The Senate passed the bill, HR4664, on Nov. 14 and sent it to President Bush on Nov. 26. The president is expected to sign the bill into law within 10 days.

The IEEE-USA, an association that represents the interests of U.S. engineers, said passage of the bill is good news for industry and will help create engineering jobs. The IEEE-USA has supported the bill since its introduction by House Science Committee member Nick Smith (R-Mich.) in May 2002.

"NSF funds cutting-edge research in engineering and computing that are of tremendous value and interest to U.S. IEEE members, and ultimately beneficial to all Americans," said IEEE-USA president LeEarl Bryant. "These funds will help maintain a viable U.S. technology work force, which is critical to our nation's economic competitiveness and security."

HR4664 also authorizes the President's Math and Science Education Partnership Program for elementary and secondary schools; new research into plant biotechnology; and a technical talent program to improve undergraduate math and science education and address the declining technical work force.

The programs will help NSF address new challenges in the areas of information technology, nanotechnology and homeland security, said Ralph W. Wyndrum, vice president for technology policy for IEEE-USA. They "could help offset the recent declines in Defense Department support for electrical and electronics-related research at universities," he said.

The NSF is the government's premier research agency supporting 46 percent of the basic engineering research performed at U.S. universities and colleges, helping train more than 25,000 graduate students each year.