The Year in Review

This has been an unusually busy and productive year for the federal science budget and policy process. Some of the highlights are:

JANUARY: House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) calls for increases in federal science spending. President Clinton advocates a Research Fund for America in his State of the Union Address, and makes several other references to R&D. Oak Ridge National Laboratory is selected as the site of the Spallation Neutron Source. In a speech by House Science Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), he says “the scientific community has good reason to be optimistic about the future of federal funding for science,” but withholds support for legislation to double federal science spending.

FEBRUARY: President Clinton proposes a 32% increase in federal civilian research funding by 2003, using, it turns out, money from a proposed tobacco settlement. Vice President Al Gore calls research one of the “top priorities in this budget.” The Administration requests sizeable increases in the R&D budgets for NSF, DOE, DOD 6.1, and over-all basic research and applied research. Later in the month, OSTP Director Jack Gibbons announces his retirement, to be replaced by NSF Director Neal Lane. Rita Colwell is nominated to head NSF. Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-MI) ramps up his National Science Policy Study. Mixed findings are reported for U.S. students in the Third International Mathematics and Science Study.

MARCH: Appropriations hearings start, marked by tough questions on the relationship between what will later turn out to be the ill-fated tobacco settlement and requested increases in research funding.

APRIL: DOE Secretary Federico Pena resigns for personal and family reasons. Congressional concern over Russian participation in the space station increases. The outlook on future federal science spending becomes sobering because of strict caps on spending and a pork-laden transportation bill moving through Congress. A pessimistic report is released on the space station cost and schedule. A Senate hearing is held on legislation to double civilian R&D over ten years.

MAY: Eighty-two representatives sign a letter supporting a minimum of $250 million in FY 1999 fusion funding (the final appropriation was almost $230 million.) A House hearing is held on legislation that would block-grant money for the Eisenhower (math and science teacher) Professional Development Program. The importance of basic research in all fields to advances in biomedical research is touted at a House hearing.

JUNE: Senate appropriations subcommittees start reporting their bills; most research budgets are favorable, although the NSF numbers come with some strings attached. President Clinton gives a MIT commencement address, saying that his FY 2000 budget request “will call for significant increases in computing and communications research.” National Science Policy Report hearings conclude. UN Ambassador Bill Richardson is nominated to be DOE Secretary. Speaker Gingrich calls for a doubling of the science investment budget. A House appropriations bill for NSF is reported largely without strings attached. Senators Bill Frist (R-TN) and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) introduce a bill to double non-defense R&D over twelve years.

JULY: An unsuccessful attempt is made on the House floor to cut FY 1999 NSF research funding. Neal Lane and Bill Richardson are confirmed.

AUGUST: President Clinton signs the NSF Reauthorization Bill for FY 1998-2000, noting the important contributions of the late Rep. Steve Schiff (R-NM). Space station hearings continue. DOE selects a builder for the Spallation Neutron Source.

SEPTEMBER: House votes to kill the Eisenhower Professional Development Program. DOE agrees to continue ITER participation through July 1999; Sensenbrenner reacts with sharply-worded statement. National Science Policy Report is issued, highlighting importance of basic research. FY 1999 DOE appropriations bill is passed, with generally good outcomes.

OCTOBER: President Clinton signs DOD appropriations bill, with good numbers for 6.1 and 6.2. NASA appropriations bill signed, with positive outcome for agency as a whole, and the Science, Aeronautics and Technology account. NSF appropriations bill signed, with good numbers, although not what the Administration requested. The Senate passes the Frist-Rockefeller bill (S. 2217) calling for a doubling of civilian research funding over twelve years; companion bill in the House goes no where. NIST appropriation does fairly well, but a dispute over the upcoming census limits funding only through June. House approves National Science Policy Report. Mammoth wrap-up bill is passed that provides full funding for the Eisenhower Professional Development Program.

NOVEMBER: Rush Holt, former Assistant Director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory wins a New Jersey seat. Joseph McDade (R-PA), Vic Fazio (D-CA), Louis Stokes (D-OH), and Dale Bumpers (D-AR) retire. Speaker Gingrich announces his retirement.

DECEMBER: Important House appropriations subcommittee chairs change hands.