Senate VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Appropriations
Subcommittee
National Science Foundation Fiscal 2003 Budget
May 15, 2002
Senator
Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Senator
Christopher Bond (R-MO), Chair and Ranking Member
of the Senate VA-HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations
Subcommittee, heard testimony from Dr.
Rita Colwell, NSF's Director, and Dr. Jack Marburger,
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
on the NSF budget request for the coming fiscal year.
Senator Mikulski expressed her disappointment with
the Spartan numbers in the budget
request, and noted that the reported 5 percent
increase shrinks to 3 percent when proposed transfers
from other agencies are factored out. Mikulski, an
ardent supporter of doubling the NSF budget, remarked
favorably on proposed additions to priority research
areas, but noted that these had come at the expense
of growth in the core programs.
Senator Bond stated his concern that the physical sciences
were being shortchanged while life and health sciences
were growing rapidly. Bond strongly urged NSF to continue
improving the management of its major research facilities
activities, noting a recently completed report by
the Inspector General pointing to problems in this
account. Bond closed with a cautionary statement on
the status of the proposed Homestake underground laboratory,
which he feels may be pursued on political rather
than scientific grounds. Senator
Tim Johnson (D-SD) defended Congressional efforts
to preserve the mine for a future research site and
noted that the South Dakota delegation had no intention
of circumventing the merit review process.
Dr. Colwell summarized the NSF budget request and Dr.
Warren Washington, newly elected Chairman of the
National
Science Board, emphasized the economic impact
of investments in research and education. Dr. Marburger's
testimony placed the NSF request in the larger Federal
research context, noting that the $111 billion total
request was the largest percentage increase in decades.
Dr.
Christine Boesz, NSF's Inspector General, was
asked to comment on a recently completed audit of
NSF major research equipment account. She noted that
although NSF has taken steps to improve facilities
management, further steps need to be taken in order
to provide total cost accounting.
Senator
Dominici (R-NM) raised several points about astronomy
research facilities located in his state and his desire
that the Waste Isolation Pilot Project be considered
for future underground laboratory development. Senator
Bond concluded with a round of questions regarding
priority setting for major research facilities. Dr.
Colwell noted that it is typically years between the
initial conceptualization of a major instrument and
its approval by the National Science Board. Priorities
are continuously adjusted according to appropriateness
of the proposal, timeliness, disciplinary balance,
and budgetary constraints.
Links to Witnesses' Full Testimony
Dr.
Colwell's Testimony
Dr.
Washington's Testimony
Dr.
Boesz's Testimony
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