NSF Would Get Less in Senate Spending Bill

A U.S. Senate appropriations panel approved legislation Wednesday that would give the National Science Foundation slightly less money in 2011 than would proposals by the House of Representatives and President Obama. The measure backed by the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies would provide $7.35 billion for the science foundation, compared to the $7.42 billion contained in both the Obama administration's budget proposal and a parallel measure working its way through the House of Representatives. According to a news release from the committee, the NSF's research programs would receive $6 billion, slightly more than the House would provide but on par with the president's request, while education programs would get $892 million, down from the House's $958 million.