An Overview of the Federal R&D Budget for FY 2010

Opening Statement By Chairman Bart Gordon

Good afternoon, and welcome to this hearing to review the Administration’s fiscal year 2010 research and development budget.

I’d like to begin today by congratulating Dr. Holdren on your new position, and thank you for the excellent work you have done in planning for aggressive new science and technology policies and budgets. I also want to congratulate you on taking a strong leadership role on science integrity.

As you all know, we just got the budget a week ago, so we are still absorbing the details. But so far I am impressed that President Obama has committed the resources to back up his eloquent words about the importance of science to our society.

Even before his inauguration, President Obama called me up and said, “I’m a science guy.” And he clearly affirmed that two weeks ago in his unprecedented speech before the National Academies, and last week in his research and development budget proposal.

So far this year, this Committee has reported out legislation on STEM education, nanotechnology, information technology, water resources, electronics recycling, design of green buildings, and international cooperation. Every one of those bills is bipartisan, and all but two have already passed the House. What they share in common is that they address broad, multidisciplinary, multi-sector issues that require resources, leadership, and planning across several – and often a dozen or more – of our Federal agencies.

President Obama said in his inaugural address that it’s not about bigger or smaller government; it’s about smarter government. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is providing funds to help us work smarter, but we are facing tough budget times and we won’t always have new money at hand. That’s why we must make more efficient and effective use of the limited resources we have to tackle these difficult issues.

That is where Dr. Holdren and OSTP come in. I know we’ve been putting a lot of responsibilities on you in our legislation, Dr. Holdren, and we will try to get you more resources so you and your able staff can carry out all of these duties.

But I also want to assure you, and remind everybody else that the burden is not entirely on OSTP. These enormous tasks we confront, such as strengthening STEM education and improving management of our water resources, require leadership and willingness to coordinate, cooperate and share information on the part of many Federal agencies.

A lot of opportunities to use science and technology to tackle our Nation’s greatest challenges were neglected or just seemed to fall between the cracks in the last several years. I know that Dr. Holdren and the many other fine scientists and leaders that President Obama has appointed to senior positions in his Administration take this task to heart, and I am optimistic that they will succeed in helping us to turn the tide on many of these challenges.

I look forward to a good discussion about the President’s proposal for research and development funding in next year’s budget, and how that funding will be targeted to address the challenges we face.
 

Witnesses

Panel

0 - Dr. John P. Holdren
Director Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)
Download the Witness Testimony