Panel OKs Commerce, Justice and Science Budget

On June 29, the House Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee unanimously approved a $60.5 billion fiscal 2011 funding bill. The panel's funding total nearly matches the Obama administration's request, which was close to $4 billion below current-year funding.

But most of the reduction reflects the end of the big addition for the 2010 Census. The Commerce Department would receive $8.89 billion, $69.7 million below the administration's request, with most of the cuts coming from the International Trade Administration, Bureau of Industry and Security, and the Institute of Standards. But the bill adds money to the Economic Development Administration. The bill would provide the requested total of $26.4 billion for science, which included small increases in programs to stimulate science, mathematics and engineering education and small adjustments in the various space exploration programs.