JANUARY: Senator Bill Frist (R-TN), a strong supporter of S&T,
becomes new Majority Leader. Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL) introduces an
authorization bill to dramatically increase DOE science funding. DOE
Office of Science sponsors a public workshop on forthcoming Strategic
Plan. Five representatives urge Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham to
announce US plans to participate in ITER; Abraham proclaims US will
do so.
FEBRUARY: Bush Administration sends FY 2004 budget request to
Congress, amidst confusing budget situation as FY 2003 appropriations
remain incomplete. First congressional hearing is held on Space Shuttle
Columbia accident, while Columbia Accident Investigation Board begins
work. A final version of PCAST panel letter is released recommending
parity between life sciences funding and physical sciences and engineering
funding. House nanotechnology bill introduced that is similar to a Senate
bill introduced in January. House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood
Boehlert (R-NY) and members praise and criticize Bush Administration's
FY 2004 S&T budget request.
MARCH: Important appropriations hearings completed for DOE Office
of Science. DOE's Ray Orbach tells a fusion advisory committee that
there will likely be a couple of lean budget years before ITER construction
commences. Generally positive hearing for NASA before Science Committee.
Senior DOD officials voice support for a 3% target of overall defense
spending for S&T programs.
APRIL: Senators Christopher Bond (R-MO) and Barbara Mikulski
(D-MD) express displeasure at Administration's NSF budget request; Bond
predicts he will find more money. Science Committee leadership introduces
a bill to boost DOE science funding. House Appropriations subcommittee
hearing for NASA demonstrates general support and good will for NASA,
its budget request, and its administrator. House and Senate appropriators
react very favorably to new Homeland Security S&T Under Secretary.
House appropriators criticize Administration's NSF request. OSTP Director
John Marburger says Administration is working to resolve visa processing
delays. Nobel Laureates and corporate leaders send a letter to Administration
urging higher level of FY 2005 S&T funding. Senate energy policy
authorization bill calls for significant increases in DOE science funding.
MAY: House and Senate start review of Administration's nuclear
weapons and testing initiatives. Moves in Senate to advance climate
change legislation. House passes nanotechnology bill. OSTP official
calls burning plasma experiment the crucial missing element in a fusion
energy science program. House and Senate defense authorizers propose
essentially flat S&T funding authorization for FY 2004. Momentum
builds for expanded federal research program on hydrogen energy. DOE's
Orbach says it is "terribly important" that an energy policy
bill with science authorization numbers be passed. House and Senate
authorizers agree with Administration's nuclear weapons initiatives.
JUNE: National Science Board declares that federal government
should have an "aggressive effort to better prepare the Nation's
S&E workforce." K-12 science education bills move in the House.
NSF seeks comments on five-year draft Strategic Plan that sets priorities,
allocates resources, and discusses measurement. House passes dramatic
increases for Homeland Security S&T funding for FY 2004. House appropriators
recommend sizeable increases for defense S&T funding, although basic
research funding would increase only 1.1%. House and Senate appropriators
pass funding bills with 1.4% and 4.0% increases for National Institute
of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. House and Senate appropriators
pass K-12 funding bills. Senate hearings start on DOE lab management.
Senate authorizers send nanotechnology bill to floor.
JULY: House Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman David Hobson
(R-OH) drafts an FY 2004 DOE bill with an increase of 6.7% for science
programs. Senate appropriators approve overall 5.9% increase in defense
S&T funding, with 4.0% decline in basic research funding. Senate
appropriators recommend 56.9% increase in Homeland Security S&T
program funding. House and Senate appropriators recommend increases
of less than 2.0% in USGS funding. NSF funding bill approved by House
appropriators with 6.2% proposed increase. Senate appropriators declare
that declining trends for physical science funding and student enrollment
"must be reversed." Senate passes a nuclear plant construction
loan guarantee by narrow margin. House appropriators vote to eliminate
Advanced Technology Program in FY 2004. Funding bill passes House that
reduces or eliminates nuclear weapons initiatives and testing requests.
Administration releases climate change research strategic plan. House
appropriators approve basically flat FY 2004 funding for NASA. Orbach
identifies ITER as path-forward for all large-scale international science
collaboration.
AUGUST: Administration official discusses FY 2005 R&D priorities.
A DOE workshop report identifies hydrogen energy research needs and
opportunities. Shuttle Columbia Accident Report is released and receives
much praise on Capitol Hill.
SEPTEMBER: Congressional committees begin shuttle accident hearings,
with calls made on both sides of witness table for agency vision. Senate
appropriators vote for flat funding for NASA. Senate votes to fund Administration's
nuclear weapons initiatives. Former AIP Fellow, George Atkinson, named
Secretary of State's S&T Advisor. Congress sends FY 2004 DOD bill
to White House with 13.3% increase for S&T, but flat funding for
basic research. Homeland Security appropriations bill also goes to President,
with 50% increase for R&D and related activities. Senate appropriators
defy House, and restore ATP FY 2004 funding.
OCTOBER: NIH releases medical research roadmap calling for interdisciplinary
research. Work continues on an energy policy bill that contains good
funding numbers for DOE science program. Secretary of Energy Advisory
Board report released on conduct of federally-supported science states
that DOE has a "paramount responsibility for keeping American science
preeminent in the 21st century." House Science Committee hearing
on Mars as a human space flight objective. A presidential council seeks
input on management of federal research grants. Congressional appropriators
approve 3.3% increase for USGS in FY 2004. Senior DOE official tells
advisory committee that "budget drives everything that we do."
Positive hearing held on Math and Science Partnership education programs.
Senate votes against mandatory greenhouse gas emissions controls; supporters
encouraged by number of positive votes.
NOVEMBER: Congressional appropriators settle on 5.8% increase
for DOE Office of Science. Administration wins nuclear weapons initiatives
and testing funding for FY 2004. Energy Secretary Abraham announces
20-year facilities plan in a major address at National Press Club. Science
Committee hearing on Administration's climate change research program.
Senior OSTP official cautions advisory panel that "balance"
is a "red-hot word."
DECEMBER: Congress runs out of time to pass remaining FY 2004
appropriations bills, and leadership promises to return to pass an omnibus
bill in January containing 5.0% increase for NSF, 3.2% increase for
NIBIB, 48.5% for Department of Education Math and Science Partnership
Program, 11.8% cut for NIST (with flat funding for ATP), and a drop
of less than 1% for NASA. President signs nanotechnology authorization
bill. American Geophysical Union releases a statement on the human impacts
of climate change.
Enlarge text
Shrink text
Print
E-mail
Digg this
Del.icio.us
Furl