    [Budget of the U.S. Government]
    [V. Creating Opportunity, Demanding Responsibility, and Strengthening Community]
    [4. Promoting Research]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                             4.  PROMOTING RESEARCH

      ----------------------------------------------------------------------

      . . . We must harness the remarkable forces of science and technology that are remaking our world. . . . We
    can make this age of science and technology a true age of possibility for all the American people, but we must
    invest in it and do it wisely if we expect to get a return.

                                          President Clinton
                                          December 11, 1996

      ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      Technological innovation has accounted for at least half of the
    Nation's productivity growth in the last 50 years. We enjoy the fruits
    of this innovation every day in the many technologies that we have come
    to depend on for our way of life--including lasers, computers, x-rays,
    teflon, weather and communication satellites, jet aircraft, microwave
    ovens, solar-electric cells, human insulin, and a plethora of
    pharmaceutical products. These advances have generated millions of high-
    skilled, high-wage jobs and significantly improved the quality of life
    for Americans.
       Because our investments in science and technology (S&T) have paid
    such rich dividends, U.S. leadership in S&T is a cornerstone of the
    President's vision for America. Thus, the budget continues these vital
    S&T investments--investments that contribute significantly to many of
    the Administration's broader goals, including creating new knowledge,
    training our workers, creating new jobs and industries, solving our many
    health challenges, enhancing our ability to address environmental
    issues, improving our ability to teach our children, and maintaining a
    strong, capable national defense.
       Specifically, the budget adds funds for basic research in health
    sciences at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for basic research
    and education at the National Science Foundation (NSF), for research at
    other agencies that depend on S&T for their missions, and for
    cooperative projects with industry and universities.
       As the President has said, we need to balance the budget in a way
    that boosts economic growth and encourages public and private investment
    in innovative S&T. The budget continues the record of S&T investment
    that has helped to keep the economy strong over the last four years.

    The Federal Role in S&T

       The post-Cold War era is one of intense global economic competition.
    The United States also faces new national security challenges, including
    the proliferation of nuclear and biological weapons, regional conflicts,
    threats from environmental degradation, and emerging infectious
    diseases.
       Thus, the Federal Government has an indispensable role to play in
    investing in S&T--a role critical to the country's economy, national
    security, environment, health, and other social needs. This is
    especially true when the risk is too great for individual companies to
    make the needed investment, or when the public benefit is large but
    private return is small. Our Nation also must support a balanced mix of
    S&T investments (i.e., basic research, applied research, and technology
    development), because the steps involved in scientific discovery and
    technological innovation are so profoundly interwoven.
       The Administration has initiated or expanded public-private
    partnerships to spur innovations with broad economic impact. These
    partnerships have traditionally served our Nation well, not only in
    building transportation infrastructure (e.g., highways, airways,
    harbors, and railroads), but in nurturing new types of technological
    infrastructure (e.g., the Internet, global positioning satellites, and
    environmental monitoring systems). They also

    [[Page 78]]

    enable the private sector to translate new knowledge into novel technologies that benefit its bottom line as well as society at large.

     Science and Technology Highlights

       As noted above, S&T investments contribute significantly to the
    Administration's economic, health, environment, national security, and
    education goals. This chapter describes the contributions in greater
    detail. Overall research and development investment totals are displayed
    in Table 4-1, while selected S&T highlights are displayed in Table 4-2.

                                    Table 4-1.  RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS
                                     (Budget authority, dollar amounts in millions)
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Dollar    Percent
                                                                      1993      1997      1998     Change:   Change:
                                                                     Actual   Estimate  Proposed   1997 to   1997 to
                                                                                                    1998      1998
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    By Agency:
      Defense.....................................................    38,898    37,461    36,780      -681       -2%
      Health and Human Services...................................    10,472    12,933    13,478      +545       +4%
      National Aeronautics and Space Administration...............     8,873     9,314     9,603      +289       +3%
      Energy \1\..................................................     6,896     6,186     7,312    +1,126      +18%
      National Science Foundation.................................     2,012     2,458     2,553       +95       +4%
      Agriculture.................................................     1,467     1,545     1,485       -60       -4%
      Commerce....................................................       793     1,050     1,115       +65       +6%
      Interior....................................................       649       581       605       +24       +4%
      Transportation..............................................       613       639       754      +115      +18%
      Environmental Protection Agency.............................       511       504       555       +51      +10%
      Other.......................................................     1,308     1,150     1,229       +79       +7%
                                                                   -------------------------------------------------
      Total.......................................................    72,492    73,821    75,469    +1,648       +2%
                                                                   =================================================

    By R&D Theme:
      Basic Research..............................................    13,362    14,885    15,303      +418       +3%
      Applied Research............................................    13,608    14,529    15,159      +630       +4%
      Development.................................................    42,795    42,153    41,636      -517       -1%
      Equipment \2\...............................................        NA       937       960       +23       +2%
      Facilities \1\,\2\..........................................     2,727     1,317     2,411    +1,094      +83%
                                                                   -------------------------------------------------
      Total.......................................................    72,492    73,821    75,469    +1,648       +2%
                                                                   =================================================
    By Civilian Theme:
      Basic Research..............................................    11,951    13,747    14,112      +365       +3%
      Applied Research............................................     9,130    10,469    11,125      +656       +6%
      Development.................................................     7,269     7,860     8,117      +257       +3%
      Equipment \2\...............................................        NA       492       506       +14       +3%
      Facilities \2\..............................................     1,979       984     1,128      +144      +15%
                                                                   -------------------------------------------------
      Subtotal....................................................    30,329    33,552    34,988    +1,436       +4%

    By Defense Theme:
      Basic Research..............................................     1,411     1,138     1,191       +53       +5%
      Applied Research............................................     4,478     4,060     4,034       -26       -1%
      Development.................................................    35,526    34,293    33,519      -774       -2%
      Equipment \2\...............................................        NA       445       454        +9       +2%
      Facilities \1\,\2\ .........................................       748       333     1,283      +950     +285%
                                                                   -------------------------------------------------
      Subtotal....................................................    42,163    40,269    40,481      +212       +1%

    By R&D Share:
      Defense.....................................................    42,163    40,269    40,481      +212       +1%
      Civilian....................................................    30,329    33,552    34,988    +1,436       +4%
                                                                   -------------------------------------------------
      Total.......................................................    72,492    73,821    75,469    +1,648       +2%
    Civilian (percent)............................................        42        45        46        NA        NA

    R&D Support to Universities...................................    11,674    12,979    13,268      +289       +2%
    Merit (Peer) Reviewed R&D Programs............................        NA    22,220    22,717      +497       +2%
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    NA = Not applicable.

    \1\ 1998 estimates reflect an extra $1 billion for Department of Energy (DOE) facilities acquisition (primarily
      in defense) as part of DOE's move to fully funding acquisitions up front.

    \2\ Equipment and Facilities were not collected separately in 1993.

    [[Page 79]]

                                 Table 4-2.  SELECTED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHTS
                                     (Budget authority, dollar amounts in millions)
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Dollar    Percent
                                                                      1993      1997      1998     Change:   Change:
                                                                     Actual   Estimate  Proposed   1997 to   1997 to
                                                                                                    1998      1998
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    National Science Foundation...................................     2,734     3,270     3,367       +97       +3%
    National Institutes of Health.................................    10,326    12,741    13,078      +337       +3%
    Environmental Protection Agency:
       Particulate matter in ambient air research.................        NA        19        26        +7      +37%
       Science to achieve results.................................        NA        95       115       +20      +21%
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration:................
       International Space Station................................     2,262     2,149     2,121       -28       -1%
       Mission to Planet Earth....................................     1,062     1,362     1,417       +55       +4%
       Space science..............................................     1,756     1,971     2,044       +73       +4%
       X-33 reusable launch vehicle technology program............        NA       245       330       +85      +35%
       Aeronautics initiative.....................................       129       417       456       +39       +9%
    Department of Energy:
       Science-based stockpile stewardship........................        NA     1,439     1,444        +5       +*%
      Civilian basic science programs.............................     2,583     2,035     2,067       +32       +1%
       Large Hadron Collider project..............................        NA        15        35       +20     +133%
    Department of Commerce:
       Advanced Technology Program................................        68       225       275       +50      +22%
       Manufacturing Extension Partnerships.......................        18        95       129       +34      +36%
       National Information Infrastructure........................        NA        22        36       +14      +64%
    Department of Defense: Dual Use Application Program...........        NA       181       225       +44      +24%
    Department of Agriculture: National Research Initiative               98        94       130       +36      +38%
    Department of Transportation: Intelligent Transportation
     Infrastructure...............................................       143       235       250       +15       +6%
    National Science and Technology Council initiatives:
      High performance computing and communications: \1\
         Defense..................................................       298       334       357       +23       +7%
         Health and Human Services................................        47        90        97        +7       +8%
         National Aeronautics and Space Administration............        82       114       128       +14      +12%
         Energy...................................................       100       117       152       +35      +30%
         National Science Foundation..............................       233       278       294       +16       +6%
         Commerce.................................................        12        32        35        +3       +9%
         Transportation...........................................        NA        20        25        +5      +25%
         Education................................................        NA        12        12        +*       +*%
         Veterans.................................................        NA        22        22        +*       +*%
         Environmental Protection Agency..........................        NA         6         6        +*       +*%
                                                                   -------------------------------------------------
      Subtotal....................................................       772     1,025     1,128      +103      +10%

      U.S. global change research program: \2\
         Health and Human Services................................         1         4         4        +*       +*%
         National Aeronautics and Space Administration............     1,062     1,362     1,417       +55       +4%
         Energy...................................................       118       112       110        -2       -2%
         National Science Foundation..............................       124       164       166        +2       +1%
         Agriculture..............................................        55        57        61        +4       +7%
         Commerce.................................................        66        60        62        +2       +3%
         Interior.................................................        38        29        29        +*       +*%
         Environmental Protection Agency..........................        NA        14        21        +7      +50%
         Smithsonian..............................................        NA         7         7        +*       +*%
         Tennessee Valley Authority...............................        NA         1         1        +*       +*%
                                                                   -------------------------------------------------
      Subtotal....................................................     1,464     1,810     1,878       +68       +4%

    Partnership for a new generation of vehicles..................        NA       263       281        +8       +7%
    Construction and building.....................................        NA       176       203       +27      +15%
    Educational technology........................................        NA       499       524       +25       +5%
    Emerging infectious diseases research.........................        NA       260       280       +20       +8%

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    NA = Not collected in this year.

    * Less than $500 thousand or 0.5 percent.

    \1\ Listing by agency required by law; estimates include $100 million in 1998 for the Next Generation Internet.
    \2\ Listing by agency required by law.

    [[Page 81]]

      Increasing Total Support for Science and Technology: This budget marks
    the fifth straight year that the President has proposed increases in
    research and development (R&D)--at $75.5 billion, $1.6 billion or two
    percent more than in 1997.\1\ Continuing previous efforts, the budget
    also provides an increasing share for civilian R&D investments, with
    those investments at 46 percent of the total.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      \1\ Research and Development (R&D) is a widely-accepted measure of
    investment in S&T.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Boosting Funding for Basic Research and Applied Research: The budget
    proposes $15.3 billion for basic research and $15.2 billion for applied
    research--increases of $418 million and $630 million over 1997,
    respectively. These investments, which include increases of three
    percent each for NIH and NSF, reflect the Administration's commitment to
    create new knowledge that will pay economic dividends down the road and
    address many of the health challenges that face the nation, such as
    breast cancer.
       Strengthening University-Based Research: University-based research (a
    mixture of basic, applied, development R&D, equipment, and facilities)
    is key to America's future; simultaneously, it provides new knowledge
    and new technology, and it trains the next generation of scientists and
    engineers. The budget proposes $13.3 billion for university-based
    research, an increase of $289 million over 1997. It also proposes $22.7
    billion for merit-reviewed research (two percent more than in 1997),
    comprising 18 percent of the R&D budget. Increases in merit-reviewed
    research ensure that the Nation receives the highest quality return on
    these investments.
       Investing in Innovation to Create New Jobs and Industries: Many of
    the new jobs created under this Administration have been high-tech,
    high-wage jobs in industries like biotechnology and computing--jobs that
    didn't exist a decade or two ago. The budget maintains a strong
    investment in technology to foster these high-priority civilian S&T
    industries and jobs. Funding continues or expands for high-performance
    computing research; for the Advanced Technology Program, which works
    with industry to develop high-risk, high-payoff technologies; for
    Manufacturing Extension Partnerships to help small businesses battle
    foreign competition by adopting modern technologies and production
    techniques; and for other programs.
       Investing in Environmental Research: S&T investments are critical for
    enhancing environmental quality and assuring a sustainable future. While
    the Nation is making progress on many pollution fronts, emerging global
    environmental problems pose new risks. The budget maintains vital
    research to provide safe food, clean air, and pure water. It supports
    programs to increase energy efficiency and the development of renewable
    energy sources that cut demand for foreign oil and reduce greenhouse
    emissions, and partnerships with industry to develop cars that use less
    fuel. The budget invests in programs that preserve biological diversity
    and help us understand and prepare for changing climate conditions and
    natural disasters. These investments also provide a sound scientific
    basis for rational rule-making on, and cost-effective implementation of,
    environmental regulations. (For information on energy efficiency and
    renewable energy R&D programs, see Chapter 3.)
       Investing in a 21st-Century Education: Information technology has
    revolutionized America's businesses, but it has not been widely adopted
    in America's classrooms. We must use this new technology to help
    children prepare for the challenges of the 21st Century. Building on the
    experience of earlier Federal investment in educational technology, the
    budget includes a second installment for the President's new five-year,
    $2 billion Technology Literacy Challenge Fund to encourage States and
    communities, working with private sector partners, to develop and
    implement plans for fully integrating educational technology into their
    school curricula. (For more information, see Chapter 2.)
       Enhancing Programs to Keep Our Nation Secure: While the budget
    continues investments in defense research that ensure our strong, future
    military capabilities, it also fosters key programs to keep nuclear
    weapons out of the hands of terrorists, to comply with the Comprehensive
    Test Ban Treaty by using science-based techniques to ensure the safety
    and reliability of our nuclear weapons stockpiles, and to bolster strong
    international S&T

    [[Page 81]]

    cooperation to improve global stability. The budget
    also supports the Dual Use Applications Program (DUAP), which puts the
    technical know-how and economies of scale from commercial industry at
    the service of national defense.

     Agency Highlights

       National Science Foundation: NSF, recognized world-wide for its high
    standards of quality and efficiency, funds proposals based on a
    rigorous, competitive process of merit review. Reflecting the high
    quality of NSF-backed science, NSF supported five of the six 1996 U.S.
    Nobel prize winners early in their careers. Alone among Federal
    agencies, NSF has the broad mission of promoting science and engineering
    research and education across all fields and disciplines. It supports
    nearly half of the non-medical basic research conducted at academic
    institutions, and provides 30 percent of Federal support for mathematics
    and science education. Because most NSF awards go to colleges and
    universities, they generate knowledge and train the next generation of
    scientists and engineers. The budget proposes $3.4 billion for NSF,
    three percent more than in 1997.
       National Institutes of Health: The budget continues the President's
    commitment to biomedical research, which promotes the health and well-
    being of all Americans. NIH support for biomedical research grew by $2.4
    billion, or by 23 percent, between 1993 and 1997. For 1998, the budget
    proposes $13.1 billion for NIH, a three-percent increase over 1997.
    NIH's highest priority continues to be funding investigator-initiated,
    peer-reviewed research project grants. The budget proposal would enable
    NIH to increase HIV/AIDS-related research, research into breast cancer
    and other health concerns of women, minority health initiatives, high
    performance computing, prevention research, spinal cord injury, and
    developmental and reproductive biology.

     Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

       Particulate Matter (PM) in Ambient Air Research: The budget proposes
    $26.4 million for PM research, a 37-percent increase over 1997. To
    reduce the great uncertainty about PM's health effects, EPA will
    continue its efforts to identify the mechanisms by which particles
    affect human health. It will launch research into three areas: (1)
    evaluating the relationship between health effects and PM exposures; (2)
    determining the amount and size of particles inhaled and retained in the
    lungs; and (3) investigating biological mechanisms by which PM
    concentrations in outdoor air may induce health effects and, in doing
    so, evaluating potential links between PM exposures and health effects.
       Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program: The budget proposes $115
    million (21 percent more than in 1997) for EPA's STAR program, which
    awards grants and fellowships on the basis of rigorous peer review. The
    program funds research proposals from scientists outside the Federal
    Government that focus on the most pressing environmental concerns. EPA
    funds the proposals independently or in cooperation with NSF and other
    Federal agencies.

     National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA):

       NASA has been on the forefront of Administration efforts to reshape
    the Federal Government--to make it work better, cost less, and better
    service its customers, the American people. The budget proposes balanced
    and sustainable funding for NASA over the next five years, permitting
    NASA not only to continue improving its operations but also to support
    important strategic research efforts, including the efforts highlighted
    below:
       Space Science: The space science program has achieved impressive
    successes this past year--meteoric evidence of possible life on ancient
    Mars, the possible detection of water on the Moon and a moon of Jupiter,
    and the identification of possible planets around other stars. To build
    on these successes and implement the President's directives in his
    recently-released space policy, the Administration proposes $2 billion
    for space science, a four-percent increase over 1997. The additional
    funding will enhance NASA's Origins program, which seeks to understand
    the creation of the universe, stars, solar system, and life, and
    determine if life once existed or still exists beyond Earth.

    [[Page 82]]

       International Space Station: The Administration continues to support
    the development of the International Space Station--a U.S.-led
    collaborative effort with the European Space Agency, Canada, Japan, and
    Russia--that will provide an unique laboratory to explore innovative
    research on materials and biological processes, on promising new
    technologies, and on how people can live and work in a low-gravity
    environment. The budget proposes $9 billion in advanced, multi-year
    appropriations to complete the $17.4 billion Space Station development
    and assembly, helping to ensure that the program is completed, as
    promised, within budget and on schedule.
       Mission to Planet Earth (MTPE): MTPE is NASA's effort to observe,
    understand, and predict natural and human-induced changes to the
    environment. The budget proposes $1.4 billion for MTPE, four percent
    more than in 1997. MTPE programs include the Earth Observing System
    satellites, the Landsat satellite, and a broad range of scientific
    research and data analysis activities.
       X-33 Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Technology: The budget proposes
    $719 million in advanced multi-year appropriations to complete
    development of the RLV X-33 test vehicle, that should dramatically cut
    the cost of getting into space by demonstrating the use of new
    materials, reusable components, and new operations management
    approaches.
       Aeronautics Initiative: The budget proposes $456 million for NASA's
    aeronautics initiatives, a nine-percent increase over 1997. These
    initiatives are partnerships with industry and include advanced subsonic
    technology and high speed research that may revolutionize the next
    generation of commercial aircraft.

     Department of Energy (DOE):

      Stockpile Stewardship: The President's commitment to a Comprehensive
    Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is closely linked to the Administration's plan to
    maintain the safety and reliability of the nuclear weapons stockpile
    through scientific experiments and computer modeling (i.e., no explosive
    testing of nuclear weapons). The budget proposes $1.4 billion for
    Stockpile Stewardship activities in 1998, plus $1.3 billion for related
    construction projects. Among these projects, $900 million would go to
    build the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National
    Laboratory. The President, who plans to submit the CTBT for Senate
    ratification in 1997, also is committed to funding a comprehensive R&D
    program over the next decade to improve treaty monitoring capabilities
    and operations.
       Civilian Basic Science Programs: The Administration has designated
    High Energy and Nuclear Physics, Basic Energy Sciences, and Biological
    and Environmental Research as high-priority areas of DOE basic science
    in 1998. These programs, which have a large university-based component,
    contribute to both our national basic research enterprise and to DOE's
    core activities. In addition, these programs build and operate large
    user facilities that serve over 15,000 university, government, and
    industry scientists. The budget proposes $2.1 billion in 1998 for these
    activities.
      Large Hadron Collider Project: When it comes on-line in 2005, the
    Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the European high-energy physics
    laboratory CERN, in Switzerland, will be by far the world's most
    powerful accelerator. Its scientific goals are to search for the origin
    of mass, to explore in detail the structure and interactions of the top
    quark (the heaviest of the known subatomic particles), and to probe
    high-energy conditions beyond the Standard Model--the remarkably
    successful physics theory that describes all the forces of nature,
    except gravity. Hundreds of U.S. high energy physicists plan to
    participate in the LHC project. The Administration proposes $394 million
    in advanced, multi-year appropriations over eight years for DOE, which
    it designated as the lead Federal agency for U.S. participation. U.S.
    funding for the LHC would support U.S. scientists and technicians, and
    support the purchase of U.S. goods and services necessary for our
    contribution to constructing the accelerator and two detectors.

     Department of Commerce:

       Advanced Technology Program (ATP): ATP is a rigorously competitive,
    industry-led, and cost-shared R&D program that fosters technology
    development, promotes industrial alliances, and creates jobs. ATP
    pursues technologies that are critical to the competitive position of
    U.S. industries, but where the risk

    [[Page 83]]

    is so high that industries will not
    likely invest enough to ensure continued U.S. leadership. The projects
    have led to significant technology advances that have improved our daily
    lives. With ATP funding, for example, a consortium of several large and
    small companies recently developed techniques to make better cars, thus
    increasing customer satisfaction. The budget proposes $275 million in
    1998 for ATP, growing to $500 million by 2002.
       The Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEP): MEP gives the
    Nation's 381,000 smaller manufacturers the technological information and
    expertise to improve their operations. Extension centers are helping to
    improve the performance of small manufacturers across the country,
    leading to more sales, more jobs, and savings in labor and materials.
    The budget proposes $129 million in 1998 to support 78 extension centers
    and over 300 field offices nationwide.
      National Telecommunications and Information Administration National
    Information Infrastructure (NII) Grants Program: The budget proposes $36
    million for grants to help develop the NII, which provides the
    infrastructure that enables computers to connect to one another and to
    information systems across the country. These grants help fund
    innovative demonstration projects to show how information technology can
    improve the delivery of educational, health, and other social services.

       Department of Defense Dual Use Applications Program: The budget
    proposes $225 million for DUAP, which will build on previous Federal
    dual-use technology development programs and allow the military services
    to develop and use technologies, processes, and products available to
    the commercial sector. Dual-use technologies can enhance the performance
    and reduce the costs of military applications.
      Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Research Initiative: The
    budget proposes a 38-percent increase, to $130 million, for the National
    Research Initiative (NRI), USDA's major peer-reviewed competitive grants
    program. The NRI supports fundamental research on key agricultural
    problems that will help our Nation's farmers retain their technological
    edge, such as research in food safety, plant and animal genetics, water
    quality, integrated pest management, and sustainable food and fiber
    production systems. Of particular concern is the need to expand the
    science base for reducing food-borne illness due to microbial pathogens
    and to the many food and fiber production practices that contribute to
    environmental degradation, such as the excessive use of pesticides,
    fertilizers and tillage. As a result, the Administration proposes to
    target $4 million to expand research in food safety, $10 million to
    expand research in environmentally sound production practices, and $22
    million to expand research on enhancing plants through genetics.
      Department of Transportation Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)
    Initiative: The budget proposes $250 million for the ITS initiative--a
    package of technologies designed to enhance the efficiency of our
    surface transportation infrastructure. The request includes $100 million
    for a new Deployment Incentives program to encourage integrated
    implementation of ITS. The Administration also proposes to make ITS
    projects eligible for surface transportation funds and, in 1997, to
    complete 77 operational tests of ITS standards and technology and a
    demonstration of the technical feasibility of the Automated Highway
    System.

     National Science and Technology Council Interagency Initiatives

       Next Generation Internet (NGI) Program: The budget proposes $100
    million for each of the next three years to support the NGI, which seeks
    to develop a research network that can reach speeds 100 to 1,000 times
    faster than today's Internet and greatly improve the quality of service.
    The NGI proposal is a part of an overall request for $1.1 billion, 10
    percent more than in 1997, for research and development in computers and
    communications technologies under the rubric of the Administration's
    High Performance Computing and Communications initiative.
       U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP): The budget continues
    strong Administration support for the USGCRP, proposing $1.9 million for
    1998. Program priorities include research on seasonal to interannual
    climate variability, climate change over decades

    [[Page 84]]

    to centuries, and on changes in atmospheric chemistry and ecosystems. The program also will continue to increase its focus on understanding the consequences of change, particularly at regional levels.
       Emerging Infectious Diseases: The budget proposes $280 million, eight
    percent over 1997, for research on the development of new tools to
    detect and control emerging infectious diseases and on the biology and
    pathology of infectious agents. Focus areas include: surveillance;
    screening and quarantine; diagnostics, treatment, and prevention
    measures; training; antibiotic resistance; zoonotic infectious agents;
    and health effects of climate change.
       Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles: The budget proposes
    $281 million, a seven-percent increase over 1997, for research to: (1)
    develop advanced manufacturing techniques that make it easier to get new
    automobiles and auto components into the marketplace quickly; (2) use
    new technologies for near-term improvements in auto efficiency, safety,
    and emissions; and (3) lead to production prototypes of vehicles that
    are three times more fuel efficient than today's cars, with no sacrifice
    in comfort, performance, or price.
       Construction and Building: The budget proposes $203 million, a 15-
    percent increase over 1997, for research to develop better construction
    technologies to improve the competitive performance of U.S. industry,
    raise the life cycle performance of buildings, and protect public safety
    and the environment.
       Educational Technology: The budget proposes $524 million, a five-
    percent increase over 1997, for research and development on education
    and training to improve learning in schools, workplaces, and homes.