House Basic Research Subcommittee Hearing / NSF and
NSB Heads Testify
March 5, 1997
At a hearing of the House Basic Research Subcommittee
on March 5, 1997, NSF Director Neal Lane and NSB Chairman
Richard Zare discussed NSF's budget request for fiscal
year 1998 with congressional leaders. Accompanied
by Acting Deputy Director Joseph Bordogna and the
NSF Assistant Directors, Dr. Lane fielded questions
from subcommittee members on merit review, NSF management
of facilities, Next Generation Internet and the future
of the supercomputing centers.
Full Committee Vice Chairman Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) chairing
the hearing in place of subcommittee chairman Steven
Schiff (R-NM), supported the President's request for
NSF in his opening statement, calling the request
"a realistic proposal from which we on the Science
Committee can work". Vice Chairman Ehlers noted
that "NSF's request for FY 1998 of 3.4 percent
growth thus converges with the Congress' view of how
we can both balance the budget and provide some growth
in our federally supported research enterprise."
Ehlers also indicated the subcommittee's interest in
a number of NSF issues: the construction of new NSF
supported facilities such as the Millimeter Array,
Polar Cap Observatory and South Pole Station; NSF's
role in math and science education, especially in
light of President Clinton's recent emphasis on education;
NSF participation in the Next Generation Internet
initiative; and implementation of GPRA at NSF. Additional
hearings consisting of outside witnesses are planned
on these topics, Ehlers said.
In his opening remarks, Dr.
Lane made a strong case for the NSF budget request
and for a continued robust overall federal investment
in fundamental research. Lane linked government-funded
research to a number of today's commonly used innovations
including virtual design of aircraft, use real-time
inventory by business, and the creation of the Global
Positioning System.
Lane also warned of the economic consequences of failing
to continually invest in science and education. Lane
said that our economic competitors were realizing
the importance of long-term investments in science
and technology just at a time while U.S. budgets for
science and technology were beginning to decline.
"Other nations - Japan in particular," Lane
noted, "are demonstrating a growing awareness
of the link between a strong science and technology
base and a nation's overall economic vitality."
Evidence of increased investment by economic competitors
such as Japan "provides one more reminder that
strong public support for research and education is
essential if the U.S. is to remain a world leading
economy in the 21st Century," Lane concluded.
Subcommittee members asked a wide range of questions
on NSF programs and policies. On the subject of the
role of board from Rep. Ehlers, Dr.
Zare described the actions of the NSB task force
on merit review on updating the review criteria and
commented on the excellent input from the science
and engineering community. Zare also discussed the
recent NSB retreat and the meeting with Drs. Frank
Press and Ed David on the future role for the NSB
on national science policy issues. There is considerable
interest in the future direction of national science
policy in the Congress, Rep. Ehlers responded, and
he also noted that Speaker of the House Gingrich and
Science Committee Chairman Sensenbrenner have had
discussions about forming a task force national science
policy where Mr. Ehlers would play a significant role.
The success of the Advanced Technology Education (ATE)
Program and NSF's role in the Next Generation Internet
Initiative were subjects of questions from Rep. James
Barcia (D-MI). Community colleges had not received
enough emphasis in the past - Lane commented with
regard to the ATE program - but that local community
colleges are now recognized as an important resource
and that ATE is strengthening the connections between
two-year and four-year schools. Dr. Lane and Dr. Bordogna
also talked about the importance of KDI as a new vision
for the use of information technology in research
and that NSF's role the in the NGI initiative is centered
on providing a new vision for the future based on
KDI that goes beyond just infrastructure. Asking rhetorically
why NSF was not given a greater role in the NGI initiative,
Rep. Ehlers stated that Congress should work to give
NSF a greater role in the program.
The future of the NSF supercomputer centers and the
recompetition of the center program was the focus
of questions from Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA). Responding
to Rep. Doyle's concerns over the selection process
and rationale for the restructuring of the program,
Dr. Lane stated that the new Supercomputer program
structure was proposed to ensure that a richer partnership
be created with expertise coming from a diverse number
of new program participants. Dr. Lane also noted that
NSF was mindful of "realistic budget scenarios"
in creating the new program.
Other topics of discussion included NSF's policy on
funding science that may be seen as politically or
socially sensitive, and NSF's policy for determining
when NSF investment is appropriate or whether the
private sector should step in to take over support
of certain types of research. In response to the latter
question, Dr. Bordogna gave a concise description
of NSF's philosophy of funding new, innovative ideas
and described how NSF works closely with industry,
academia and others to determine the direction of
NSF funding, including the recompetition of centers
to foster new areas of research while moving away
from old areas that may be more ripe for industry
support.
Rep. Ehlers concluded the hearing by voicing his concern
about reports of cost overruns at NSF facilities and
asked whether NSF is reexamining the construction
management practices in light of the reported problems.
Dr. Zare stated that the Board takes these reports
very seriously and that significant amounts of time
were spent at the February NSB meeting on these issues.
Each case is complicated but actions are being taken,
Zare said. Lane commented that, first there were disputed
costs at issue that may or may not result in actual
overruns. Lane also described that the Foundation
has in place currently a process for assessing and
reviewing cost and management plans for projects in
the Major Research Equipment Account and that NSF
is working under the leadership of Acting Deputy Director
Bordogna to develop recommendations for other NSF
projects outside the MRE account.
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