Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today approved a bill sponsored by U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman that would help the National Cave and Karst Research Institute in Carlsbad successfully compete for increased federal funding.  U.S. Senator Pete Domenici is a cosponsor of the bill.

               In 1997, Bingaman introduced the bill -- which was later signed into law -- that created the National Cave and Karst Research Institute.  The bill required the Institute to seek outside funding to match the federal dollars invested in the research performed there. 

While the Institute has been successful in securing federal funds, the 50 percent matching requirement has prevented it from competing for additional federal grant opportunities.  The Senator’s legislation before the committee today seeks to eliminate the matching requirement in order to help the Institute acquire additional funding.

“The bill approved by the Energy Committee today will allow the National Cave and Karst Research Institute to access the funding it needs to reach its full potential,” said Bingaman, chairman of the Energy and Natural Resource Committee.

“This bill will remove a significant impediment to the goals of the Cave and Karst Institute by allowing it to more freely apply for federal funds,” said Domenici, ranking member of the committee. 

The goals of the Cave and Karst Institute are to maintain a scientific knowledge of cave resources, participate in and facilitate research projects, and promote environmentally sound, sustainable resource management practices.

The bill is now ready to be considered by the full Senate.