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In February 2003, AIP approved the following statement regarding the Department of Defense's science and technology programs (6.1, 6.2, and 6.3):The Coalition for National Security Research (CNSR) strongly urges the Administration and Congress to provide a robust and stable investment in the Science and Technology (S&T) programs of the Department of Defense, which play a direct role in protecting and equipping our nation's soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines. CNSR urges a renewed commitment to the basic science program and a focus on strengthening the future technical workforce. The coalition recommends an increase in funding to not less than $11.4 billion for the department's core S&T programs in FY 2004. CNSR's funding recommendation is in accordance with the Defense Science Board and the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), and is based upon the President's Fiscal Year 2004 request for the Department of Defense. The QDR states: "To provide the basic research for these capabilities [technological superiority], the QDR calls for a significant increase in funding for S&T programs to a level of three percent of DOD spending per year." The defense S&T program consists of three accounts: basic (6.1), applied (6.2) and advanced technology development (6.3). These accounts have provided, and will continue to provide, transformational capabilities to ensure our national security and protect our homeland while educating the future defense science and engineering workforce. At a time when our armed services have increasingly relied on their technological military superiority, funding for these programs, over the last few decades, has remained essentially flat in constant dollars. Capabilities that address today's immediate threats - such as rapid multilingual support devices, laser-guided munitions, global positioning systems and the thermobaric bomb - are the result of long-term investments in basic research. National security and homeland defense challenges posed by unforeseen and unpredictable threats demand continued innovation, requiring a consistently strong investment in S&T programs. CNSR believes that a larger investment in basic research is essential to meeting future challenges. Diversion of funds from 6.1 accounts to meet shortages in other accounts undermines the long-term goal of defense transformation and future capabilities development. As our nation's leaders address future challenges and the transformation of our national defense, long-term 6.1 projects must again become the centerpiece of the department's S&T program and must remain focused on real frontiers of discovery. CNSR recognizes that defense science and technology programs support key scientific disciplines and national security workforce needs. In addition to arming and equipping our future national security forces, these programs provide critical investments in scientific disciplines that assure our future security by maintaining a superior science and engineering workforce. Fewer students are pursuing advanced degrees in engineering, mathematics, and physical, computer and behavioral sciences, areas which significantly contribute to national defense and economic prosperity. These sciences fuel innovation and assist in training the workforce that will maintain and operate our weapons systems, ensure our information security and conduct critical, technical, intelligence work. DOD's need for personnel in these areas makes support of undergraduate and graduate education critical. CNSR urges a renewed commitment to investing in basic science programs and a focus on ensuring the future technical workforce and recommends an increase for the core S&T programs - for a total of at least $11.4 billion in FY04 - to ensure our nation's security at home and abroad. |
