There were many science policy and budget developments affecting the
physical sciences community in 2005. The following is a brief review
of these events, sorted by the month in which the FYI was released.
Readers wishing further information should consult the 2005 FYI archive
at http://www.aip.org/fyi/2005/
by the FYI number cited.
JANUARY: A National Research Council committee concluded that
only a "small percentage" of defense basic research funding
had been redirected toward non-basic S&T programs; it urged the
Defense Department to support more "unfettered exploration"
in its basic research program (#9). Energy Secretary-Designate Samuel
Bodman told senators at his confirmation hearing that he hoped to be
viewed as a strong supporter of physical sciences in the Administration
(#10).
FEBRUARY: President Bush requested almost flat funding for R&D
in his FY 2006 budget request (#15). Office of Science Director Ray
Orbach warned that budget constraints "are not going to go away
in 2007 [and] it's going to be a difficult four years" (#25).
MARCH: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called science a
great diplomatic tool, and spoke of ITER as "an important project"
that needed to achieve a negotiations breakthrough in the location of
the facility (#26). Senate appropriations subcommittee chairman Christopher
Bond (R-MO) criticized the federal government for not adequately supporting
the physical sciences (#27). A senior level innovation task force warned
that America's S&T leadership was at risk (#32). The first hearing
of the newly-established House Science, State, Justice and Commerce
Appropriations Subcommittee demonstrated strong support for S&T
(#36). The House Science Committee criticized the Administration's FY
2006 R&D request and proposed program changes (#45).
APRIL: House Science Committee members raised many questions
about NASA's vision for space exploration (#46). National Academy of
Sciences President Bruce Alberts urged support for the teaching of evolution
(#49). Michael Griffin was confirmed as the new NASA Administrator (#57).
MAY: More than 2/3s of senators signed a letter in support of
a 3.2% increase for the DOE Office of Science (#63). House appropriations
subcommittee chairman Frank Wolf (R-VA) urged President Bush to triple
federal basic research and development funding over the next decade
(#64). In the House, 167 Members signed a letter supporting higher NSF
funding than that which President Bush requested (#66). This action
was followed by a letter signed by 121 representatives supporting significantly
higher funding for the DOE Office of Science (#68). Senate appropriators
and new NASA Administrator Michael Griffin found common ground on the
agency's current agenda and future vision (#69). House appropriators
took issue with the Administration's nuclear weapons initiatives (#73).
The Science Committee challenged NASA's Earth Science program plans
(#79). A fall S&T conference in Washington was announced (#80).
The House approved plans for interim civilian nuclear waste storage
and reprocessing (#82).
JUNE: The National Research council released a report on likely
civilian casualties from the use of a "bunker buster" nuclear
weapon (#83). The House rejected a move to cut NSF funding in the proposed
FY 2006 appropriations bill (#92). Senate appropriators drafted a bill
that was more favorable to Administration's nuclear weapons initiatives
(#99), but provided no construction funding for National Ignition Facility
(#100). A decision was made to locate ITER in France (#101). Senate
appropriators took a different approach to nuclear waste reprocessing,
setting the stage for a confrontation with the House (#102).
JULY NASA reauthorization bills moved (#108 and #113). The Administration
released a planning document on FY 2007 R&D priorities (#111). Unprecedented
congressional controversy about global climate change research made
headlines (#112). A shift occurred in Senate thinking about global climate
change with the passage of a sense-of-the-Senate resolution (#114).
AUGUST: A fusion advisory committee questioned the impact of
ITER funding on the domestic fusion program (#117). Hearings demonstrated
little enthusiasm for nuclear fuel reprocessing (#118). President Bush
signed major energy policy legislation (#119). William Jeffrey was confirmed
as the new NIST director (#123). A task force report was released on
the consolidation of the nuclear weapons complex (#127).
SEPTEMBER: DOE officials took steps to lessen the impact of
Hurricane Katrina on the work of affected scientists (#130). The Senate
voted overwhelmingly to support the Advanced Technology Program (#136).
NASA Administrator Griffin described NASA's Exploration Architecture;
congressional reaction was guardedly supportive (#138).
OCTOBER: A Senate hearing demonstrated wide disagreement about
climate change (#142). A trial on Intelligent Design in public schools
began in Pennsylvania (#143). A manufacturing R&D authorization
bill passed House, excluding ATP (#147). Public comment was sought on
an Administration strategic report to reduce greenhouse gases (#150).
NSF released a facility plan (#151). Congress refused to fund "bunker
buster" nuclear weapon research (#152).
NOVEMBER: Two major science organizations disputed Kansas science
education standards relating to the teaching of evolution (#154). A
major report released by the National Academies on U.S. competitiveness
attracted considerable attention on Capitol Hill (#155 and #164). Congress
completed work on NSF, NASA and DOE funding bills (#159, #160 and #163).
A DOE funding bill was completed with a new direction taken on future
nuclear fuel recycling (#161). The same DOE bill provided construction
funding for the National Ignition Facility and no funding for a modern
pit facility (#162). The NIST funding bill was completed which provided
ATP money (#165). House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert
(R-NY) warned of the need for an ITER funding plan and threatened to
kill the project without such a plan (#167). Senators expressed concern
about the impact of funding cuts on the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider
and Jefferson Laboratory (#168).
DECEMBER: The National Summit on Competitiveness was held in
Washington (#172). A National Research Council report was released on
science in the context of space exploration (#173). The FY 2006 DOD
appropriations bill was completed (#175). A federal judge ruled that
Intelligent Design should not offered as an alternative to evolution
in a Pennsylvania school district (#177).
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