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The Science Appropriations Act, 2008 (H.R. 3093) was a bill in the 110th Congress "making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes." (Official title.)^[1]

Contents 1 Current status 2 Bill summary 3 Key votes 3.1 House 3.1.1 Amendments 3.1.2 Passage 3.2 Senate 4 Articles and resources 4.1 References 4.2 External resources

Current status

Bill summary

• Prohibits the use of funds in this bill to purchase first class or premium airline seats under most circumstances (Sec. 537).^[1]

• $9.36 billion for the Department of Commerce, including $4.22 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, $1.92 billion for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and $1.24 billion for the Bureau of the Census.^[1]

• $24.12 billion for the Department of Justice, including $6.58 billion for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), $5.65 billion for the Federal Prison System, $1.85 billion for the Drug Enforcement Administration, $622.50 million for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, and $7.85 million for the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety program.^[1]

• $25.02 billion for sciences, including $18.46 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and $6.55 billion for the National Science Foundation.^[1]

• $899.70 million for related agencies, including $390.00 million for the Legal Services Corporation, $378.00 million for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and $68.4 million for the International Trade Commission.^[1]

Key votes

House

Amendments

Among the amendments the House considered were the following:

• An amendment by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) that "sought to prohibit use of funds for the EEOC may be used for litigation expenses incurred in connection with cases commenced after the date of the enactment of this Act against employers on the grounds that such employers require employees to speak English."^[2] It failed to pass by a vote of 212-202.

Same for all scorecards:

• Name of bill: Science Appropriations Act, 2008
• Chamber: U.S. House of Representatives
• Roll call number: 734
• Congress number: 110th
• Session number: 1
• Vote link: U.S. House of Representatives record vote 734, 110th Congress, Session 1

Scored vote
Scorecard: American Conservative Union 2007 House Scorecard	Org. position: Aye
Description: "The House defeated an amendment to an appropriations bill that would have prevented the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from suing employers who require their employees to speak English in the workplace. ACU favored this amendment." (Original scorecard available at: http://www.acuratings.org/)

• An amendment by Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) that "prohibits funds in the bill from being used by the Department of Justice to enforce the criminal penalties provisions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002."^[3] It passed by a vote of 215-205.

Same for all scorecards:

• Name of bill: Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008
• Chamber: U.S. House of Representatives
• Roll call number: 737
• Congress number: 110th
• Session number: 1
• Vote link: U.S. House of Representatives record vote 737, 110th Congress, Session 1

Scored vote
Scorecard: National Journal 2007 House Scorecard	Org. position: {{{Vote position 1}}}
Description: "Bar funds to enforce campaign finance requirements on electioneering communications. July 26. (215-205)" (Original scorecard available at: http://www.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/house_votes.htm)

Same for all scorecards:

• Name of bill: Science Appropriations Act, 2008
• Chamber: U.S. House of Representatives
• Roll call number: 739
• Congress number: 110th
• Session number: 1
• Vote link: U.S. House of Representatives record vote 739, 110th Congress, Session 1

Scored vote
Scorecard: Club For Growth 2007 House Scorecard	Org. position: {{{Vote position 1}}}
Description: "Vote on a Jordan amendment that would reduce funding in the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill by 3 percent. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because a reduction in discretionary spending is badly needed after years of unprecedented growth. Failed 138-282." (Original scorecard available at: http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2008/05/the_2007_congressional_scoreca.php)

Passage

On July 26, 2007, the House passed H.R. 3093 by a vote of 281-142.

Senate

The Senate passed an amended version of H.R. 3093 on October 16, 2007 by a vote of 75-19.

However, the Senate and House were unable to come to an agreement in the conference committee and on December 12, 2007 the House laid H.R. 3093 on the table.^[4]

Articles and resources

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Project Vote Smart’s info page on Science Appropriations Act, 2008(H.R.3093).
2. ↑ THOMAS page on H.AMDT.678.
3. ↑ THOMAS page on H.AMDT.682.
4. ↑ OpenCongress' info page on H.R. 3093.

External resources

• THOMAS bill page for H.R.3093.