U.S. National Science Foundation legislation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent U.S. agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. NSF funds approximately 20 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by U.S. colleges and universities. The Foundation is the president’s official source of advice and council on science related matters and policy, although a president may hire others for that advice. NSF is charged with strengthening the nation’s base of science and engineering knowledge and research. Grants are generally long term and made to universities, non-profits and research organizations. This page deals with U.S. congressional actions concerning the NSF.

National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2007
On May 2, 2007, the House considered a bill, sponsored by Rep. Brian Baird (D-Wash.), to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2008, 2009, and 2010 for the National Science Foundation.

 The bill would require the NSF director to implement a pilot program to award one-year grants to individuals for assistance in improving research proposals previously submitted but not selected, and to help them resubmit an improved proposal. The director should give special consideration to proposals that involve partnerships between academic researchers and industrial scientists and engineers that address research in areas considered as having high importance for future national economic competitiveness such as nanotechnology. Partnerships of universities with industry would be encouraged particularly with industries in areas identified as having high importance for future national economic competitiveness. The effort would include cost sharing by the industry partners. Grants for post-doctoral research would need to include a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided. Those activities might include career counseling, training in preparing grants, guidance on improving teaching skills and training in research ethics. The bill passed, 399-17.



Amendment to prohibit certain uses of funds
On May 2, 2007 the House defeated an amendment by Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.) that would have prohibited the use of funds in the bill "for research related to--
 * (1) archives of Andean Knotted-String Records;
 * (2) the accuracy in the cross-cultural understanding of others' emotions;
 * (3) bison hunting on the late prehistoric Great Plains;
 * (4) team versus individual play;
 * (5) sexual politics of waste in Dakar, Senegal;
 * (6) social relationships and reproductive strategies of Phayre's Leaf Monkeys; and
 * (7) cognitive model of superstitious belief."



External resources

 * TheWeekInCongress