1999: The Year in Review

JANUARY: J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL), who represents the district containing Fermilab, becomes Speaker of the House. Rep. George Brown Jr. (D-CA) introduces legislation to repeal a little- publicized provision in a 1998 law requiring the disclosure of all data produced under a federal grant. President Bill Clinton discusses science and math education, medical research, technology, and global warming in his State of Union Address. Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) reintroduces his bill to double civilian R&D funding over twelve years. Vice President Al Gore gives a lengthy address on science and technology at the AAAS annual meeting.

FEBRUARY: President Clinton sends his FY 2000 budget request to Congress. Total R&D funding would be down 1%; civilian funding would be up 3%, while defense R&D would fall 5%. Senior administration official says “what you see is a result of the [budget cap] constraints.” The Office of Management and Budget requests public comment on new data availability regulation. New project director named for Spallation Neutron Source; DOE official says department is “on track for delivering this facility to the scientific community in 2005.”

MARCH: Congress starts consideration of legislation that would affect the Eisenhower program for science and math teachers. Science Committee issues a mixed response to Administration’s FY 2000 R&D request. DOE Office of Science Director Martha Krebs testifies before House appropriations subcommittee; saying “This is a good budget. It will enable exciting science.” Space station questions dominate appropriations subcommittee hearing. Citing management problems, House Science Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) recommends no neutron source construction funding in FY 2000.

APRIL: Senate Energy appropriations subcommittee chair Pete Domenici (R-NM) tells DOE, “Everybody thinks [the SNS] is a great tool for science. I hope you don’t mess up!” At an AAAS colloquium, OSTP Director Neal Lane comments on historical trends for R&D funding, saying “there are some disturbing signs . . . some of those [research] areas have not done so well,” citing physics as an example. Senate bill is introduced to prohibit visits by scientists from “sensitive countries” to three DOE weapons labs. DOE Secretary Bill Richardson declares, “Our labs are now under siege.”

MAY: Three DOE lab directors testify on espionage at contentious Senate hearing. Spallation Neutron Source survives attempt by House Science Committee to prohibit FY 2000 construction funding. Impact of budget caps becomes evident in FY 2000 R&D bills.

JUNE: Congress begins moving defense bills, which would reduce or reverse proposed administration cuts in some S&T funding. Senate hearing held on highly critical report on nuclear weapons labs security. Congressional activity increases on K-12 legislation. Oak Ridge selected as site for Spallation Neutron Source.

JULY: Rep. George Brown Jr. (D-CA) dies, a loss mourned by the science community. Legislative stalemate surfaces on the future of weapons labs. Senate votes to establish semi-autonomous Agency for Nuclear Stewardship within the Department of Energy. Teacher funding bill passes the House, maintaining Eisenhower money. House passes FY 2000 DOD bill, providing higher funding for S&T than proposed by the Administration or passed by the Senate. House passes DOE appropriations bill which includes some spallation source construction funding and generally good numbers for other physics programs. Senate passes R&D doubling bill.

AUGUST: House VA/HUD appropriations panel slashes NASA’s space and Earth science budgets by nearly 20 percent from FY 1999 funding; most space science funding is restored by the full committee. House passes NIST appropriations bill, zeroing funding for the Advanced Technology Program. OSTP Director Lane issues critical R&D statement, charging that “as the Congress goes into its August recess, it is deeply disappointing to find that the current budget reality is no match for the early rhetoric.” OMB releases proposed data availability regulations, calling for additional comments.

SEPTEMBER: White House Chief of Staff John Podesta issues a hard- hitting statement on congressional R&D action, charging, “This is a 19th century budget for a 21st century economy.” Sensenbrenner fires back, stating “the Republican Congress has appropriated more for R&D than the Administration requested in three out of the last four years.” House appropriations subcommittee chairman James Walsh (R-NY), in explaining proposed $200 million cut in FY 2000 NSF funding says, “We literally are borrowing from Peter to pay Paul here.” Senate appropriators provide administration request for NSF and NASA, but make $125 million cut in space science. A veto-proof bill is sent to White House to reorganize DOE’s weapons labs management. Congress passes FY 2000 energy appropriations bill; fusion, high energy physics and nuclear physics program budgets increase, basic energy sciences declines. Spallation Neutron Source R&D funded in full, but only about half of construction request. Martha Krebs announces she will leave DOE at the end of year.

OCTOBER: Senate refuses to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. OMB releases final data availability regulation. Congress sends FY 2000 NSF bill to President with a 6.5% overall increase. Same bill provides much better overall numbers for most NASA science program budgets. OSTP asks for comments on new definition of research misconduct. President astonishes Congress by appointing DOE Secretary Richardson to fill the position of the head of the new nuclear weapons administration; one senator calling it “the height of arrogance.” Clinton issues statement saying, “If we want to maintain our current economic prosperity, it is essential that we sustain our investment in long-term research across all the scientific and engineering disciplines.” R&D doubling bill introduced in House.

NOVEMBER: LIGO is inaugurated in Livingston, LA. Congress completes FY 2000 NIST bill which cuts ATP by 30% over 1999, but with funds carried over from FY 1999, White House says $51 million in new ATP awards will be possible. NIH gets a 15% increase for FY 2000. R&E Tax Credit is extended for five years. Congress adjourns after making small across-the-board cut in all FY 2000 appropriations.

DECEMBER: NRC committee starts review of future DOD R&D requirements. President’s Committee on Advisors on Science and Technology meets to review 21st century R&D challenges and opportunities. The committee hears from State Department official on involving science in policy decisions; who says “Resources are absolutely essential to the whole problem.”