Friday, January 16, 2009
Science's Slice of the Stimulus Bill
Tens of billions of dollars in new funding for basic research, science infrastructure and clean-energy initiatives.
By Emily Singer
Stressed out scientists--who have seen their funding wither during the
last eight years--got a glimpse of optimism on Thursday. Democrats unveiled an $825
billion economic stimulus bill that includes tens of billions of dollars in new
funding for basic research, science infrastructure and clean-energy
initiatives.
According to a report from Nature:
...the 258-page blueprint released by House appropriators
would pump $3 billion into the National Science Foundation (NSF), $2 billion
into the National Institutes of Health (NIH), $1.9 billion into the Department
of Energy and $1.5 billion into university research facilities. Much of that
money would be directed toward science infrastructure like renovating buildings
or laboratories, but the NSF and NIH would receive $2 billion and $1.5 billion
respectively that could be used to pay for thousands of basic research grants
that have already been approved but for which there was previously not enough
money.
...Most of the stimulus spending would extend over two years,
although the bill includes language indicating that money for peer-reviewed
grants must be spent within 120 days, which could limit the money to grant
proposals already in the pipeline. Report language accompanying the bill
indicates that additional funds will be provided to the NIH in fiscal 2010,
suggesting that Democratic leaders see this as more than a one-time infusion of
cash.
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