The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Investing in Science

“The ideal project is one that keeps on giving, and that is exactly what scientific research does. In his Inaugural Address, President Obama said ‘we will restore science to its rightful place.’ This legislation places science at the center of short-term job creation and long-term economic growth.” – Rep. Rush Holt on science funding in the economic recovery bill.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contains approximately $22 billion for Scientific R&D:

National Science Foundation

• Provides $3 billion overall for the National Science Foundation (NSF), putting the NSF budget back on track to double over the next seven years, as called for under the America COMPETES Act.
• Includes $2.5 billion for NSF research and research-related activities.  Sustained, targeted investment by NSF in basic research in fundamental science and engineering advances discovery and spurs innovation.
• Includes $100 million for improving instruction in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
• Includes $400 million for the construction and development of major research facilities that perform cutting-edge research.

Department of Energy: Office of Science

• Provides $1.6 billion for research funding through DOE’s Office of Science, putting the office’s budget back on track to double over the next seven years, as called for under the America COMPETES Act.
• The DOE Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, providing more than 40 percent of total funding for this vital area of national importance.  It oversees the nation’s research programs in climate science, advanced computing, biofuels, high-energy physics, nuclear physics, and fusion energy sciences – areas crucial to our energy future.
• Provides $400 million for the Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to support high-risk, high-payoff research into energy sources and energy efficiency in collaboration with private industry and universities.
  

Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

• Provides $2.5 billion for Research, Development, and Demonstration at universities, companies, and national laboratories to foster energy independence, reduce carbon emissions, and cut utility bills.
• Provides $2 billion in grants to support research and manufacturing of advance vehicle batteries.
  

National Institutes of Health

• Provides a total of $10 billion for National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Includes about $8 billion for institutional research and funding for highly-rated research proposals that have gone unfunded due to budget constraints.
• Includes $1 billion for renovation and construction of university and non-federal research facilities.
• Includes $500 million for modernization of NIH research facilities.
  

National Institute of Standards and Technology

• Provides $580 million overall for the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), putting its budget also on track to double over the next seven years, as called for under the America COMPETES Act.
• Includes $180 million for renovation, repair, and modernization of NIST facilities.
• Includes $180 million for competitive construction grants for research science buildings at colleges, universities, and other research organizations.
• Includes $220 million to coordinate research efforts at laboratories and national research facilities to set standards for manufacturing.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

• Provides $830 million for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
• Includes $230 million for NOAA operations, research, and facilities.
• Includes $600 million for climate modeling, satellite programs, and data storage.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

• Provides $1 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

• Includes $400 million for science missions, including climate research
• Includes $150 million for aeronautics research
• Includes $400 million to maintain access to space as the Space Shuttle is retired
• Includes $50 million for facilities repair and recovery from natural disasters

Other Key Investments in Scientific Research

• Provides $176 million for Agricultural Research Service facilities across the country.
• Provides $300 million for Department of Defense research projects for renewable energy generation, transmission, regulation, storage, and use on military installations.
• Provides $140 million to repair and modernize U.S. Geological Survey science facilities and equipment.