Chairman Serrano Statement at Hearing on National Science Foundation's FY 2020 Budget Request

Congressman José E. Serrano (D-NY), Chair of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's hearing on the fiscal year 2020 budget request for the National Science Foundation:

The subcommittee will come to order. 

I would like to welcome NSF Director, Dr. France Córdova, to the subcommittee.

The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency charged with promoting basic research and education in science and engineering.  In doing so, it is a major source of federal support for U.S. university research in the STEM fields.  NSF’s investments in STEM education help train the next generation of scientists and engineers.  As you know, Dr. Córdova, I am a strong supporter of NSF and believe that its programs help our Nation to be the world leader in major discoveries, innovations, and scientific breakthroughs. 

The President’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2020 requests $7.06 billion for NSF, which is a $1.01 billion, or 12 percent, decrease from the 2019 enacted level.  Within the total, the President’s budget also proposes $5.66 billion for the Research and Related Activities account, which is a cut of $858 million, or 13.1 percent below the current level.  These proposed levels of funding endanger the core missions at NSF.  For example, if the requested amount is enacted into law, the number of competitive awards for FY 2020 would go down from 11,600 awards in 2018 to 10,400.  In a given year, NSF awards grants to over 1,800 colleges, universities, and other public and private institutions in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Cutting funding for NSF will inevitably leave many schools without this much-needed education and research funding.

The President’s budget blueprint for FY 2020 also requests $823.4 million in funding for the Education and Human Resources account within NSF.  This represents a cut of $86.5 million or 9.5 percent.  The President’s budget proposal would accomplish this decrease by cutting programs that increase STEM participation, including programs that help minorities.  I will strongly oppose this and will work to make sure that minority-serving institutions receive robust funding for STEM research.

Another issue of importance to me is the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.  The President’s budget for FY 2020 proposes a total of $4.26 million for the Observatory from NSF’s MPS and GEO accounts, which is a reduction of $3.28 million from the FY 2019 enacted level.  I strongly support the Arecibo Observatory and its mission.

In short, NSF helps our economy grow, sustains our economic competitiveness, and enables us to remain the world leader in innovation. We will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to ensure that it is well funded.

Thank you once again, Dr. Córdova, for joining us today and I look forward to your testimony.  Now, I would like to recognize at this time my good friend, the Ranking Member, Mr. Aderholt, for any opening remarks that he may have.