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June 9, 2004 -- "We are writing to urge you to make the National Science Foundation (NSF) a priority and fund it at the highest possible level in the Fiscal Year 2005 budget," says a letter signed by 157 Members of Congress. Despite the difficult fiscal choices facing Congress, the letter states, "we believe that significant increases in NSF's overall budget are warranted." It concludes, "We cannot afford to sacrifice the research and education which current and future generations need to ensure their economic prosperity and domestic security."
In order to justify larger investments in the agency, the letter demonstrates that "NSF-funded research has made tremendous contributions to our economic vitality and national security over the past 50 years." In addition to its scientific contributions, "NSF has also been praised as a model of administrative efficiency -- over 95% of its funds go directly to support education and research programs. NSF has accomplished its research and educational goals with only 4% of the total federal research and development budget." NSF is the primary source of federal funding for non-medical basic research at colleges and universities.
Funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) budget would grow 3.0 percent to $5.7 billion under the President's budget request for FY 2005. The proposed increase falls far short of the NSF doubling path specified in the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President less than 18 months ago. The NSF Authorization Act sets policy and provides guidance, but it does not directly establish the agency's funding levels. Funding levels for NSF are determined in a series of annual appropriations bills. The letter focuses on the FY 2005 appropriations bill.
The letter is signed by more than one-third of the U.S. House of Representatives. It is addressed to Rep. James Walsh (R-NY) and Rep. Alan Mollohon (D-WV), who serve as Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies, which has jurisdiction over appropriations for the National Science Foundation. The letter was initiated by Reps. Vern Ehlers (R-MI) and Rush Holt (D-NJ), who hold doctorates in physics. It is signed by numerous members of the House Science Committee, including Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and Ranking Minority Member Bart Gordon (D-TN). The letter is the latest in a series of developments that demonstrate strong bipartisan support for the National Science Foundation.
The complete text of the letter, including the list of 157 signatures, is provided below. In addition, the National Council for Science and the Environment's (NCSE) testimony in support of a 15 percent increase in the NSF budget is available at http://www.ncseonline.org/ewebeditpro/items/O62F3903.pdf For more information please contact Dr. Craig Schiffries, Director of Science Policy, at schiffries@NCSEonline.org or 202-530-5810.
Congress of the United States
Washington, D.C. 20515
June 8, 2004
The Honorable James T. Walsh The Honorable Alan B. Mollohan
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. House of Representatives
2369 Rayburn HOB 3202 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20510-0001 Washington, D.C. 20510-0001
Dear Jim and Alan:
As supporters of fundamental scientific research and education, we are writing to urge you to make the National Science Foundation (NSF) a priority and fund it at the highest possible level in the Fiscal Year 2005 budget.
Congress recognized the importance of this investment by overwhelmingly passing the National Science Foundation Authorization Act (P.L. 107-368) which authorizes doubling the budget of NSF over five years. We realize that budget realities may not allow Congress to fund NSF at the FY 2005 authorized level of $7.4 billion. However, we believe that significant increases in NSF's overall budget are warranted.
NSF funds all disciplines of science and engineering. It is the primary source of federal funding for non-medical basic research at colleges and universities. NSF-funded research has made tremendous contributions to our economic vitality and national security over the past 50 years. Internet browsers, microelectronics, lasers, communication systems and fiber optics, computer programs to predict weather, design buildings and direct pilots have all begun as NSF-funded projects. NSF plays a leading role in nanotechnology research, preserving the world's biocomplexity, and in developing new information technologies and cybersecurity methods.
NSF is also a key supporter of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education. It supports more than 200,000 students, teachers and researchers—essentially underwriting the development of the next generation of scientists, engineers, and technical workers.
Math and science education is an enormous and pressing need. The U.S. Department of Labor projects that new jobs requiring science, engineering and technical training will increase four times faster than the average national job growth rate. Workers will need a fundamental understanding of math, science and engineering as well as technical know-how to succeed. Unfortunately, a full third of our students are performing below basic levels on assessment tests in math and science areas. Now, more than ever, we must invest in our children to develop their talent, ensure their success and to develop the nation's full talent to maintain the quality of our workforce and our economic strength.
NSF has also been praised as a model of administrative efficiency—over 95% of its funds go directly to support education and research programs. NSF has accomplished its research and educational goals with only 4% of the total federal research and development budget.
We are mindful that you will be faced with very difficult choices this year. We respectfully request your support to fund NSF at the highest possible level--we cannot afford to sacrifice the research and education which current and future generations need to ensure their economic prosperity and domestic security.
Sincerely,
Abercrombie, Neil (D-HI)
Ackerman, Gary L. (D-NY)
Allen, Thomas H. (D-ME)
Andrews, Robert E. (D-NJ)
Baird, Brian (D-WA)
Baldwin, Tammy (D-WI)
Ballance, Frank (D-NC)
Beauprez, Bob (R-CO)
Bell, Chris (D-TX)
Berman, Howard L. (D-CA)
Biggert, Judy (R-IL)
Bishop, Rob (R-UT)
Bishop, Tim (D-NY)
Boehlert, Sherwood L. (R-NY)
Boswell, Leonard L. (D-IA)
Brady, Kevin (R-TX)
Brown, Sherrod (D-OH)
Burgess, Michael (R-NC)
Burr, Richard (R-NC)
Calvert, Ken (R-CA)
Camp, Dave (R-MI)
Capps, Lois (D-CA)
Capuano, Michael E. (D-MA)
Cardin, Benjamin L. (D-MD)
Cardoza, Dennis (D-CA)
Carter, John R. (R-TX)
Chandler, Ben (D-KY)
Clay, William (D-MO)
Conyers, John (D-MI)
Cooper, Jim (D-TN)
Costello, Jerry F. (D-IL)
Cummings, Elijah E. (D-MD)
Davis, Danny K. (D-IL)
Davis, Lincoln (D-TN)
Davis, Susan A. (D-CA)
Davis, Thomas M. (R-VA)
DeFazio, Peter A. (D-OR)
DeGette, Diana (D-CO)
Delahunt, William D. (D-MA)
DeLauro, Rosa L. (D-CT)
Dingell, John D. (D-MI)
Doggett, Lloyd (D-TX)
Doyle, Mike F. (D-PA)
Ehlers, Vernon J. (R-MI)
Engel, Eliot L. (D-NY)
English, Phil (R-PA)
Eshoo, Anna G. (D-CA)
Etheridge, Bob (D-NC)
Evans, Lane (D-IL)
Filner, Bob (D-CA)
Ford, Harold E. (D-TN)
Frank, Barney (D-MA)
Frost, Martin (D-TX)
| Gerlach, Jim (R-PA)
Gingrey, John P. (R-GA)
Gonzales, Charles A. (D-TX)
Gordon, Bart (D-TN)
Green, Gene (D-TX)
Green, Mark (R-WI)
Greenwood, Jim (R-PA)
Grijalva, Raul (D-AZ)
Gutierrez, Luis V. (D-IL)
Gutknecht, Gil (R-MN)
Hall, Ralph M. (D-TX)
Hayworth, J.D. (R-AZ)
Hill, Baron (D-IN)
Hinchey, Maurice (D-NY)
Hinojosa, Rubén (D-TX)
Hoeffel, Joseph M. (D-PA)
Holt, Rush D. (D-NJ)
Honda, Michael M. (D-CA)
Hooley, Darlene (D-OR)
Israel, Steve (D-NY)
Jackson-Lee, Sheila (D-TX)
Jefferson, William J. (D-LA)
John, Chris (D-LA)
Johnson, Eddie Bernice (D-TX)
Johnson, Timothy V. (R-IL)
Jones, Stephanie Tubbs (D-OH)
Kildee, Dale E. (D-MI)
Kind, Ron (D-WI)
Kleczka, Jerry (D-WI)
Lampson, Nick, (D-TX)
Langevin, James (D-RI)
Lantos, Tom (D-CA)
Larsen, Rick (D-WA)
Larson, John B. (D-CT)
Leach, James A. (R-IA)
Lee, Barbara (D-CA)
Levin, Sander M. (D-MI)
Lewis, John (D-GA)
Lofgren, Zoe (D-CA)
Maloney, Carolyn (D-NY)
Markey, Edward J. (D-MA)
Matheson, Jim (D-UT)
Matsui, Robert (D-CA)
McCarthy, Carolyn (D-NY)
McCarthy, Karen (D-MO)
McCollum, Betty (D-MN)
McCotter, Thad (R-MI)
McDermott, Jim (D-WA)
McGovern, James P. (D-MA)
McHugh, John M. (R-NY)
McInnis, Scott (R-CO)
McIntyre, Mike (D-NC)
McNulty, Michael R. (D-NY)
| Meehan, Martin T. (D-MA)
Meeks, Gregory (D-NY)
Michaud, Michael (D-ME)
Millender-McDonald, Juanita (D-CA)
Miller, Brad (D-NC)
Miller, George (D-CA)
Moore, Dennis (D-KS)
Moran, James P. (D-VA)
Nadler, Jerrold (D-NY)
Napolitano, Grace F. (D-CA)
Neal, Richard E. (D-MA)
Nethercutt, George R., Jr. (R-WA)
Oberstar, James (D-MN)
Owens, Major (D-NY)
Pallone, Frank, Jr. (D-NJ)
Payne, Donald M. (D-NJ)
Platts, Tom (R-PA)
Price, David E. (D-NC)
Quinn, Jack (R-NY)
Reyes, Silvestre (D-TX)
Rogers, Mike (R-MI)
Ruppersberger, Dutch (D-MD)
Rush, Bobby L. (D-IL)
Sanchez, Linda (D-CA)
Sanders, Bernie (I-VT)
Schakowsky, Janice (D-IL)
Schiff, Adam (D-CA)
Sherman, Brad (D-CA)
Simmons, Rob (R-CT)
Slaughter, Louise McIntosh (D-NY)
Smith, Adam (D-WA)
Smith, Lamar (R-TX)
Smith, Nick (R-MI)
Strickland, Ted (D-OH)
Stupak, Bart (D-MI)
Sweeney, John E. (R-NY)
Tauscher, Ellen O. (D-CA)
Thompson, Bennie G. (D-MS)
Thompson, Mike (D-CA)
Tierney, John F. (D-MA)
Udall, Mark (D-CO)
Udall, Tom (D-NM)
Upton, Fred (R-MI)
Van Hollen, Chris (D-MD)
Watson, Diane E. (D-CA)
Watt, Melvin L. (D-NC)
Waxman, Henry (D-CA)
Weiner, Anthony D. (D-NY)
Weldon, Curt (R-PA)
Woolsey, Lynn C. (D-CA)
Wu, David (D-OR)
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June 9, 2004 -- "We are writing to urge you to make the National Science Foundation (NSF) a priority and fund it at the highest possible level in the Fiscal Year 2005 budget," says a letter signed by 157 Members of Congress. Despite the difficult fiscal choices facing Congress, the letter states, "we believe that significant increases in NSF's overall budget are warranted." It concludes, "We cannot afford to sacrifice the research and education which current and future generations need to ensure their economic prosperity and domestic security."
In order to justify larger investments in the agency, the letter demonstrates that "NSF-funded research has made tremendous contributions to our economic vitality and national security over the past 50 years." In addition to its scientific contributions, "NSF has also been praised as a model of administrative efficiency -- over 95% of its funds go directly to support education and research programs. NSF has accomplished its research and educational goals with only 4% of the total federal research and development budget." NSF is the primary source of federal funding for non-medical basic research at colleges and universities.
Funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) budget would grow 3.0 percent to $5.7 billion under the President's budget request for FY 2005. The proposed increase falls far short of the NSF doubling path specified in the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President less than 18 months ago. The NSF Authorization Act sets policy and provides guidance, but it does not directly establish the agency's funding levels. Funding levels for NSF are determined in a series of annual appropriations bills. The letter focuses on the FY 2005 appropriations bill.
The letter is signed by more than one-third of the U.S. House of Representatives. It is addressed to Rep. James Walsh (R-NY) and Rep. Alan Mollohon (D-WV), who serve as Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies, which has jurisdiction over appropriations for the National Science Foundation. The letter was initiated by Reps. Vern Ehlers (R-MI) and Rush Holt (D-NJ), who hold doctorates in physics. It is signed by numerous members of the House Science Committee, including Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and Ranking Minority Member Bart Gordon (D-TN). The letter is the latest in a series of developments that demonstrate strong bipartisan support for the National Science Foundation.
The complete text of the letter, including the list of 157 signatures, will be available on the NCSE web site (www.NCSEonline.org). In addition, the website contains the National Council for Science and the Environment's (NCSE) testimony in support of a 15 percent increase in the NSF budget. For more information please contact Dr. Craig Schiffries, Director of Science Policy, at schiffries@NCSEonline.org or 202-530-5810.
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