Fattah: Neuroscience Receives Significant Boost in FY2015 CJS Appropriations

Neuroscience funding was one of several key priorities championed by Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) that received a boost in today’s full Appropriations Committee markup of the FY 15 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Act. As Ranking Member of the CJS Subcommittee, Fattah helped steer more $51.2 billion in net discretionary funding to the Departments of Justice and Commerce, the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, and other related agencies under the subcommittee’s jurisdiction.

Funding for neuroscience research received $105 million in the legislation, more than $21 million above the FY 14 level. Fattah, who is architect of the Fattah Neuroscience Initiative, signaled that the increase is a significant victory not only for brain research, but for the entire science community.

In addition to funding through NSF to advance research related to the BRAIN Initiative, cognitive science, and neuroscience, the bill includes funds to establish and support an annual international neuroscience conference that would convene government officials, neuroscience researchers, industry, and nonprofits.

Fattah praised Chairman Frank Wolf’s (R-VA) leadership of the subcommittee and thanked him for creating a collaborative environment that helped produce a truly bipartisan bill.

“In this legislation we were able to come together in a bipartisan manner to tackle some of our nation’s greatest challenges involving neuroscience, basic research and scientific funding, the future of space exploration, domestic manufacturing, and our nation’s justice system,” Fattah said. “It has been an honor working with Chairman Wolf—his passion and commitment will be greatly missed. While we have not agreed on every issue, more often than not we have been able to find common ground and craft legislation that strengthens our country and creates a better future for all Americans.”

Other Fattah priorities in the bill include funding for medical imaging, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), the Advanced Manufacturing Initiative, NSF’s Innovation Corps, and space technology.

Highlights of the FY2015 CJS Appropriations Act:

National Science Foundation:  $7.409 billion in overall funding, which is $237.3 million above FY 14 levels and $154.2 million above the budget request.

·         Neuroscience:  $105 million for neuroscience and cognitive science; anincrease of $21.150 above FY 14 levels; NSF neuroscience received one of the largest percentage increases in the bill.

·         NSF Advanced Manufacturing: Funded at $165 million, equal to FY14 levels.

·         Funds included to establish and support an annual international conference on neuroscience.

Department of Commerce:  $8.35 billion overall, which is an increase of $171.1 million above FY 14 levels.

·         Manufacturing Extension Partnership:  $130 million, which is $2 million above FY 14.

·         Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA):  Funded at $30 million, which is $2 million above FY 14 and $1.7 million above the request.

·         Loan Guarantee Program for Innovative Technologies in Manufacturing:  $5 million, which is equal to FY 14 funding levels.

·         NOAA Satellites:  The bill fully funds the Joint Polar Satellite System at $916.5 million and the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R-Series Program at $981 million.

Department of Justice:  $27.8 billion in overall funding, an increase of $382.8 million above FY 14.

·         Youth Mentoring Programs: Funded at $90 million in FY 15.

·         Justice Reinvestment Initiatives: Funded at $30 million, which is $2.5 million above FY 14.

·         Office on Violence Against Women: Funded at $425.5 million, an increase of $8.5 million above FY 14.

·         Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG): Funded at $376 million, equal to the FY 14 level.

·         Language directing DOJ for a report detailing all revenue collected by the Department for fines, penalties, and settlements.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA):  $17.9 billion in overall funding, which is $249.5 million above FY 14 levels and $435.4 million above the budget request.

·         Commercial Crew: Funded at $785 million, $89 million above FY 14.

·         Space Tech:  $620 million, $44 million above FY 14.

·         James Webb Space Telescope: Receives $645 million.

Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)

·         Language included directing OSTP to implement a number of efforts involving the Interagency Working Group on Neuroscience (IWGN), medical imaging research, and rare earth materials.