Budget proposals offer a range of DOE funding increases

Science : Democrats, Republicans, and even a bipartisan group have put forward a variety of proposals regarding funding for the Department of Energy’s science programs. The different drafts are being proposed for the legislation to reauthorize the 2010 America COMPETES Act. The proposal from Republicans in the House of Representatives would raise DOE science spending by 2.7% over 2 years to $4.8 billion. House Democrats would raise funding to $5.4 billion in 2 years and $6.3 billion in 5 years. A bipartisan proposal from the Senate calls for an increase to $5.7 billion in 2 years and $6.9 billion in 5 years. In comparison, President Obama has asked for $5.2 billion for next year. The Democratic and bipartisan proposals also include increases in funding for the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy; the Republican proposal does not. What final form the legislation will take is still unclear.