American Innovation Act
Sponsored By: Representative Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
Introduced
Summary
sustained federal investment in basic science. This bill would create a targeted, multi‑year funding framework to expand and sustain national basic science research. It sets year-by-year appropriations through fiscal year 2035 for five major portfolios, applies inflation indexing using the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) after 2035, and exempts the funding from sequestration and from certain PAYGO scorecards.
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- Researchers and universities: Universities, national labs, and individual investigators would get predictable basic research funding, with the National Science Foundation starting at $9.7 billion and the Department of Energy Office of Science at $8.9 billion in FY2026.
- Defense science programs: Department of Defense science and technology programs would receive a large, multi-year increase, starting at $23.1 billion in FY2026 and rising to about $43.4 billion by FY2035.
- Space science and missions: NASA’s Science Mission Directorate would have dedicated funding beginning at $7.9 billion in FY2026 to support missions and scientific research.
- Standards and tech commercialization: The National Institute of Standards and Technology would receive research funding starting at $1.2 billion in FY2026 to support measurement, standards, and commercialization activities.
- Budget process: The appropriations remain available until expended and are explicitly exempted from sequestration orders and from counting on statutory and Senate PAYGO scorecards.
*The bill would authorize multibillion-dollar appropriations for five science portfolios through FY2035 with CPI-U adjustments thereafter and exempts those appropriations from sequestration and from PAYGO scorecards.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Decade of funding for NSF research
If enacted, the National Science Foundation would get set yearly funding from FY2026 to FY2035. It would start at about $9.735 billion in FY2026 and reach about $18.279 billion in FY2035. From FY2036 on, NSF funding would rise each year with inflation (CPI‑U). This could support university grants, student researchers, and small business awards.
Long-term funding for defense research
If enacted, defense science and technology programs would get set yearly funding from FY2026 to FY2035. Funding would start at about $23.109 billion in FY2026 and reach about $43.392 billion in FY2035. From FY2036 on, the amount would rise each year with inflation (CPI‑U). This could support DoD labs, contractors, and research partners.
Long-term funding for Energy Department science
If enacted, the Department of Energy’s Office of Science would get set yearly funding from FY2026 to FY2035. It would start at about $8.854 billion in FY2026 and grow to about $16.624 billion in FY2035. From FY2036 on, the amount would rise each year with inflation (CPI‑U). This could support national labs, university partners, and research firms.
Long-term funding for NASA science
If enacted, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate would get set yearly funding from FY2026 to FY2035. It would start at about $7.88 billion in FY2026 and rise to about $14.796 billion in FY2035. From FY2036 on, the amount would increase each year with inflation (CPI‑U). This could support space science missions, contractors, and research institutions.
Long-term funding for NIST labs
If enacted, NIST research and services would get set yearly funding from FY2026 to FY2035. It would start at about $1.244 billion in FY2026 and grow to about $2.335 billion in FY2035. From FY2036 on, the amount would rise each year with inflation (CPI‑U). This could support measurement standards, labs, and outside research partners.
Research funds would not expire yearly
If enacted, the named science funds would stay available until spent. They would not lapse at the end of a fiscal year. The bill defines which agency accounts are covered for NSF, Energy, Defense S&T, NASA science, and NIST research. This could help multi‑year grants and projects plan and finish their work.
Shields science funds from budget cuts
If enacted, these appropriations would be exempt from sequestration orders issued after enactment. Their budget effects would also not be listed on statutory or Senate PAYGO scorecards. This would help protect the listed science funds from automatic cuts and offset rules.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
IL • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 4/3/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 4/3/2025
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 4/3/2025
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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