Science Debate 2008, the people who encouraged discussion of science issues in the 2008 elections, have prepared a summary chart showing the status of science-related line items in each of the House of Representatives and Senate versions of the economic stimulus package. A House-Senate conference committee is now reconciling the two versions of the bill, and the chart shows where each agency and program wins or loses.
For example, according to the chart the House version of the bill gives more money to National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy's Office of Science, the NIH, and the Department of Education. The Senate's bill favors NASA, the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office of the Department of Energy, and the Advanced Broadband Program in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (part of Department of Commerce).
The chart also shows that to understand what's going on, you need to look beyond the bottom lines and get into the details. Each version of the bill, for example, gives about equal amounts to National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST). However, the House version adds funds to the NIST's Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Extension Partnership programs, while the Senate bill does not.
The page's authors keep the page updated, since events are happening quickly. The page also gives the names of the conference committee members and links to their Web-site contact pages, if you want to add your voice to the debate.
Full disclosure: AAAS, the publisher of Science Careers, is a cosponsor of Science Debate 2008.
Hat-tip: Daily Kos
Update: Associated Press/MSNBC reports Congressional conferees have reached a deal on the stimulus bill.
For example, according to the chart the House version of the bill gives more money to National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy's Office of Science, the NIH, and the Department of Education. The Senate's bill favors NASA, the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office of the Department of Energy, and the Advanced Broadband Program in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (part of Department of Commerce).
The chart also shows that to understand what's going on, you need to look beyond the bottom lines and get into the details. Each version of the bill, for example, gives about equal amounts to National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST). However, the House version adds funds to the NIST's Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Extension Partnership programs, while the Senate bill does not.
The page's authors keep the page updated, since events are happening quickly. The page also gives the names of the conference committee members and links to their Web-site contact pages, if you want to add your voice to the debate.
Full disclosure: AAAS, the publisher of Science Careers, is a cosponsor of Science Debate 2008.
Hat-tip: Daily Kos
Update: Associated Press/MSNBC reports Congressional conferees have reached a deal on the stimulus bill.
