WASHINGTON, D.C. – Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) announced Senate passage today of the 2010 CJS Appropriations Bill. The funding bill provides $31 billion, $1.8 billion more than last year’s enacted level, for agencies focused on science and competitiveness, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Chairwoman Mikulski has been fighting for federal investments that strengthen America’s innovation economy, ensuring that our national research programs keep America competitive in the global arena. In addition to investing in science, this bill also makes sure American manufacturers leverage new technology to create new jobs for our communities, while expanding U.S. markets overseas.

INVESTING IN RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

Chairwoman Mikulski has delivered on her pledge to provide critical investments in scientific research and education to improve America’s competitiveness as outlined in the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education and Science (COMPETES) Act. Chairwoman Mikulski made sure that funding for science programs increased by at least 7 percent over last year’s levels.

“We are creating the building blocks that we need for a smarter America. Our nation is in an amazing race – the race for discovery and new knowledge, the race to remain competitive,” Chairwoman Mikulski said. “I will continue to work for a federal investment to support the innovation that has the power to save lives, create prosperity and protect the homeland.”

The bill includes:

• $6.9 billion for NSF, which includes $857 million for education and training programs, focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields to help build our next generation of innovators.

• $878 million for NIST, which is $33 million above the President’s budget request, and will support highly leveraged, basic research that will contribute to the development of new innovative products and processes.

PROTECTING OUR PLANET

Chairwoman Mikulski’s CJS Subcommittee funds 80 percent of the science used to monitor and predict changes in our weather and climate that researchers use make policy recommendations to help solve our climate change crisis. Chairwoman Mikulski, who criticized the last administration for its lack of commitment to reduce the effects of global warming, has included a significant federal investment in research and technology development that is critical to our understanding and prediction of changes in the Earth’s climate and oceans in this year’s spending bill.

“The world is facing a climate crisis and we have a responsibility to provide the tools and the resources our scientists need to address this issue,” Chairwoman Mikulski said. “This is about the future of our country and our planet. Our future depends on the progress we make.”

Looking at the resources available across our science agencies, Chairwoman Mikulski has included funding for multiple initiatives, including:

• $1.4 billion for NASA earth science to fund critical satellite missions including $135 million for new NASA earth science missions to measure our ice sheets, climate and atmosphere so we can better predict changes to our planet. It also includes $646 million for NASA to explore how the sun affects the Earth to help predict and provide warnings about events that can knock out our communications and power grids, like solar flares.

• $1.2 million for NOAA weather satellites, which are important early warning tools to help save lives and money, and $210 million for climate research, including more accurate climate models and better drought forecasts.

STEWARDSHIP OVER OUR OCEANS

This bill is the chief source of funding for federal ocean research, management, and exploration activities. Chairwoman Mikulski continues to champion robust funding for ocean and coastal activities and fight for a federal investment to increase marine conservation and education.

“Investments in improving understanding and conserving our oceans in an investment in our future,” Chairwoman Mikulski said. “Our nation’s economy depends on the oceans. Oceans contribute $120 billion to our economy and support over 2 million jobs.”

The bill provides $4.8 billion in CJS funding for NOAA programs, and increased core ocean and costal programs including more than $80 million in new funding for fisheries management activities, and $34 million for the Integrated Ocean Observing System, which was a Joint Ocean Commission top recommendation. It also includes $35 million for NOAA education programs, including $12 million for education grants.

PROMOTING INNOVATION-FRIENDLY GOVERNMENT

As Congress works to promote innovation and discovery, Chairwoman Mikulski has provided critical funding to ensure that the government has the resources it needs to protect inventions and intellectual property, and enforce trade agreements.

The bill includes:

• $1.9 billion for the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) to protect the intellectual property of inventors.

• $446 million for the International Trade Administration (ITA), which includes funding to hire more Foreign Commercial Service officers who work to expand U.S. business opportunities overseas.

In the next step of the appropriations process, the House and Senate will work out the differences between their versions of the bill, which will then be approved a final time by both legislative bodies before being signed into law.