download Letter]
  • 84 Congressmen sign NSF Letter: Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN), Representatives Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) and Rush Holt (D-NJ)  [Download Letter]
• FY 2007 "Dear Colleague" Letters
• • 70 Senators sign DOE Office of Science Letter: Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) [Download Letter]
  • 139 Congressmen sign DOE Office of Science Letter: Representatives Judy Biggert (R-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) [Download Letter]
  • 164 Congressmen sign NSF Letter: Representatives Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) and Rush Holt (D-NJ) [Download Letter]
• November 2006 - New Report by the Taskforce on the Future of American Innovation: "Benchmarks of Our Innovation Future II: Measuring the Moment: Innovation, National Security, & Economic Competitiveness" [Download Report] [Download Briefing Slides]
• FY 2006 "Dear Colleague" Letters
• • 68 Senators sign DOE Office of Science Letter: Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) [Download Letter] [Download Press Release]
  • 121 Congressmen sign DOE Office of Science Letter: Representatives Judy Biggert (R-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) [Download Letter]
  • 167 Congressmen sign NSF Letter: Representatives Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) and Rush Holt (D-NJ) [Download Letter]
• February 2005 - Report by the Taskforce on the Future of American Innovation: "Benchmarks of our Innovation Future" [Download Report]
• APS Panel on Public Report: Assessment of NASA's Moon-Mars program [Download Report] [Download Press Release]