April 02, 2009
Chairman Gordon's Written Testimony Submitted to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
I want to thank the Subcommittee for providing me the opportunity to share my thoughts on funding levels for Fiscal Year 2010. Although full details are not yet available on the Administration’s budget request, I am pleased that the budget request summary provided to Congress in late February demonstrates the Administration’s continued commitment to science and technology, and welcome the robust funding levels requested for our federal science agencies. For the National Science Foundation, I respectfully request that the Subcommittee fund the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program at $70 million and provide for a comparable funding increase for the Math and Science Partnerships program. For the National Institute of Standards and Technology, I request that the Subcommittee provide $125 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership and at least $70 million for the Technology Innovation Program. I also request that the Subcommittee provide adequate funding for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, at least at the level of funding requested in the Administration’s budget summary.
As the Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology, I know well that the members of this Subcommittee recognize the important role that science plays in keeping the U.S. competitive. I know you share my belief that the long-term economic prosperity of this nation depends to a large extent on science, technology, and our ability to innovate. I appreciate the Subcommittee’s past support of federal research and development funding, and look forward to working with you to ensure that these programs receive the funding that they need in Fiscal Year 2010.
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the primary source of Federal funding for non-biomedical research conducted at colleges and universities, including 86 percent of funding for computer sciences, 67 percent of non-biomedical biological sciences, 60 percent of funding for mathematical sciences, 59 percent of funding for environmental sciences, 40 percent of funding for engineering, and 34 percent of funding for the physical sciences. In addition, since its creation in 1950, NSF has been tasked with strengthening science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education at all levels. NSF’s education programs are unique in their peer review processes, their linkages to higher education, and their resulting ability to develop new and improved educational materials and assessments, create better teacher training techniques, and move promising ideas from research to practice.
The National Academies’ Rising Above the Gathering Storm report recommended that the U.S. “[s]ustain and strengthen the nation’s traditional commitment to long-term basic research that has the potential to be transformational to maintain the flow of new ideas that fuel the economy, provide security, and enhance the quality of life.” In response, the bipartisan America COMPETES Act authorized funding levels for the research programs at NSF on a near-term doubling path.
In addition, the top recommendation of the Rising Above the Gathering Storm report was to ensure that K-12 science and mathematics teachers across the country have strong content knowledge and effective teaching skills. The America COMPETES Act took important steps to meet this challenge by emphasizing the importance of NSF’s Math and Science Partnerships (MSP) program and revamping the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program to provide scholarships for STEM majors who take tailored courses needed to become certified as teachers and agree to teach for two years for each year of scholarship support.
The economic downturn has had far-reaching effects, including forcing many universities across the country to cut research budgets. These local cuts make sustained federal investment in NSF research even more important. For this reason, I support the Administration’s budget request of $7 billion for NSF in Fiscal Year 2010. However, I am requesting that the Subcommittee consider providing slightly more funding to NSF, if needed, to accommodate full funding of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program and to provide an adequate funding increase to MSP, without sacrificing necessary funding for the other important programs within NSF.
I am very pleased that the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program was fully funded in Fiscal Year 2009 at the authorized level of $115 million ($55 million in the Fiscal Year 2009 omnibus appropriations bill and $60 million in the Economic Recovery Act). I urge the Subcommittee to once again demonstrate its commitment to this important program in Fiscal Year 2010. Although the America COMPETES Act authorized $140.5 million for the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, I am requesting that the Program be funded at $70 million in Fiscal Year 2010. This represents an increase over the Fiscal Year 2009 omnibus appropriations bill funding level that is consistent with the increase laid out in the America COMPETES Act. I also urge the Subcommittee to provide for a comparable increase in funding above the Fiscal Year 2009 appropriation for the MSP program.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a non-regulatory agency of the Department of Commerce and the nation’s oldest Federal laboratory. Its mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science and supporting the development of technical standards.
The America COMPETES Act provided the first comprehensive authorization of NIST’s programs in 15 years, putting NIST on a 10-year path to doubling. I appreciate the Subcommittee’s past commitment to providing adequate funding for NIST and am grateful that the Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations bill provided close to the authorized funding level for NIST. I urge the Subcommittee to once again ensure that NIST is provided the funding it needs to promote U.S. innovation and competitiveness.
I strongly support the Administration’s budget request of $125 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), and urge the Subcommittee to provide funding at this level. MEP is the only Federal program that specifically targets small- and medium-sized manufactures to help them modernize their operations, improve their competitiveness, and reduce or reverse job losses. At this time of economic downturn, it is critical that we maintain our commitment to this crucial program and do all that we can to help our small- and medium-sized businesses stay competitive.
The Technology Innovation Program (TIP) was created in the America COMPETES Act to update and build upon the proven success of the Advanced Technology Program (ATP). TIP provides cost-shared support for innovative technology development by small- and medium-sized companies and joint ventures in an effort to address the systematic lack of private venture capital for high-risk, high-reward, seed-stage technology development. As a result, TIP plays an important role in supporting, promoting, and accelerating innovation in the U.S.
I appreciate the Administration’s budget request of $70 million for TIP. Although the funding request is significantly below the authorized funding level of $140 million in the America COMPETES Act, I recognize the tough budgetary situation we face. As a result, I support this request. At the same time, if at all possible, I would urge the Subcommittee to consider providing slightly more funding for this important program. A funding level of $85 million, for example, would go a long way to ensuring the success of this new program and would send an important signal about our continued commitment to innovation and economic prosperity.
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
I am pleased that the Administration has requested $18.7 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Fiscal Year 2010, which I consider to be welcome recognition that NASA needs additional resources to carry out the important tasks that the nation has given it. I strongly urge the Subcommittee to provide at least this level of funding, and hope that you will give serious consideration to providing appropriations for NASA consistent with the funding level authorized in the NASA Authorization Act of 2008.
Last year, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of NASA. As we look ahead to the opportunities and challenges facing NASA over its next 50 years, I believe that we must do what we can to enable NASA to continue to engage in the most cutting-edge research and serve as inspiration for the next generation of scientists and engineers. To do this, NASA will need resources that are sufficient to allow it to fulfill each of its diverse missions, including space and Earth science, microgravity research, human space flight and exploration, aeronautics research and development, and education, as productively as possible.
CONCLUSION
Certainly, the current state of our economy has highlighted the importance of sustained investment in the prosperity and competitiveness of our country. As the world becomes more and more competitive, we must adhere to a balanced set of policies to improve our country’s short-term and long-term competitiveness and ensure that our businesses and workers are able to compete with better skills and greater productivity. We simply must continue to devote resources to science and technology, and sustain our efforts to promote, encourage, and accelerate innovation.
For this reason, I urge the Subcommittee to keep the promises that we made in the America COMPETES Act and provide adequate funding for the National Science Foundation and the National Institute for Standards and Technology in Fiscal Year 2010. In addition, I urge the Subcommittee to provide funding to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in Fiscal Year 2010 at a level that allows it to effectively carry out its responsibilities.
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