Lane and Richardson Confirmations; Frist R&D Bill

The Senate completed some last-minute business in the final days before leaving on its August recess. Senate actions last week included confirmation of Bill Richardson to be Secretary of Energy and confirmation of Neal Lane to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP.) Rosina Bierbaum was also confirmed as the OSTP Associate Director for Environment. In addition, the Senate Commerce Committee approved the Frist-Rockefeller bill to double federal civilian R&D funding over the next 12 years; it now awaits floor action.

NEAL LANE CONFIRMATION: On July 31, Lane was unanimously confirmed as OSTP Director, taking over the vacancy left when John Gibbons retired. According to the White House press release on Lane’s confirmation, “Dr. Lane also serves as Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and is responsible for providing the President with advice in all areas of science and technology policy and works to coordinate science, space, and technology policy and programs across the federal government. The Director also co-chairs the President’s Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology and serves on the National Science and Technology Council.” Lane has served as Director of NSF since 1993. Prior to that, Lane was Provost of, and physics professor at, Rice University. He was also Chancellor of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs from 1984 to 1986, and Director of NSF’s Division of Physics from 1979 to 1980. Lane is a member of the American Association of Physics Teachers and a Fellow of the American Physical Society, and has served on the AIP Governing Board.

BILL RICHARDSON CONFIRMATION: Richardson, previously the Ambassador to the United Nations, was confirmed on July 31 to replace Federico Pena as Secretary of Energy. President Clinton’s statement on Richardson’s confirmation follows:

“I am very pleased that the Senate today voted unanimously to confirm Ambassador Bill Richardson as Secretary of Energy.

“Ambassador Richardson brings extraordinary experience and expertise to this vital post. As a member of the U.S. Congress representing New Mexico, an energy-rich state that is home to two Department of Energy national laboratories, he has extensive firsthand experience on issues ranging from oil and gas deregulation, to alternative energy, to ensuring strong environmental standards in energy development. As U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, he has been a vigorous and articulate proponent of U.S. engagement and has successfully tackled tough negotiating challenges around the world.

“I am confident that Ambassador Richardson’s tremendous energy, creativity and leadership will help secure our nation’s energy future so that America continues to prosper.”

FRIST R&D DOUBLING BILL: On July 29, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation marked up S. 2217, the Frist-Rockefeller Federal Research Investment Act. The bill would authorize annual increases for most non-defense federal R&D of 5.5 percent (or 2.5 percent over an assumed inflation rate of 3.0 percent) over a 12-year period. This would result in a doubling of the federal government’s support for civilian research, from an estimated $34 billion in FY 1998 to $68 billion in FY 2010. (Of course, while authorizers can approve budget levels, it is the appropriators who must provide the actual funds.) The bill also contains guiding principles for federal research efforts and calls for development of mechanisms for determining successful and unsuccessful programs. While committee members concurred on the importance of the federal research investment, some were concerned that the bill did not specify a funding source for the budget increases authorized. Saying he had “a little rain for this parade,” Sen. Slade Gorton (R-WA) noted that “it is real easy to say what an important function this is, but real hard to point out where the money will come from.”

Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) raised concerns that the bill had not yet been “scored” - gone through analysis by the Congressional Budget Office to determine its full budgetary impact. But, Stevens said, “I’m willing to play Russian roulette” and vote for the bill on the assumption that funds might be found to implement it. Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) agreed that the bill should be scored before coming to the Senate floor. Passing a bill without knowing the full financial impact, he added, would “tend to render the authorization process meaningless.”

Committee members then voted to report the bill out of committee. It continues to gain support, and currently has at least 22 cosponsors. Whether it is brought to the floor before the end of this year’s session may depend on how quickly the appropriations bills can be completed this fall.