U.S. House finishes appropriations, NASA authorization

Abstract

From July 24–August 4, the U.S. House of Representatives finalized its version of the Fiscal Year 1996 (FY96) federal appropriation, for the period October 1, 1995 through November 30, 1996. As reported in the August 1 issue of Eos, science programs were not exempted from the overall budget cutting. In brief, the House proposed to reduce NOAA's appropriation by 10% from 1995; NASA's by 5%; the EPA's by 33%; and NSF's by 6%. The USGS emerged with only a 3% reduction. The USGS appropriation actually increased, but the National Biological Survey was folded into it. For the most part, basic research was preserved in each agency's appropriation, and spending cuts were taken in administration and downsizing of missions.