The Public Affairs office continues to focus on the four major areas of interest as determined by the PAA board. They are the NIH, the NSF, the Census Bureau and Commerce Department, and USAID and international population research programs. Funding for these accounts saw mixed results in the 104th Congress. The fact that some of them survived at all in the face of one of the most conservative Congresses in recent years is remarkable. Final appropriations for each account of key importance to PAA are as follows.
NIH once again came out a winner in the appropriations process. Through the strong leadership of House Appropriations Subcommittee Chair John Porter (RIL), the House agreed to an increase of 6.9% for NIH for FY97; 6.5% of the increase for core research; $90 million for the Clinical Center. Overall funding for NIH is nearly $13 billion. This translates into $631.9 million for NICHD and $484 million for NIA. Retiring Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Mark Hatfield (ROR) and Senators Arlen Specter (RPA) and Tom Harkin (DIA) were also instrumental in securing the increase for the institutes.
NSF fared moderately well this year. HR 3666, the VA, HUD and Independent Agencies FY97 appropriations, passed as a standalone bill and was signed by President Clinton on September 26. Conferees agreed to a total of $3.27 billion for the foundation, a 2% increase over the FY96 level. The appropriation for research and related activities included $50 million for largescale academic research instrumentation. The education and human resources account is funded at $619 million, which is $7 million above the House recommendation and $5 million below the Senate's recommendation.
Funding for the Commerce Department and the Census Bureau was included in the omnibus appropriations legislation. The Census Bureau received $345.5 million, including $210.5 million for periodic censuses and surveys such as the decennial census, and $135 million for the Salaries and Expenses account, which includes ongoing statistical programs. The bill earmarked $84 million for the preparation of the 2000 census, consider-ably less than the $105 million requested by the Bureau.
The good news for the Bureau is that the report language preventing the Census Bureau from preparing to use sampling in the 2000 census was omitted. Both the House and the Senate had approved a nonbinding proposal to bar statistical sampling in the decennial census. The language that was included in the spending bill does, however, criticize the Bureau for not determining how to allocate costs for the census long form among other federal agency data users. Although it lacks the force of law, the language carries substantial weight and reveals the lack of confidence Congress has in the Bureau's ability to control costs.
The controversy over abortions provided overseas that held up last year's foreign aid appropriations surfaced again this year. Although both houses passed versions of HR3450, the FY97 foreign aid appropriations, the conference report remained open (no action was taken by either house) because of the dispute. As a result, USAID appropriations for FY97 were included in the omnibus legislation. The final negotiations allowed the White House a small victory-- elimination of the Mexico City language-but it came at a steep price, namely the possible shutdown of some US birth control programs abroad. Basically, the measure extends the compromise that was in effect for FY96; an overall cut from the 1995 levels disproportionate to that of other development assistance programs, a moratorium on the release of any funds until after July 1, 1997 and a "metering system" to disperse the appropriated funds in small installments through July, 1998. The legislation increased overall funding for foreign operations by $143 million from the $12.1 billion approved by House and Senate negotiators. Funding for family planning programs is $385 million, slightly higher than last year's $356 million, but 30% below the FY95 appropriation. FY97 appropriations will operate independently of the FY96 appropriations. FY96 funds, having been withheld until July 1, 1996, will continue to be allocated at the rate of $24 million per month through September, 1997. The measure also directs the President to submit to Congress no later than February 1, 1997 a report discussing any "negative impact" that funding limitations will have on the "proper functioning of the population planning program." On the same day, a Joint Resolution incorporating the findings is to be introduced on his behalf. The resolution cannot be changed or amended at any point in the process. It must then be referred to the appropriate committees. Five legislative days later, the committees must report on the measure and Congress must vote to accept or reject the President's findings by February 28. If the President determines that the law is harmful and both the House and Senate agree, funding for the family planning program will become available four months early (March 1, 1997), although still according to the 8% per month installment schedule.
The significance of this vote is twofold. It is anticipated that the vote, which is likely to be the first major substantive decision of the 105th Congress, will become a test for reproductive rights and will be seen as a critical indication of how much the new Congress has changed from its predecessor. A positive vote would break the twoyear deadlock over family planning; a negative vote would all but eliminate chances of restoring program funding without restriction.
If you recall, last year the House approved HR 1271, the Family Privacy Protection Act, as part of the Contract with America. The legislation requires that permission slips be signed and returned by parents before their children can participate in schoolbased federally funded surveys. The PA office joined a coalition of more than 30 science, education and health organizations opposed to this measure. The Senate did not schedule floor action on the bill in the 104th Congress, however staff have reported that Senator Charles Grassley (RIA) will introduce similar legislation next year.