This was a vote on an amendment by Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) that would have eliminated $10 million in funding for the construction of scientific research facilities. (Such construction is funded through the federal government’s National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST], an agency that works with private industry to develop new technologies.) This amendment was offered to legislation funding the federal government (such bills are known as “continuing resolutions, or “CRs”) through September 2011, and cutting $61 billion in federal funding for many government programs.

Latta urged support for his amendment: “…My amendment would reduce spending for the Department of Commerce under the National Institute of Standards and Technology construction of research facilities account by $10 million…This program provides government money for construction of research science buildings. Currently, H.R. 1 [the underlying bill] funds the technology construction of research facilities account at $58 million and this amendment would reduce it to $48 million. While scientific research is important, when our nation is experiencing massive deficits, we have to make these difficult cuts.”

Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) opposed the amendment: “This account has been hit very, very hard already. Each reduction in the bill was carefully determined. The funding level provided for… construction in the bill is $89 million below… 2010 [funding]. NIST has played a key role in enabling innovative ideas with regard to strengthening infrastructure for advance manufacturing, service and science. NIST works with the private sector, other government agencies and universities to develop and apply the technology, measurements and standards needed for new and improved products.”

The House rejected this amendment by a vote of 184-247. Voting “yea” were 157 Republicans and 27 Democrats. 165 Democrats—including a majority of progressives—and 82 Republicans voted “nay.” As a result, the House rejected an amendment that would have eliminated $10 million in funding for the construction of research science buildings.