President Speaks Out on R&D

At an impressive ceremony in the White House on October 17, President Clinton honored the 1995 National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology recipients. During this hour long ceremony in the East Room, the President outlined his reactions to proposed congressional cuts in science and technology funding.

Among those eight (physics-related) winners receiving the National Medal of Science, the nation’s highest scientific honor, were: Hans Dehmelt, University of Washington; Peter Goldreich, California Institute of Technology; Hermann Haus, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Isabella Karle, Naval Research Laboratory. A team consisting of Praveen Chaudhari, Jerome Cuomo, and Richard Gambino (currently or formerly associated with IBM) received a National Medal of Technology for their development of a new class of materials, in addition to other individuals and research teams receiving this award.

In his twelve-minute remarks before presenting the Medals, Clinton touched on these and other matters:

“In honoring these pioneers, we must ask and answer a fundamental question: At the edge of the 21st century, how will we ensure that America remains the strongest nation in the world? How can we pass on to every child the American Dream of opportunity?”

“The private businesses represented here today will always be the most important investors in research and development. But throughout our history, we have recognized that government, working in partnership with the private sector, does have a critical role to play.

“The defense and space programs help make America the world’s leader in aircraft, aerospace and electronics....”

“Today global competition and rapid change have made technology clearly more central to our future than ever before. And because it is so often difficult for individual firms to reap the benefits of discovery and innovation, the public sector must continue to play a role.”

“Throughout our history, at least throughout modern history when we’ve been clearly aware of these scientific matters, this future and this kind of policy has been broadly supported by members of both parties. It has been part of our national common ground; a part of our sense of who we are, what our security requires, and what will bring us the best future. Today that commitment is at risk over the great debate over balancing the federal budget.

“I have proposed a balanced budget plan that sustains our investment in scientific endeavors, in technology, in research and development. The plan now being considered by the Congress will cut vital research and development by a third, and any number of other related endeavors by that much or more. We could have a balanced budget to show for it tomorrow, but a decade or a generation from now our nation will much the poorer for doing that.

“At a time of real and crushing budget pressures, the Congress deserves credit for its commitment to balance the budget and slow the rate of growth of medical inflation. But it is tempting to cut other things without considering what the consequences are, including investments in science and technology which may not have the biggest lobby here in Washington.

“The future, it is often said, has no constituency. But the truth is, we must all be the constituency of the future.... And we must resist these drastic cuts, for constant churning innovation is the key to economic growth and national strength in the 21st century.”

“It is a very good thing to balance the budget if we do it in a way that is consistent with our values and our clear long-term goals of strengthening our economy, growing our middle class, shrinking our under class, keeping America the world’s greatest home for entrepreneurs. If it’s consistent with our values and our economic interests, that’s what we ought to do. We can’t do that if we destroy the public responsibility in these critical areas.”

“I do believe that the 21st century can be a golden age for all Americans and that we can help to lead the world to a new era of freedom and peace and prosperity -- if we make the right decisions in this critical time of change.”