Select programs in the 1996 budget

Advanced Research Projects Agency

ARPA's proposed budget represents a decrease from 1995. The fiscal 1996 budget of $2.64 billion is almost $100 million less than the 1995 budget of $2.7 billion. However, the Computing Systems and Communications Technology program is slated for a 3.9% increase, from $389 million in 1995 to $404 million in 1996. This program focuses on software engineering technologies and intelligent systems and contains most of the HPCC funds allocated to the Defense Department.

The overall Defense portion of HPCC will increase 5%, from $384 million in 1995 to $403 million in 1996. Some of this money traditionally has gone to the National Security Agency.

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Despite Republican proposals to eliminate the Advanced Technology Program, the Clinton administration proposed to increase funding in 1996 to $431 million--14% over 1995. ATP provides cost-shared funding to individual companies and industry-led joint ventures for the development of high-risk but potentially high-payoff technologies.

Also, the 1996 budget for Computer Systems would increase 25% to $48 million, which is $9 million over the 1995 budget. This program focuses on developing standards and conformance tests for computers and telecommunications systems and on security and interoperability.

Finally, funding for Applied Mathematics and Scientific Computing would rise from $7.3 million in 1995 to $11 million in 1996--a 50% increase. This program provides expertise in mathematical modeling, statistics, numerical analysis, scientific computing and, as part of the HPCC program, collaborates with other laboratories.