Seventy representatives signed a letter to Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Peter Visclosky (D-IN) and Ranking Member Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) urging that they:
"increase funding for the DOE Office of Science in Fiscal Year 2010 by 8 percent over Fiscal Year 2009, consistent with President Obama's plan to double the Federal investment in the basic sciences within the next decade. Furthermore, we urge you to focus this funding on mission-related activities and facilities, and to avoid using core DOE research program budgets to fund extraneous projects."
This effort to demonstrate support for the DOE Office of Science was organized by Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL), Rep. Ellen Taushcer (D-CA), and Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ). The text of the full letter can be read here.
President Obama will send his full FY 2010 request for DOE to Congress late this month or in early May. His budget overview released in February stated
“Invests in the Sciences. As part of the President’s plan to double Federal investment in the basic sciences, the 2010 Budget, along with the $1.6 billion provided in the Recovery Act for the Department of Energy’s basic science programs, provides substantially increased support for the Office of Science. The Budget increases funding for improving our understanding of climate science and continues the United States’ commitment to international science and energy experiments. The Budget also expands graduate fellowship programs that will train students in critical energy-related fields.”
Visclosky and Frelinghuysen have been strong advocates for the Office of Science. Letters such as this demonstrate bipartisan support for the Office of Science.
