OSTP Director Testifies Before Senate Appropriations Subcommittee

OSTP Director John Gibbons received a warm reception from Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland) last week when he testified before her Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies. This hearing provided a firsthand view of the relationship between the administration’s top science and technology official and a key senator.

“The Clinton Administration treats science and technology as high-leverage investments in America’s present and future,” Gibbons testified. Commenting on a theme heard more and more in Washington these days, he continued, “The most important measure of success will be our ability to make a difference in the lives of the American people, to harness science and technology to improve the quality of life and the economic vitality of our nation.”

Gibbons used this hearing to outline the administration’s science and technology strategy. He said that the administration is “fighting hard” to maintain R&D funding while over-all discretionary spending declines. Citing the 3% increase in total R&D spending, Gibbons testified, “these numbers reflect true commitment within the Administration -- a willingness to experience pain elsewhere in order to support research and development.”

Mikulski and Gibbons were in agreement in many areas. Gibbons declared that science and technology must be used to achieve national goals, and noted the “tremendous impact” of Mikulski’s speech at the recent OSTP forum (see FYI #20.) Mikulski was effusive in her praise for Gibbons and his efforts, expressing support for the new National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), chaired by President Clinton, which will coordinate federal science and technology strategies and policies. She wants horizontal discussions across federal agencies to avoid fragmented responses to national priorities, asking for an NSTC “national navigation chart” so that “everyone will get the message.”

There were two issues on which Mikulski pressed Gibbons. The first was the space station, Mikulski asking if it was true that the $2 billion in estimated cost savings stemming from Russia’s participation was “evaporating.” Gibbons replied that a cost review is now underway, adding that the amount of savings would depend on the station’s pacing and reductions in NASA’s work force. Mikulski noted her concerns, as well as those of Rep. George Brown (D-Cal.) and Rep. Louis Stokes (D-Ohio) about station costs. “We don’t want surprises,” she said, adding that negative developments would “jeopardize an already fragile political coalition.” She asked Gibbons to task someone on his staff to monitor station costs and performance to ensure that NASA “delivers what it promises.”

Mikulski concluded the hearing by pressing Gibbons about work force issues, a topic raised during this same hearing with NSF Director Lane (see FYI #43.) Describing the problems young physicists and other scientists have in getting jobs, she said that they had been “sold a bill of goods.” She wants coordinated federal approaches to this problem resulting in new policies at all levels.