Budget Briefs

Cyber Services, new tech suffer

The House Appropriations Committee last week approved fiscal 2001 funding

increases for NASA and the National Science Foundation but declined to provide

about $11 million for the Federal Cyber Services, a program developed by

NSF with the Clinton administration to provide scholarships to information

security students in return for federal service. Also excluded was $59.2

million for NASA's Aviation System Capacity program for research and development

to improve air traffic control.

Crime-fighting IT boosted

A House Appropriations subcommittee approved $3.23 billion in FBI funding

for fiscal 2001, including $68 million for the National Instant Criminal

Background Check System, which is used to identify would-be gun buyers who

are prohibited by law from buying firearms.

Net protection program nixed

A House Appropriations subcommittee voted not to give the Commerce Department

$60 million to fund critical infrastructure protection programs. The budget

request included $50 million to develop and house the Institute for Information

Infrastructure Protection, which would fund research at existing organizations

and groups.

Customs funding in question

The Customs Service is still waiting to learn whether it will receive

money in the fiscal 2001 budget for its $1.5 billion modernization program

and funds to keep its current system operating. A House Appropriations subcommittee

postponed once again its session on deciding how much money will be allocated

to the Treasury Department and related agencies.