PLANT SCIENCE BUDGET UPDATE -

Boost for Science in Appropriations for DOE

The Senate Appropriations Committee and House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development have both recommended substantial increases for the Office of Science within the Department of Energy.

The Senate Appropriations Committee recommended $4,640,469,000 for the Office of Science compared to current year funding of $4,017,711,000.  The House Subcommittee recommended more than $4.86 billion for science, $140 million above the President’s request and an increase of $844 million over the fiscal year 2008 enacted level. 

For Biological and Environmental Research, the Senate Committee recommends $598,540,000 -- $30 million more than the budget request.  Within this amount, the Committee recommended $423,613,000 for biological research. 

For Basic Energy Sciences, The Senate Committee recommends $1,415,378,000.  Of these funds, $145,468,000 is provided for construction activities as requested in the budget.  The remaining $1,269,910,000 is for research.   The House Appropriations Committee has not yet reported out its bill so we don’t know its recommendations.  However, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development has released some of its recommendations reported above.  The full committee generally accepts the subcommittee’s recommendations.