Looking Back: Notable S&T Quotations from 2001

From the FYI archives for 2001, a last look at some notable quotations:

“I no longer support this legislation.” - Senator Spencer Abraham (R-MI) at his confirmation hearing to be the new Energy Secretary, regarding a bill to eliminate DOE

“I came out of the pharmaceutical business, where we invest in research and development that is not guaranteed to produce anything in the next five minutes. And you have to be patient and you have to live with a lot of failures. I’ve been involved in the electronic business, quite the same. If you’re not investing for the future, you’re going to die.” - Donald Rumsfeld at his confirmation hearing

“So let me say unambiguously that I will fight to increase research funding, in general, and funding for the physical sciences, in particular. Unique and vital DOE facilities, like Fermilab, must continue to prosper, even as we participate in international projects like the Large Hadron Collider.” - House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY)

“I want to run the Committee in a way that would make Einstein smile. I want to make sure that as long as I’m chairman, no one plays dice with your universe.” - Rep. Boehlert

“For these bills to have a positive impact on funding decisions in the Congressional appropriations process, it is not enough for proponents to introduce them. We need active help and support from the larger scientific community . . . to help us to reach out to other Members of Congress . . . .” - Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)

“This is a town where if you don’t increase the budget by an expected number, it’s considered a cut.” - President George Bush, when asked about his forthcoming budget

“I want to tell you, you can’t increase one piece of science in America . . . and leave the other kinds of research in the doldrums.” - Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) to HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson at a hearing on the NIH budget

“On the issue of research, there is just no question that if you’re going to have technology as the base of your economy, which we do, research is crucial.” - Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan

”. . . the [Hart-Rudman] commission unanimously agreed that the challenge to us in scientific research and in math and science education is a greater national security problem than any likely conventional war in the foreseeable future.” - Newt Gingrich

“In terms of the CO2 issue, I will explain as clearly as I can, today and every other chance I get, that we will not do anything that harms our economy.” - President Bush

“No science, no surplus. It’s that simple.” - Former OSTP Director D. Allan Bromley on administration’s science budget request for FY 2002

“This kind of hit us like a ton of bricks . . . how could you not know?” - House Science Committee member addressing NASA Administrator Goldin about space station overruns

“The scientific community must not be complacent, and it cannot assume that it inherently has the greatest claim to, or most self-evident argument for federal largess. That’s a recipe for failure.” - Rep. Boehlert

”. . . how does this [nanoscience] relate . . . to my constituents?” - New House appropriator to DOE witness

“I cannot believe this Administration really thinks this R&D budget is the right one for the country.” - Senate VA/HUD appropriations chair Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)

”...doubling remains important to us.” - NSF Administrator Rita Colwell

“Bless your heart, I am so glad to hear you say that.” - Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) to DOD Undersecretary Edward Aldridge about Aldridge’s recommendation that 2.5 to 3% of total defense budget be allocated to S&T

”. . . if we study it until all questions are answered without taking any actions . . . we are in danger of ending up with a very well-studied disaster.” - Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) on global climate change

“I remain fully committed to the doubling of the budget for NSF over the next five years, but without the support of the administration, the authorizing committees, and the Budget Committees, the appropriators cannot do it alone.” - Senator Mikulski

“So, the events of September 11th have forced us to alter our agenda in ways large and small. But fundamentally, our nation’s R&D and education needs remain pretty much what they were before the attacks, and for now, at least, the resources available to meet those needs remain about the same, as well.” - Rep. Boehlert (10/1/2001)

“More than any other nation, we have used science and technology wisely to create peace, advance democracy, and provide for the well-being our of citizens.” - John Marburger at his confirmation hearing to be OSTP Director

“When a budget goes to war, what should it look like?” - OMB Director Mitchell Daniels

”. . . another of the . . . .true centers of excellence in this government, the National Science Foundation, where more than 95% of the funds you provide as taxpayers go out on a competitive basis directly to researchers pursuing the frontiers of science, a very low overhead cost.” - OMB Director Daniels

“It is abundantly clear that there is a concurrent need for increased scientific and engineering knowledge. In times such as these, we are acutely cognizant of living in a society defined by, and dependent on, science and technology.” - NSF Director Colwell