Looking Back: Notable Quotations from 1999

“To alter the rules that the scientific community has operated under for decades without providing them an opportunity to speak to the need for this change or to participate in developing it, is not only unwise, it is unfair.” -- Rep. George E. Brown Jr. (D-CA) on the mandated change in data availability in the OMB A-110 regulation (1/1999)

“If we do these things - invest in our people, our communities, our technology, and lead in the global economy - then we will begin to meet our historic responsibility to build a 21st century prosperity for America.” -- President Bill Clinton in his State of Union Address (1/1999)

“One only needs to look as far as the front page our the newspaper to see the effect of high-technology on our country.... What I am afraid of is that many people are not aware that these products do not simply appear out of nowhere. They are the result of a basis of knowledge which has been built up by researchers supported by federal funding.” -- Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WVA) (1/1999)

“Perhaps the greatest discovery of all this research is that we can no longer separate basic from applied science.... The disciplines are connected in ways they have never been before.” -- Vice President Al Gore (1/1999)

“Engineering and physical sciences - taken together - accounted for 50 percent of federal research spending in 1970. That’s down to 33 percent today.... The sharp nature of the shift in funding toward the biomedical fields has taken more than a few people by surprise. I’d be the first to tell you about the great things that are happening in biomedical fields. Some of that funding has gone to my own research. But, I also know that society cannot live by biomedical bread alone.” -- NSF Director Rita Colwell speaking to House appropriators (3/1999)

“The contributions of computer science, physics, mathematics, engineering and other fields to biomedical research illustrate the need to ensure that fundamental science remains an integral part of the federal government’s overall research agenda.” -- House Science Committee report (3/1999)

“Research and development represent the cornerstone of our modernizing economy. I’m pleased that the President’s civilian R&D budget requests are similar to ours, but I’m concerned that he’s neglecting the importance of defense R&D.” -- Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) (2/1999)

“Unfortunately, the DoD may be falling into a classic trap that can catch the best of managers, that of focusing so hard on the short term problems that they short change the future. This year’s plans continue to show declines for S&T in the outyears, and are largely unchanged from last year’s plans.” -- Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) (3/1999)

"...give me a little bit of credit for the track record on the LHC [Large Hadron Collider].” -- House Science Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) criticizing SNS management (5/1999)

“I believe that the [House Appropriations] language on the Spallation Neutron Source, when coupled with rigorous oversight, will provide [DOE] with the facility they need at a cost that does not cause heartburn for the American taxpayer.” -- Rep. Sensenbrenner (7/1999)

“I can say that in the State Department, [there is] widespread, total understanding of how important science and technology are in pursuit of foreign policy objectives.” -- Frank Loy, Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs (4/1999)

“As the world becomes more technologically interdependent, the trend at the State Department has been to downplay science and technical expertise. It’s time to reverse that trend.” -- Robert Frosch, Chair of NRC Committee (10/1999)

“Resources are absolutely central to the whole problem.” -- Under Secretary Loy (12/1999)

“Anyone who wants to close off our labs will have to go through me - and I never give in.” -- Energy Secretary Bill Richardson on legislation restricting foreign visitors to weapons labs (4/1999)

"...I acknowledge that an extremely serious compromise of the security of classified nuclear weapons information has occurred....” -- Los Alamos Laboratory Director John C. Browne (5/1999)

“For the past two decades, the Department of Energy has embodied science at its best and security of secrets at its worst.” -- President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (6/1999)

“I don’t know of any scientist in those laboratories who doesn’t have a very high sense of patriotism and devotion to this country. That’s why they are there.” -- Dr. Sidney Drell (6/1999)

“The truth is, no one knows exactly what to do.” -- Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) on weapons labs (7/1999)

“I don’t think that if we recalled William Shakespeare from the grave that we could have written this [DOE lab reorganization] provision to satisfy everyone.” -- Senator John Warner (R-VA) (8/1999)

“We have said to our colleagues on the other side of the aisle we don’t think this is a good [Comprehensive Test Ban] treaty; we think it puts safety in jeopardy; we think it puts us in a weakened condition internationally; and we think it is dangerous. However, since there have been calls and demands for a vote, we have offered to vote....” -- Senator Trent Lott (R-MS) (10/1999)

"...we are extremely disappointed with the way this has been handled. As I said, I believe it is irresponsible and dangerous. But we also note this may be the best we can get, and if it is the best we can get, as troubled as we are, we will take it.” -- Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) (10/1999)

“Not only is this cut devastating to NASA’s programs, it is a knife in the heart of employee morale.” -- NASA Administrator Dan Goldin on House appropriations bill (7/1999)

“One wonders whether this Congress would have zeroed out Jefferson’s request for the Lewis and Clark Expedition.” -- White House Chief of Staff John Podesta on House appropriations (9/1999)

“I am encouraged by the Administration’s sudden interest in science funding. Over the last seven years, overall science budgets, which include defense and civilian R&D, when indexed for inflation, have been flat or decreasing. Science needs a boost.” -- Rep. Sensenbrenner (9/1999)

“We literally are borrowing from Peter to pay Paul here.” -- Rep. James Walsh (R-NY) explaining proposed cut to NSF (9/1999)

“If we cannot adequately meet the needs of veterans’ programs, affordable housing, and scientific research during these prosperous times, then when can we?” -- Rep. Allan Mollohan (D- WVA) (9/1999)

"...if we do not do this research in science and technology, we are ruining the seed corn for our future economic growth; we are also doing a great disservice to our children and grandchildren by doing that.” -- Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-MI) (9/1999)

“It is very clear to me that we are severely and critically under investing in basic research.” -- NSF Director Colwell (9/1999)

"...I was very pleased we were able to meet the President’s request for NSF because of the tremendous amount of exciting and potentially beneficial work that is being funded through the National Science Foundation. Truly, this is a national priority. I only wish more funds were available to add because this is our scientific future.” -- Senator Christopher Bond (R- MO), who noted that the House had less money for its version of the bill (9/1999)

“It’s about prioritizing.” -- House Appropriations Committee spokesperson (9/1999)

“I can’t believe it; I just can’t believe it.” -- Senator Barbara Mikulski’s (D-MD) reaction to final bill with good FY 2000 numbers for NSF and NASA (10/1999)

“So good on the [previous funding for] health care, not so good on the rest. We need more on the rest.” -- President Clinton (11/1999)

“We need to create a better understanding between the people of America and the physics community. Because many Americans believe that physics is, on the whole, inaccessible. The equations, the experiments, the strange words -- these are things many people gladly left behind in high school.” -- Energy Secretary Bill Richardson at APS Centennial Meeting (3/1999)

“Out of our sense of patriotism and our own enlightened self- interest, we should lobby our representatives and senators and insist that federal investment in scientific research be doubled over the next five years.” -- Op-Ed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) (10/1999)

“Scientists and engineers constitute one of the largest, most valuable, yet least heard constituencies in America.” -- White House science advisor Neal Lane (8/1999)

“Progress is meaningless if we don’t know where we’re going. Unless we try to visualize what is beyond the horizon, we will always occupy the same shore.” -- Rep. George Brown (1993)