House and Senate legislation would increase NSF funding, expand focus

Over the past several weeks, both the House and Senate approved bipartisan legislation that would significantly grow the NSF budget - now they just need to reconcile the differences between the two bills. After a weeks-long debate, the Senate passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act. The final bill encompasses the Endless Frontier Act, now just one part of the overall package, which provides $45 billion in funding over five years for NSF and creates a new Technology Directorate focusing on “industries of the future.” 

The House just approved a similar, if somewhat smaller, effort. The NSF for the Future Act would double the NSF budget over the next five years and create a new Science and Engineering Solutions Directorate to address “societal challenges.” The next step for Congress is to reconcile these competing visions in a process that could take months. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA are long-time advocates for NSF and while the details of the final legislation remain uncertain, it’s exciting to see such strong Congressional support for this vital research agency.