Science Committee Democrats: Current Budget Cuts Vital Job and Education Programs, Slows U.S. Competitiveness
(Washington, DC) Top Administration officials testified today before the House Science Committee on the President’s proposed fiscal year FY2006 research and development (R&D) budget. Science Committee Democrats continued to admonish the Administration’s plan to cut science and technology programs that benefit our economy and help educate our students.
"Scientific advancement is one of the keys to U.S. competitiveness in a global marketplace," said Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN). "The Administration claims to understand this but their budget tells a different story."
Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Director Dr. John Marburger - a witness at today’s hearing - stated in testimony before the Committee last year that "this Administration understands that science and technology are major drivers of economic growth."
Yet today, the Administration defended its proposed $877 million decrease (1.4%) in federal science and technology funding. This is particularly troublesome in light of the fact that the expected rate of inflation is 2%.
Rep. Gordon expressed concern about the continuing use of budgetary "tricks" to inflate this Administration’s R&D record. He reminded the panel that "R&D as a percentage of GDP is near a 50-year low," "close-out costs for ATP would eradicate the proposed NIST increases" and at NSF, the research numbers "are fluffed up by an accounting change; thus, a 2.4% increase is really only a 1.5% increase - significantly below the rate of inflation."
Science Committee Democrats made clear that the Administration’s cuts to innovation, job creation and education programs are of primary concern. The current budget fails to follow through on a pledge to double funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF), cuts or eliminates job creation programs like the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and the Advanced Technology Program (ATP), and shortchanges education programs that train future scientists and engineers for tomorrow’s workforce.
"Productivity drives economic growth and new technology drives productivity. If we don’t invest in tools that help our manufacturers compete, they can’t create jobs," added Gordon. "In these tight budget times, the smart investment is in programs that will make our country stronger."
"Slashing the country’s science and technology budget is shortsighted at best," continued Gordon. "A firm commitment to research is the best way to insure our kids get a solid education, our workforce is well equipped and our country leads the world in innovation."
Committee Democrats today released their detailed summary of the President’s FY2006 Science and Technology Request.
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