DOD R&D: Right Now and Next Year

Within the next few weeks, Congress will vote on a final spending bill for Department of Defense R&D for the new fiscal year starting on October 1. At the same time, the Administration is working on the DOD R&D budget request for FY 2001. Which way these funding levels will go is still in play.

RIGHT NOW:

The Clinton Administration’s request for DOD 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3 spending for FY 2001 would have meant significant cuts. Current total spending for these three categories is $7,791 million. The Administration sought a reduction of 5.6%, or $411 million.

The Senate rejected the Administration’s cut, and voted for what would be an increase of $82 million over this year.

The House voted an even larger increase -- $460 million over current spending.

The next step is for House and Senate appropriators to meet in a conference committee to decide on the final figure for FY 2000. There is, however, more than meets in the eye in these numbers.

House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-CA) and his colleagues have real problems with the F-22, the Air Force’s next generation air superiority fighter. Technical problems, questions about the plane’s affordability, concerns about cost control and cost growth, and alternatives to this plane lead the subcommittee and the full committee to recommend an F-22 “‘production pause’ until these issues can be resolved.” This pause frees up the $1.8 billion that was requested for F-22 production in FY 2000, and the $1.2 billion request for its development. This money became available for other parts of the House DOD bill.

“We’re not taking this lightly,” said a deputy Air Force Secretary for acquisition, and a big effort is underway to get the House and Senate appropriators to include F-22 money in the final version of the FY 2000 bill. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-AK) strongly supports the F-22.

This is NOT a question of the F-22 versus R&D spending. It is rather a much larger question of how the appropriators will allocate roughly $269 billion in the final version of H.R. 2561, the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill for FY 2000.

NEXT YEAR (BUT ALSO RIGHT NOW):

Looking ahead to next February when the Administration starts the next budget cycle by submitting its FY 2001 request to Congress, some Members of Congress will be sending a letter soon to President Clinton asking him to increase his request for DOD science and technology funding. A larger request helps to ensure a larger appropriation. The letter, which is currently being circulated for signatures, is as follows:

Dear Mr. President:

The continued long-term erosion of defense science and technology (S&T) funding will have a devastating effect on the future capabilities of the armed forces of the United States. Therefore, we strongly urge you to request in the fiscal year 2001 and Future Years Defense Budget funding levels consistent with Section 214 of Public Law 105-261, which calls for an annual spending increase for the Defense Science and Technology Program of at least 2 percent above the rate of inflation.

As recently as World War II, America’s superior research power could overtake the enemy’s technology through sudden spurts of scientific development. But today, defense technology development requires many years of research and development and the Nation no longer has the luxury of ramping up scientific research only during the times of crisis. Moreover, sudden spurts of activity followed by lulls contribute to overall costs with less effective results.

The technology base for our stealthy aircraft, precision guided munitions, and command, control and communications capabilities used this year in Kosovo was developed in the 1970s and 1980s. The effectiveness of our weapon systems twenty years from now will depend on the quality of the defense research we fund today.

Projected levels of spending are insufficient to ensure that the defense base remains strong and capable of providing the necessary foundation for the national defense. Total spending for the Department of Defense Science and Technology program has declined by almost 25 percent since 1993 (constant dollars). The decline is even more precipitous for the military services. For example, next year, spending for the Air Force Science and Technology program is projected to decline by 58 percent from its peak. This trend, if continued, will pose a serious threat to the national security of the next generation of Americans.

Only a strong and invigorated defense technology base can ensure our Nation’s security today and into the 21st century.

Sincerely,

An effort is now underway in both the Senate and House to garner support for this letter. Earlier this summer, senators received a “Dear Colleague” letter from Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Pat Roberts (R-KS). Reps. Tony Hall (D-OH), Curt Weldon (R-PA), Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and Allen Boyd (D-FL) sent a similar letter to their colleagues. Both letters asked for signatures on this letter to the President, that will be sent in the very near future.

Members of Congress receive hundreds of “Dear Colleague” letters. They are far more likely to act if their constituents ask them to do so.