This is part II of a three-part series, read part I for more context. 

August is a great time to talk to your legislators about funding (appropriations) for federal science agencies as Congress has until 30 September to finalize appropriations decisions or take alternative actions. The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 extended the debt ceiling but also set spending caps for appropriations for the next two fiscal years (FY2024 and FY2025) at roughly FY2023 levels. However, the House of Representatives decided to limit appropriations to even stricter constraints and set FY2022 spending levels as the ceiling for the FY2024 appropriation process. 

In May 2023, the House Appropriations Committee began considering and amending their appropriations bills. Going into August, the committee has introduced all twelve spending bills and passed ten bills. Significantly for the AGU community, the House Appropriations Committee has not considered the Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) bill which details funding for NASA, NOAA, and NSF – so we do not have full funding details for those agencies. Before leaving for August recess, the full House of Representatives passed one appropriations bill. 

Department of Energy  

in millions	FY23	PBR FY24	% Change from FY23	AGU FY24	% Change from FY23	House FY24	% Change from FY23
DOE Office of Science	$8,100	$8,800.40	8.6%	$9,500	17.3%	$8,100	0%
ARPA-E	$470.00	$650.20	38.34%	—	—	$470	0%

Highlights from the Bill and Committee Report:  

• This bill rejects the President’s Budget Request for $35 million to start a new National Laboratory focused on multidisciplinary research in diverse communities. It also prohibits the use of funds to promote or advance Critical Race Theory (CRT) and the implementation, administration, or enforcement of the Biden Administration’s executive orders on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).   
• The bill rescinds at least $5.5 billion dollars in wasteful spending from the Inflation Reduction Act, such as rebates for electrical appliances, and the installation of home energy efficiency and electrification projects.    
• The committee provides level funding for the Office of Science to maintain support for the world’s fastest computer and develop the next generation of computing capabilities; advance fusion energy sciences to bring fusion to the electric grid; increase operations for experimental user facilities; and enhance the National Laboratories, the pipeline of foundational research, and America’s role as the global leader of scientific discovery.   

NASA  

in millions	FY23	PBR FY24	% Change from FY23	AGU FY24 Ask	% Change from FY23	House FY24	% Change from FY23
NASA	$25,383.70	$27,185	7.1%	27,840	9.7%	$25,366	-0.07%
SMD	$7,795	$8,260.8	6%	$9,000	15.5%	$7,380	-5.3%
Earth	$2,195	$2,472.8	12.6%	$2,534.4	15.5%	TBD	TBD
Planet	$3,200	$3,383.2	5.7%	$3,694.7	15.5%	TBD	TBD
Helio	$805	$750.9	-6.7%	$935	16.1%	TBD	TBD
STEM ED	$143.50	$157.8	10%	$157.80	10%	$89	-38%

Highlights from the Bill and Committee Report:  

• The bill includes $29 million for the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCOR) and $60 million National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program.  

NOAA  

in millions	FY23	PBR FY24	% Change from FY23	AGU FY24 Ask	% Change from FY23	House FY24	% Change from FY23
NOAA	$6,201.27	$6,823.61	$10%	$7,200	16.1%	$5,445.26	-12.2%

Highlights from the Bill and Committee Report:  

• The committee provides $771 million less for Operations, Research, and Facilities but maintains funding for NOAA procurement, acquisition, and construction at the FY23 enacted level.  

NSF  

in millions	FY23	PBR FY24	% Change from FY23	AGU FY24 Ask	% Change from FY23	House FY24	% Change from FY23
NSF	$9,539.01	$11,314.68	18.5%	$11,900	25.3%	$9,630.05	0.9%

Highlights from the Bill and Committee Report:  

• This bill includes $7.9 billion for Research and Related Activities, an increase of $846 million above the FY23 enacted level, which includes funding for the Geosciences Directorate and Office of Polar Programs. 
• The committee provides the National Science Board with $4.6 million. 
• The bill also prohibits funds to be used for DEI, CRT implicit bias, unconscious bias, or culturally relevant teachings for Federal employees and the enforcement of Executive Order 14008 (Jan. 27, 2021), entitled, “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.”   

USGS  

in millions	FY23	PBR FY24	% Change from FY23	AGU FY24 Ask	% Change from FY23	House FY24	% Change from FY23
USGS	$1,497.18	$1,786	19.3%	$1,850.00	23.6%	$1,347.46	-10%

  Highlights from the Bill and Committee Report:  

• The bill provides $67.12 million for the Climate Adaptation Science Centers, a more than 6% increase from the FY23 enacted level. Of this funding, $4 million is to create a Great Basin center to focus on and address the threats to ecosystems in the Great Basin states.   
• The report requires USGS to brief the Committee on any benefits associated with creating a new Sinkhole Hazards Program to conduct sinkhole research, hazard mitigation, and hazard assessments.   
• The Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program receives $120.31 million, including $32 million for Federal Priority stream gages and $30.9 million for the Next Generation water Observing System.   

NIEHS  

in millions	FY23	PBR FY24	% Change from FY23	AGU FY24 Ask	% Change from FY23	House FY24	% Change from FY23
NIEHS	$913.98	$938.8	2.7%	$980.7	7.3%	$913.98	0%

Highlights from the Bill and Committee Report:  

• The committee maintains the same spending levels from FY23.  

NIEHS Superfund Research Program  

in millions	FY23	PBR FY24	% Change from FY23	AGU FY24 Ask	% Change from FY23	House FY24	% Change from FY23
Superfund Research Program	$83.04	$83.04	0%	$89	7.2%	$75	-9.7%

  Highlights from the Bill and Committee Report:  

• NIEHS’ Superfund Research Program allocation is a more than $8 million cut from FY23 funding levels. NIEHS staff during an FNIEHS call noted that this funding level is equivalent to about FY08.  

EPA  

in millions	FY23	PBR FY24	% Change from FY23	AGU FY24 Ask	% Change from FY23	House FY24	% Change from FY23
EPA	$10,135.43	$12,083.27	19.2%	—	—	$6,173.16	-39.1%
Science & Technology	$802.29	967.84	20.6%	—	—	$560.71	– 30.1%

Highlights from the Bill and Committee Report:  

• EPA’s Science and Technology account receives $560.71 million, which is a $241.6 million cut.  
• EPA’s Environmental Programs and Management receives $2.43 billion, which is an $847.4 million cut.  

The next step is for the House Committee on Appropriations to pass their remaining two bills and then for the full House of Representatives to debate and pass the remaining eleven appropriations bills. Following these steps, the House and Senate should then conference and negotiate on the final spending totals and language before passing identical versions of all legislation before 30 September.   

Read part III to learn more about what’s in the Senate appropriations bills.