Overview
Title
To prioritize funding for an expanded and sustained national investment in basic science research, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 7745 is a bill that wants to give a lot more money to help scientists in America discover new things, like space exploration and technology. It plans to keep giving more money each year, even if things get more expensive, so that science can keep getting better and better.
Summary AI
H.R. 7745, also known as the “American Innovation Act,” aims to prioritize and increase funding for basic science research in the United States. The bill outlines specific funding amounts for various government agencies, such as the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and NASA's Science Mission Directorate, over the next decade. These appropriations are intended to expand and sustain national investment in scientific research, with future funding adjusted for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index. The legislation also includes provisions to exempt certain appropriations from budgetary cuts under sequestration.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
The proposal under consideration, H.R. 7745, introduced in the 118th Congress, is aptly titled the "American Innovation Act." This bill seeks to significantly increase funding for basic science research across several key federal agencies, such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DOE), over the coming decade. By committing to these increases from fiscal year 2025 to 2035, and providing for further adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the bill aims to ensure steady and predictable financial support for innovation.
General Summary
At its core, the American Innovation Act is centered around enhancing and sustaining investments in fundamental science research areas. The Bill delineates specific amounts of funding for the NSF, DOE Office of Science, Department of Defense science programs, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and NASA's Science Mission Directorate. Furthermore, it includes clauses to make these funds available until expended and asserts that certain appropriations will be exempt from being cut under budget sequestration rules.
Significant Issues
There are several issues associated with the bill that warrant consideration. Firstly, the automatic annual increase in appropriations based on the CPI might not align with the specific operational needs of the funded agencies, potentially leading to inefficiencies or wastages if agencies receive more funding than required. Secondly, the bill lacks performance metrics or accountability measures, which could complicate efforts to track its effectiveness over the long term. Furthermore, the exemption from standard fiscal oversight mechanisms like PAYGO scorecards could raise concerns about budgetary discipline. Additionally, some might find the complex financial language hard to digest, which could hinder public understanding.
Potential Impacts
On a broad level, the consistent increase in funding for scientific research could bolster the nation's status as a leader in innovation, potentially leading to scientific breakthroughs that benefit society as a whole. The stability in funding might also encourage long-term research projects that could drive technological advancements and economic growth.
Positive Impacts for Stakeholders: Academic institutions, research facilities, and private enterprises reliant on federal research grants may view this bill as a boon, providing them with increased resources and thus opening new avenues for scientific inquiry. The proposed funding boost could also lead to job creation within the scientific and research sectors, supporting a highly skilled workforce.
Negative Impacts for Stakeholders: However, stakeholders in other sectors might express concern about the financial implications and opportunity costs. If significant resources are funneled into scientific research without tight fiscal controls or accountability measures, it could divert funds from other critical areas like education or healthcare, potentially leading to imbalances in resource allocation.
Overall, H.R. 7745 presents an ambitious effort to prioritize science and innovation, but like any substantial fiscal initiative, it faces the challenge of balancing growth, efficiency, and oversight.
Financial Assessment
The American Innovation Act, identified as H.R. 7745, is a legislative proposal focused on significantly increasing funding for basic science research across several major U.S. agencies over the next decade. This commentary will examine how the bill distributes financial resources and relate these allocations to various identified issues.
Financial Allocations in the Bill
The bill authorizes substantial funding boosts for a variety of agencies. It allocates specific amounts for each fiscal year from 2025 through 2035, with provisions for subsequent years to adjust appropriations based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Key allocations include:
- National Science Foundation (NSF): Starting at $9.741 billion in 2025 and increasing to $18.280 billion by 2034.
- Department of Energy, Office of Science: Appropriations begin at $8.859 billion in 2025, rising to $16.625 billion by 2034.
- Department of Defense Science and Technology Programs: Starting with $21.897 billion in 2025 and reaching $41.091 billion by 2034.
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): Beginning at $1.161 billion in 2025 and increasing to $2.179 billion by 2034.
- NASA Science Mission Directorate: Starting with $7.885 billion in 2025 and projected to reach $14.797 billion by 2034.
These allocations reflect a marked emphasis on expanding and sustaining investments in research and innovation.
Issues Related to Financial Allocations
A significant concern with these appropriations is the absence of performance metrics. The bill lacks mechanisms to evaluate the effectiveness or efficiency of funded programs. This omission could result in inefficiencies or waste, particularly given the considerable and automatic increases in funding.
The bill also ties future annual increases to the CPI. While the CPI is a standard measure for inflation adjustments, it may not adequately capture the specific financial needs or performance outcomes of research programs, leading to potential funding misalignments. This reliance on a general economic measure may not account for the unique circumstances or costs associated with scientific research.
Furthermore, beyond 2035, appropriations automatically increase without specific caps, potentially leading to unchecked budget expansion. This lack of fiscal discipline raises concerns about sustainability and prudent use of government funds.
The exemption of these appropriations from sequestration, which typically involves automatic budget cuts to ensure fiscal discipline, could lead to imbalances in governmental budgeting. As a consequence, it might affect the proportionate allocation of resources, potentially prioritizing these scientific initiatives over other governmental areas that might also require funding.
Additionally, the decision to exclude these financial allocations from statutory PAYGO scorecards may reduce transparency and accountability. These scorecards are traditionally used to evaluate the impact of new legislation on the federal budget, and bypassing them might challenge fiscal responsibility norms.
Lastly, the complexity of appropriation formulas and budgetary language could hinder public understanding and engagement. Simplifying these terms and providing clear, accessible explanations could enhance transparency and enable better public discourse regarding government spending priorities.
Issues
The lack of performance metrics or accountability measures in Section 2 could lead to inefficiencies or wastage, as appropriations are set to increase significantly over the years without evaluating the effectiveness of the funded programs.
The tying of annual increases in appropriations in Section 2 to the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers may not accurately reflect the specific financial needs or performance of the agencies, potentially resulting in funding misalignments.
The provision for automatic increases post-2035 in Section 2 lacks specific caps or limits, potentially allowing for unchecked budget expansion and fiscal irresponsibility.
The exemption from PAYGO scorecards in Section 2 might raise concerns about fiscal discipline and accountability, as the budgetary effects of the appropriations will not be evaluated within the usual budgetary frameworks.
The exemption of certain appropriations from sequestration in Section 2 may lead to imbalances in budget management, potentially affecting the proportionate allocation of resources across government priorities.
The complex language regarding appropriation formulas and budgetary mechanisms in Section 2 might be difficult for the public to understand, hindering transparency and public scrutiny.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this Act states that it can be called the “American Innovation Act.”
2. Appropriations for innovation Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section authorizes specific funding amounts for various science and technology programs, including the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, from 2025 to 2035, with adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index for each year following 2035. It also states that these funds will remain available until used, provides definitions for the programs funded, exempts certain appropriations from budget sequestration, and specifies that the budgetary effects will not be recorded on PAYGO scorecards.
Money References
- (a) In general.—There are hereby authorized to be appropriated, and appropriated, out of any monies in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the following: (1) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.—For the National Science Foundation— (A) for fiscal year 2025, $9,741,000,000; (B) for fiscal year 2026, $10,460,000,000; (C) for fiscal year 2027, $11,213,000,000; (D) for fiscal year 2028, $12,019,000,000; (E) for fiscal year 2029, $12,886,000,000; (F) for fiscal year 2030, $13,817,000,000; (G) for fiscal year 2031, $14,817,000,000; (H) for fiscal year 2032, $15,891,000,000; (I) for fiscal year 2033, $17,043,000,000; (J) for fiscal year 2034, $18,280,000,000; and (K) for fiscal year 2035 and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount appropriated under this paragraph for the previous fiscal year, increased by the percentage increase (if any), during the previous fiscal year, in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- (2) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, OFFICE OF SCIENCE.—For the Office of Science at the Department of Energy— (A) for fiscal year 2025, $8,859,000,000; (B) for fiscal year 2026, $9,513,000,000; (C) for fiscal year 2027, $10,199,000,000; (D) for fiscal year 2028, $10,931,000,000; (E) for fiscal year 2029, $11,720,000,000; (F) for fiscal year 2030, $12,566,000,000; (G) for fiscal year 2031, $13,476,000,000; (H) for fiscal year 2032, $14,452,000,000; (I) for fiscal year 2033, $15,501,000,000; (J) for fiscal year 2034, $16,625,000,000; and (K) for fiscal year 2035 and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount appropriated under this paragraph for the previous fiscal year, increased by the percentage increase (if any), during the previous fiscal year, in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (3) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS.—For the Department of Defense science and technology programs— (A) for fiscal year 2025, $21,897,000,000; (B) for fiscal year 2026, $23,512,000,000; (C) for fiscal year 2027, $25,207,000,000; (D) for fiscal year 2028, $27,018,000,000; (E) for fiscal year 2029, $28,966,000,000; (F) for fiscal year 2030, $31,059,000,000; (G) for fiscal year 2031, $33,307,000,000; (H) for fiscal year 2032, $35,721,000,000; (I) for fiscal year 2033, $38,312,000,000; (J) for fiscal year 2034, $41,091,000,000; and (K) for fiscal year 2035 and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount appropriated under this paragraph for the previous fiscal year, increased by the percentage increase (if any), during the previous fiscal year, in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- (4) NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES.—For the scientific and technical research and services of the National Institute of Standards and Technology at the Department of Commerce— (A) for fiscal year 2025, $1,161,000,000; (B) for fiscal year 2026, $1,247,000,000; (C) for fiscal year 2027, $1,337,000,000; (D) for fiscal year 2028, $1,433,000,000; (E) for fiscal year 2029, $1,536,000,000; (F) for fiscal year 2030, $1,647,000,000; (G) for fiscal year 2031, $1,766,000,000; (H) for fiscal year 2032, $1,894,000,000; (I) for fiscal year 2033, $2,032,000,000; (J) for fiscal year 2034, $2,179,000,000; and (K) for fiscal year 2035 and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount appropriated under this paragraph for the previous fiscal year, increased by the percentage increase (if any), during the previous fiscal year, in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- (5) NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION SCIENCE MISSION DIRECTORATE.—For the Science Mission Directorate at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration— (A) for fiscal year 2025, $7,885,000,000; (B) for fiscal year 2026, $8,467,000,000; (C) for fiscal year 2027, $9,077,000,000; (D) for fiscal year 2028, $9,729,000,000; (E) for fiscal year 2029, $10,431,000,000; (F) for fiscal year 2030, $11,185,000,000; (G) for fiscal year 2031, $11,994,000,000; (H) for fiscal year 2032, $12,863,000,000; (I) for fiscal year 2033, $13,796,000,000; (J) for fiscal year 2034, $14,797,000,000; and (K) for fiscal year 2035 and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount appropriated under this paragraph for the previous fiscal year, increased by the percentage increase (if any), during the previous fiscal year, in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.