A Senate appropriations subcommittee crafted a bill [1] Wednesday that would increase spending on the National Science Foundation to $6.9 billion in the 2010 fiscal year, $426 million more than the agency is receiving this year but slightly less than would be allocated in parallel legislation [2] in the House of Representatives. The Senate measure approved by the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies includes $5.55 billion for research, $122 million for research equipment and facilities; and $857 million for the foundation's science education programs. It also would provide $878.8 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, $59.8 million above the 2009 level.