When Congress returns from its recess next month the big push
will be on to draft the first versions of the thirteen
appropriations bills. Some of the key appropriations hearings
on S&T funding have already been held, and others are
scheduled in the coming weeks.
The Governing Board of the American Institute of Physics has
endorsed three statements by coalitions working in support of
science and technology. The statements recommend funding
levels for the forthcoming FY 2003 appropriations bills.
Excerpts from these statements appear below. The entire text
of these statements can be read at
http://www.aip.org/gov/polstates.html
Several AIP Member
Societies have also endorsed some of these statements.
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
The below statement was issued by the Coalition on National
Science Funding (CNSF):
"For the FY 2003 NSF budget, CNSF recommends an increase of
$718 million (or 15 percent) above the FY 2002 level of $4.79
billion, bringing the agency's budget to $5.508 billion. These
additional funds, above the FY 2002 baseline, would be devoted
to achieving the following objectives:
"Increase by $220 million the funding for core programs for
research and education. . . . The proposed increase would
provide $220 million to enable more highly rated proposals to
be funded, allowing NSF to meet unrealized opportunities in
core research and education.
"Increase funding by $220 million to continue supporting key
initiatives: Nanotechnology, biocomplexity, information
technology research, workforce development (including
mathematics and science partnerships), mathematics research,
and social and behavioral sciences have all been identified as
fields ripe for advances."
"Provide an additional $130 million to increase grant size and
duration: The average NSF grant in the year 2000 was for
$93,000 and lasted for just under three years. By comparison,
the average NIH grant in 2000 was for $283,000 and lasted for
just over four years. Increasing the size and time period of
grants will enable researchers to concentrate on discovery
rather than paperwork."
"Provide an additional $100 million to stimulate the economy
through the purchase of needed research instrumentation: In FY
2001, the NSF Major Research Instrumentation program awarded
$75 million, but many worthy applications could not be funded.
. . ."
"Provide an increase of $25 million to assist with homeland
security and anti-terrorism efforts. . . . Working closely
with other federal agencies, NSF can enhance support for
groundbreaking research in information security, detection of
airborne hazards, structural studies to improve building
safety, social and psychological effects of living with
terrorism, wireless communications, and a broad range of other
relevant issues."
"Provide $23 million to increase graduate student stipends:
Providing better compensation to graduate students will
attract more qualified Americans to science and engineering
careers, thereby addressing long-term workforce needs."
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF SCIENCE
The below statement was
issued by the Energy Sciences Coalition (ESC):
"The Energy Sciences Coalition encourages the Administration
and Congress to strengthen the nation's investment in the
Department of Energy's Office of Science (SC) programs and
facilities by providing an increase of at least $300 million,
for a minimum budget of $3.580 billion in FY 2003."
"DOE is the primary supporter of scientific facilities and the
largest sponsor of research in the physical sciences, second
in computer science and mathematics, and third in engineering.
SC provides a significant portion of federal R&D funding for
scientists and students at our universities and plays a
central role in supporting long-term, peer-reviewed basic
research that strengthens our knowledge base and fosters the
next generation of scientists."
"ESC appreciates the bipartisan support shown by Congress and
the Administration in the final FY 2002 budget for the Office
of Science. To maintain the tremendous advances that the U.S.
brings to basic scientific research and into the marketplace,
we strongly encourage Congress and the Administration to
provide the Office of Science with a $300 million increase in
funding for a total of $3.5 billion in FY 2003. This increase
would be allocated to support a targeted increase in the DOE
research infrastructure of $300 million a year for each of the
next five years, allotted as follows:
"$100 million to strengthen core research and education in the
physical sciences and engineering performed in universities
and national laboratories; $100 million to increase the
effectiveness and utilization of DOE's world class research
facilities; $50 million to develop the next generation of
scientific research tools; and $50 million to advance research
and innovation, specifically targeting energy independence and
national security."
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS
The below statement was issued by the Coalition for National
Security Research (CNSR):
"For FY 2003, CNSR encourages the Administration and Congress
to provide 3 percent of the total Defense Department budget,
or $11 billion, for the DOD basic (6.1), applied (6.2) and
advanced technology development (6.3) accounts, which make up
the S&T program. . . ."
"DOD's S&T programs provide critical investments in scientific
disciplines vital to ensuring future security, including
engineering, mathematics, and physical, computer, and
behavioral sciences. . . ."
"The QDR [Quadrennial Defense Review] states: 'A robust
research and development effort is imperative to achieving the
Department's transformation objectives. DOD must maintain a
strong science and technology (S&T) program that supports
evolving military needs and ensures technological superiority
over potential adversaries. To provide the basic research
for these capabilities, the QDR calls for a significant
increase in funding for S&T programs to a level of three
percent of DOD spending per year.'
"CNSR applauds the support that Congress and the
Administration have provided to DOD S&T programs. To sustain
this momentum, CNSR recommends an increase to $11 billion in
FY03, and the continued, stable investment in DOD's S&T
programs necessary to protect and equip new generations of
American soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines in the 21st
century.
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