The House passed the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 4660) on May 30 by a vote of 321-87. The bill would provide fiscal year (FY) 2015 discretionary spending for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The legislation budgets $51.2 billion in discretionary spending, $398 million less than FY 2014 and $200 million more than the President’s FY 2015 budget request. The bill allocates $5.3 billion for NOAA, fully funding its two major satellite programs and boosting funds for weather forecasting while cutting the budget for climate research.

Appropriators on both sides of the aisle praised the bipartisan bill as an example of compromise. Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), ranking member on the Appropriations Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittee, said the bill is “not perfect,” but represents a good middle ground.

The bill will move forward for consideration by the full Senate.

Sources: E&E News, House Appropriations Committee