As the House of Representatives considers an appropriations package (H.R. 3354) that includes funding for the National Science Foundation, a proposed amendment threatens to reduce social science funding at NSF. To contact your Member of Congress to oppose this amendment and other amendments that threaten social science research, see an Action Alert issued by the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA).
Amendment #150 seeks a 0.5 percent increase of funding for biological and physical sciences research at the NSF, while keeping overall funding levels for the NSF Research and Related Activities Account at the $30.2 million level. Without an additional offset, the proposed increase threatens to shift funding away from other disciplines, including research in the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) directorate. Like similar amendments that have targeted the SBE directorate in recent years, the amendment would interfere in NSF’s longstanding and highly effective practice of setting investment priorities based on the organization’s scientific expertise and on its world renowned merit review process.
Other amendments to the appropriations package also would affect social science research, including an amendment (#105) to reduce the allocation for the Census Bureau, and an amendment (#73) to cut the Institute of Education Sciences at the Department of Education by 32 percent from FY17 levels. See the COSSA Action Alert and related talking points for more information.