March 10, 2017

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee submitted its Views and Estimates for fiscal year (FY) 2018 to the Senate Budget Committee on March 10. The committee’s majority (Republican) and minority (Democratic) letters outlined funding priorities for the FY 2018 budget resolution. The parties differed in their priorities but both recommended continued funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

NOAA

The majority requested flat funding for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) and the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS). They expressed support for the Earth Observing Nanosatellite –Microwave (EON-MW) program, as well as work done by the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR). The minority proposed a $270 million increase in NOAA’s budget, including an additional $203 million for continued development of the Polar Follow-On, and $62 million to repair NOAA’s Gulfstream Aircraft. 

NASA

The majority requested that NASA’s funding level remain at $19.5 billion, as authorized in the NASA Transition Authorization Act for FY 2017. The minority expressed concerns that the current funding level could lead to budget cuts on NASA’s Earth Observing programs. They recommended $20.5 billion for NASA in FY2018, a five percent increase from the level authorized in FY 2017.

NSF

The majority prioritized the Innovation Corps program, STEM (science technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, and cybersecurity research and development. The minority disapproved of rumored cuts of 10 to 20 percent in discretionary spending, and requested at least $8 billion for the NSF in FY 2018.

The Senate Budget Committee is expected to release its FY 2018 budget request later this spring. 

Sources: Congress.gov, Senate.gov, White House Office of the Press Secretary