[Budget of the United States Government]
[V. Preparing For the 21st Century]
[7. Promoting Research]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


 
                         7.  PROMOTING RESEARCH

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

 
 
 
  Over the past fifty years our commitment to science has strengthened this country in countless ways.
Scientific research has created vast new industries, millions of jobs, allowed America to produce the world's
most bountiful food supplies and remarkable tools for fighting disease. Think of what today's investments will
yield.
 
                                      President Clinton
                                      June 1998
 

  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  In the last one hundred years, science and technology have 
fundamentally transformed our lives, from the ways we travel and 
communicate, to the food we eat; from the manner in which we learn, to 
the quality of our health care and our ability to create a cleaner 
environment. The next century offers new fields of research and 
innovation and potential solutions to some of society's most pressing 
challenges. Technological advances continue to strengthen the ties 
between Americans and the rest of the world, enabling new business 
endeavors, providing access to news and information from anywhere on the 
globe, and improving cultural understanding. As the forces of innovation 
and globalization gain momentum, the 21st Century promises to be an era 
of great opportunity for the entire world, propelled by new and 
remarkable developments.
  In the latter half of this century, the Federal Government has played 
a critical role in spurring and sustaining scientific and technological 
advances. Among other feats, Government-sponsored research and 
development put Americans on the moon, explored the oceans, boosted 
agricultural productivity, harnessed the atom, devised more effective 
treatments for cancers, found the remains of lost civilizations, tracked 
weather patterns and earthquake faults, created the Internet, and 
deciphered the chemistry of life. Numerous studies show technological 
innovation and scientific discovery generated at least half of the 
Nation's productivity growth over the last 50 years, created millions of 
high-skill, high-wage jobs, and improved the quality of life in America.
  In the last year alone, research and development have produced 
numerous impressive results, including the first photograph of a planet 
outside our own solar system, the creation of the world's fastest 
supercomputer, the identification of the gene that causes Parkinson's 
Disease, and a host of other notable achievements.
  The future holds even greater possibilities. Scientists and engineers 
in many disciplines are within reach of even more exciting advances. 
Building on decades of experimentation and theoretical developments, 
they will be able to rely on new and sophisticated research tools for 
future discoveries--supercomputers that can make trillions of 
calculations in a second, particle accelerators and electron microscopes 
that can decipher atoms and the nature of matter, and space telescopes 
that can reach to parts of the universe previously unexplored. In 
particular, computational science--supercomputer modeling of extremely 
complex systems such as the global climate, the human body, and 
galaxies--is emerging as a new and significant branch of research, 
providing insights not likely to occur through experimentation or 
theorizing alone.
  Continued leadership in science and technology is a cornerstone of the 
President and the Vice President's vision for America. During the past 
six years, the Administration has provided substantial growth for 
science and technology programs. The budget strengthens these vital 
investments, contributing to many broader Administration goals for the 
economy, education, health care, the environment, and national defense. 
The budget

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also takes steps to ensure that everyone--regardless of economic status, 
education, location, gender, ethnicity or race--can reap the benefits of 
technological innovation.
  The 2000 Budget maintains the course established in last year's 
budget, in which the President proposed the largest increase in history 
for civilian research programs, plotting a bold course of strategic 
growth. This budget proposes funding levels across a broad range of 
civilian agencies consistent with the increases projected in the 1999 
Budget. The continuing centerpiece of the Administration's commitment to 
science and technology is the 21st Century Research Fund, which provides 
stability and growth for the highest priority research programs. The 
budget provides $38.1 billion for the Fund--a three-percent increase 
above last year. (See Table 7-1 for details on the Fund.)
  This budget also reflects an effort to re-establish an optimum balance 
between health care research and other scientific disciplines--a concern 
voiced in recent years throughout the science community. Substantial 
recent increases to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have 
advanced the President's commitment to increase long-term NIH funding 
well ahead of schedule. The budget adds prudently to the NIH while 
providing a seven-percent boost for the National Science Foundation 
(NSF), which supports a broad range of university research in areas 
other than health.

A Bold, New Information Technology Initiative

  The budget proposes a bold, new Information Technology Initiative that 
will invest in long-term, fundamental research in computing and 
communications, and will increase development and purchases of extremely 
fast supercomputers to support a broad range of civilian research and 
development. Long-term information technology research will strengthen 
America's leadership in an industry that accounts for one-third of our 
economic growth, create high-tech, high-wage jobs, and improve our 
quality of life. This research may also lead to breakthroughs such as: 
computers that are easier to use, including by people with disabilities; 
high-speed wireless networks that can bring telemedicine to rural 
communities; the successor to the transistor; and software that is much 
more dependable and reliable. High-speed supercomputers will allow 
scientists and engineers to develop life-saving drugs more rapidly, 
provide earlier warnings for tornadoes and design more fuel efficient, 
safer automobiles. The initiative will also provide for fundamental 
research that could lead to major breakthroughs in the next generation 
of supercomputers, networks, and applications--research that, without 
Federal support, would not otherwise be funded. Consistent with the 
Administration's approach, the initiative emphasizes the inter-
dependency of scientific disciplines--that innovation in one field is 
often made possible by innovations in other fields. And it lays the 
groundwork for a flourishing of the computational sciences in the 21st 
Century, and for advances that will contribute to our health and well-
being in the future. (See Chart 7-1 for information on computing and 
communications R&D.)

Science and Technology Themes

  Federal investments in science and technology contribute to the 
Administration's economic, educational, health, environmental, and 
national security goals. The budget proposes increases for a host of 
important activities. (For total Federal R&D funding, see Table 7-2; for 
science and technology highlights, see Table 7-3.)

  Increasing Total Support for Science and Technology: The budget 
proposes $38.1 billion for programs in the 21st Century Research Fund, 
$1.2 billion, or three percent, more than in 1999, exceeding last year's 
projected increases. The budget provides an increasing share for 
civilian R&D investments, which now comprise 51 percent of the total--a 
substantial increase from 42 percent in 1993, in keeping with the 
Administration's efforts to place additional emphasis on civilian R&D 
activities.
  Boosting Funding for Basic Research: The budget proposes $18.2 billion 
for basic research, an increases of $727 million, or 4.2 percent, over 
1999. These investments--the highest level ever proposed for basic 
research--reflect the Administration's commitment to obtaining knowledge 
that will provide

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

                                     Table 7-1.  21st CENTURY RESEARCH FUND
                                 (Budget authority, dollar amounts in millions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                         Percent
                                                                  1993      1998      1999      2000     Change:
                                                                 Actual    Actual   Estimate  Proposed   1999 to
                                                                                                          2000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Health and Human Services:
  National Institutes of Health...............................    10,335    13,648    15,612    15,933       +2%
 
National Science Foundation...................................     2,750     3,429     3,672     3,921       +7%
 
Department of Energy (DOE):
  Science Programs............................................     3,066     2,468     2,685     2,835
  Solar and Renewable R&D.....................................       249       272       336       399
  Energy Conservation R&D.....................................       346       457       526       647
                                                               -----------------------------------------
    DOE Total.................................................     3,661     3,197     3,547     3,881       +9%
 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA):
  Space Science...............................................     1,770     2,034     2,119     2,197
  Earth Science...............................................       996     1,417     1,414     1,459
  Advanced Space Transportation...............................       115       417       423       254
  Aeronautics.................................................       769       920       786       620
  Life and Microgravity Sciences..............................       195       214       264       256
                                                               -----------------------------------------
    NASA Total................................................     3,845     5,002     5,006     4,786       -4%
 
Department of Defense (DOD):
  Basic Research..............................................     1,314     1,012     1,108     1,113
  Applied Research............................................     3,549     2,910     3,151     2,956
                                                               -----------------------------------------
    DOD Total.................................................     4,863     3,922     4,259     4,069       -4%
 
Department of Agriculture (USDA):
  CSREES Research and Education \1\...........................       433       430       476       475
  Economic Research Service...................................        59        54        54        56
  Agricultural Research Service...............................       661       745       809       837
  Forest Service Research.....................................       183       188       197       235
                                                               -----------------------------------------
    USDA Total................................................     1,336     1,417     1,536     1,603       +6%
 
Department of Commerce:
  Oceanic and Atmospheric Research............................       202       278       287       283
  National Institutes of Standards and Technology \2\.........       364       565       540       635
                                                               -----------------------------------------
    Commerce Total............................................       566       843       827       918      +11%
 
Department of the Interior: U.S. Geological Survey                   579       759       798       838       +5%
 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
  Office of Research and Development..........................       517       573       562       535
  Climate Change Technology programs..........................  ........        90       109       216
                                                               -----------------------------------------
    EPA Total.................................................       517       663       671       751      +12%
 
Department of Veterans Affairs: Medical Research..............       232       272       316       316  ........
 
Department of Education: Research programs....................       117       196       210       265      +26%
 
Department of Transportation (DOT):
  Highway Research............................................       310       288       338       661
  Aviation Research...........................................       230       199       150       173
                                                               -----------------------------------------
    DOT Total.................................................       540       487       488       834      +71%
                                                               -------------------------------------------------
21st Century Research Fund....................................    29,341    33,835    36,942    38,115        3%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Does not include funds proposed for the recently authorized Integrated Research, Education, and Extension
  Competitive Grants Program, a portion of which would be used for R&D activities.
 
\2\ Does not include the Manufacturing Extension Partnership.

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

[[Page 110]]

future economic and social benefits and improve our ability to meet 
economic needs without adversely affecting health and the environment 
(see Chart 7-2).

  Strengthening University-Based Research: University-based research is 
key to America's future. While fostering innovation and expanding the 
scientific frontier, university-based research also trains the next 
generation of scientists and engineers. The budget proposes $15.5 
billion, an increase of $353 million over 1999.
  Protecting Human Health: The budget reflects the Administration's 
continued focus on R&D to protect human health. It funds research 
programs at NIH that have made the United States the world's leader in 
medical research. It also supports the development of an AIDS vaccine, 
the fight against emerging infectious diseases, research on cancer and 
diabetes, efforts to reduce the demand for illicit drugs, and a food 
safety initiative.
  Investing in Innovation to Create New Jobs and Industries: Many of the 
new private-sector jobs created under this Administration have been 
high-tech, high-wage jobs in industries like biotechnology and 
computing. The budget maintains a strong investment in technology to 
foster these high-priority, civilian science and technology industries 
and jobs. The budget continues funding for the Department of Commerce's 
Advanced Technology Program and Manufacturing Extension Partnerships to 
help firms develop and adopt modern technologies.
  Investing in Environmental Research: The budget supports vital 
research on safe and clean food, air, and water, and on ecosystem 
management, biological diversity, climate change, natural disasters, 
energy efficiency, and renewable energy. These investments provide a 
scientific basis for developing cost-effective environmental policies, 
produce the knowledge base for citizens to make wise environmental 
decisions, and enable better approaches to environmental protection. The 
budget pro

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

                                Table 7-2.  RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS
                                 (Budget authority, dollar amounts in millions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               Percent   Percent
                                                        1993      1998      1999      2000     Change:   Change:
                                                       Actual    Actual   Estimate  Proposed   1999 to   1993 to
                                                                                                2000      2000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Funding by Agency:
  Defense...........................................    38,898    37,568    37,204    35,064       -6%      -10%
  Health and Human Services.........................    10,472    13,860    15,792    15,984       +1%      +53%
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration.....     8,873     9,753     9,714     9,771       +1%      +10%
  Energy............................................     6,896     6,483     7,240     7,465       +3%       +8%
  National Science Foundation.......................     2,012     2,528     2,721     2,934       +8%      +46%
  Agriculture.......................................     1,467     1,561     1,796     1,718       -4%      +17%
  Commerce..........................................       793     1,091     1,075     1,162       +8%      +47%
  Transportation....................................       613       859       891     1,230      +38%     +101%
  Interior..........................................       649       472       517       590      +14%       -9%
  Environmental Protection Agency...................       511       636       669       645       -4%      +26%
  Veterans Affairs..................................       253       587       674       663       -2%     +162%
  Other.............................................     1,055       928       974     1,016       +4%       -4%
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
  Total.............................................    72,492    76,326    79,267    78,242       -1%       +8%
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
  Total, without Defense development................    36,966    41,779    45,140    46,256       +2%      +25%
 
Funding by R&D Type:
  Basic Research....................................    13,362    15,658    17,499    18,226       +4%      +36%
  Applied Research..................................    13,608    15,144    16,134    16,169  ........      +19%
  Development.......................................    42,795    42,721    42,490    40,799       -4%       -5%
  Equipment.........................................       \1\       994       977     1,063       +9%        NA
  Facilities........................................     2,727     1,809     2,167     1,985       -8%      +12%
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
  Total.............................................    72,492    76,326    79,267    78,242       -1%       +8%
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
  Total, without Defense development................    36,966    41,779    45,140    46,256       +2%      +25%
 
Funding by Civilian Theme:
  Basic Research....................................    11,951    14,592    16,341    17,074       +4%      +43%
  Applied Research..................................     9,130    10,936    11,603    11,598  ........      +27%
  Development.......................................     7,269     8,174     8,363     8,813       +5%      +21%
  Equipment.........................................       \1\       656       650       748      +15%        NA
  Facilities........................................     1,979     1,398     1,672     1,528       -9%      +15%
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
  Subtotal..........................................    30,329    35,756    38,629    39,761       +3%      +31%
 
Funding by Defense Theme:
  Basic Research....................................     1,411     1,066     1,158     1,152       -1%      -18%
  Applied Research..................................     4,478     4,208     4,531     4,571       +1%       +2%
  Development.......................................    35,526    34,547    34,127    31,986       -6%      -10%
  Equipment.........................................       \1\       338       327       315       -4%        NA
  Facilities........................................       748       411       495       457       -8%       +3%
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
  Subtotal..........................................    42,163    40,570    40,638    38,481       -5%       -9%
 
Funding by R&D Share:
  Defense...........................................    42,163    40,570    40,638    38,481       -5%       -9%
  Civilian..........................................    30,329    35,756    38,629    39,761       +3%      +31%
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
  Total.............................................    72,492    76,326    79,267    78,242       -1%       +8%
  Civilian (percent)................................       42%       47%      +49%      +51%
 
R&D Support to Universities.........................    11,674    13,693    15,124    15,477       +2%      +33%
 
Merit (Peer) Reviewed R&D Programs..................        NA    23,123    25,542    26,409       +3%        NA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NA = Not Applicable.
\1\ Equipment and facilities data were not collected separately in 1993.
 

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                                     Table 7-3.  SELECTED PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
                                 (Budget authority, dollar amounts in millions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               Dollar    Percent
                                                                  1998      1999      2000     Change:   Change:
                                                                 Actual   Estimate  Proposed   1999 to   1999 to
                                                                                                2000      2000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Aeronautics and Space Administration:
  International Space Station.................................     2,441     2,305     2,483      +178       +8%
 
Department of Commerce:
  Advanced Technology Program.................................       193       203       239       +36      +18%
  National Telecom. and Info. Admin. NII Grants...............        20        18        20        +2      +11%
 
Department of Transportation:
  Highway Research and Deployment Initiative..................       121       162       390      +228     +141%
  Intelligent Transportation System Initiative................       167       177       271       +94      +53%
 
National Science and Technology Council Initiatives:
  High Performance Computing and Communications:
    Defense...................................................       220       168       207       +39      +23%
    Health and Human Services.................................        98       111       115        +4       +4%
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration.............       120        93       136       +43      +46%
    Energy (Civilian programs)................................       115       126       116       -10       -8%
    Energy (Defense - Advanced Strategic Computing Initiative)       374       484       543       +59      +12%
    National Science Foundation...............................       265       301       314       +13       +4%
    Commerce..................................................        20        27        27  ........  ........
    Environmental Protection Agency...........................         3         4         4  ........  ........
                                                               -------------------------------------------------
      Subtotal................................................     1,215     1,314     1,462      +148      +11%
 
  Information Technology Initiative:
    National Science Foundation...............................  ........  ........       146        NA        NA
    Defense...................................................  ........  ........       100        NA        NA
    Energy....................................................  ........  ........        70        NA        NA
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration.............  ........  ........        38        NA        NA
    Commerce..................................................  ........  ........         6        NA        NA
    National Institutes of Health.............................  ........  ........         6        NA        NA
                                                               -------------------------------------------------
      Subtotal................................................        NA        NA       366        NA        NA
 
  U.S. Global Change Research Program:
    National Aeronautics and Space Administrati...............     1,210     1,177     1,219       +42       +4%
    Energy....................................................       106       114       125       +11      +10%
    National Science Foundation...............................       167       182       187        +5       +3%
    Agriculture...............................................        53        54        88       +34      +63%
    Health and Human Services.................................        35        40        40  ........  ........
    Commerce..................................................        60        63        70        +7      +11%
    Interior..................................................        26        27        27  ........  ........
    Environmental Protection Agency...........................        13        17        23        +6      +35%
    Smithsonian Institution...................................         7         7         7  ........  ........
                                                               -------------------------------------------------
      Subtotal................................................     1,677     1,681     1,786      +105       +6%
 
Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles..................       220       240       264       +24      +10%
 
Climate Change Techology Initiative...........................       819     1,021     1,368      +347      +34%
 
Integrated Science for Ecosystem Challenges \1\...............  ........  ........        96        NA        NA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NA = Not applicable
 
\1\ Amount reflects new activities in 2000, but does not include related, ongoing activities in 2000 and prior
  years.

  poses $96 million for Integrated Science for Ecosystem Challenges 
  (ISEC) to develop an environmental information infrastructure and 
  modeling framework to manage and preserve the Nation's natural 
  resources. In 2000, ISEC will address four priority areas: invasive 
  species, biodiversity and species decline; harmful algal blooms, 
  hypoxia and eutrophication; habitat conservation and ecosystem 
  productivity; and information management, monitoring,-----------------

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and integrated assessments. This research will allow resource managers 
to predict and assess the environmental and economic impacts of stress 
on vulnerable ecosystems and will also provide information to guide 
public and private land planning, management, and acquisition.

  Investing in a 21st Century Education: Through the Education 
Technology Initiative, the Government is helping to ensure that 
America's classrooms are equipped with modern computers and connected to 
the Internet, that educational software becomes an integral part of the 
curriculum, and that teachers are ready to use and teach with 
technology. Federal science and technology investments such as the 
Education Research Initiative--an Education Department and NSF 
partnership--also contribute to these goals.
  Investing in Research to Keep Our Nation Secure: The budget invests in 
defense research to ensure that our military maintains its technological 
superiority, providing $1.1 billion for basic research and $3.0 billion 
for applied research at the Defense Department. The budget also supports 
programs that will keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists, 
use science-based techniques to ensure the safety and reliability of our 
nuclear weapons stockpiles, promote global stability by bolstering 
strong international science and technology partnerships, and increase 
research and development on critical infrastructure protection to 
improve the safety and security of the Nation's physical infrastructure 
and information and communications systems.

Agency Highlights

  NIH: The budget continues its commitment to biomedical research that 
promotes innovations to improve health and prevent disease. It provides 
an increase of $320 million over the 1999 level for NIH. This funding 
level will support research on diabetes, brain disorders, cancer, 
genetic medicine, disease prevention strategies, and development of an 
AIDS vaccine. NIH's highest priority continues to be investigator-
initiated, peer-reviewed research project grants. In the last year, NIH 
research on traumatic spinal cord injury revealed that

[[Page 114]]

it may actually be possible to regenerate nerve cells. More research may 
yield ways to repair damaged spinal cords and eventually permit the 
restoration of some degree of function to paralyzed patients.
  NSF: The budget provides $3.92 billion--seven percent more than in 
1999--for NSF, whose broad mission is to promote science and engineering 
research and education across all fields and disciplines. In 1998, NSF-
funded scientists determined that the years 1997, 1995, and 1990 were 
the warmest since 1400 A.D., providing further evidence of recent human 
influence on the global climate system. The budget provides $146 million 
for NSF to play a lead role in the Administration's information 
technology initiative, focusing on long-term computer science research 
and providing scientists access to world-class supercomputers. The 
budget also increases funding for biocomplexity research to promote 
understanding of the complex biological, physical, chemical, and social 
interactions within and among the Earth's ecosystems.
  Department of Energy (DOE): The budget provides $2.84 billion, a six-
percent increase over 1999, for DOE's research programs in physics, 
chemistry, materials, biology, computer science, fusion, and other 
areas. DOE operates large scientific user facilities to enable research 
in these fields, as well as fields ranging from biomedicine to 
agriculture. The budget provides for the construction of new scientific 
facilities, including the Spallation Neutron Source and the Large Hadron 
Collider (in partnership with other countries), and the development of 
advanced computing and networking capabilities. In the past year, DOE-
funded scientists achieved many notable successes, such as discovering 
how genetic material replicates and developing an atom-by-atom model of 
the enzyme responsible. In 2000, DOE will operate the newly constructed 
Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider to simulate conditions that existed in 
the universe in the first millionth of a second after the Big Bang. In 
addition, the budget includes $543 million for the Advanced Strategic 
Computing Initiative in support of nuclear weapon stockpile stewardship.
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): The budget funds 
several ongoing and new activities in support of NASA's missions, 
including $2.48 billion for the International Space Station, which began 
assembly in orbit in 1998 with the launch of the first U.S. and Russian 
elements. The Russian economic situation has increased uncertainty about 
Russia's ability to meet future critical milestones in this 
international development program. While the Administration remains 
committed to Russia's participation in this multi-national partnership, 
the budget reflects key steps taken to help ensure the ultimate success 
of this complex international program. By increasing funding for the 
Space Station, the Administration will help to maintain the construction 
schedule and enable development of backup capabilities in the event of 
potential shortfalls in Russian contributions. In addition to this 
``backup strategy,'' the Administration is also concerned about Space 
Station cost growth due to domestic problems, and has established 
oversight of the Space Station as a Priority Management Objective, as 
discussed in Section IV, ``Improving Performance Through Better 
Management.'' The Administration will work closely with the Congress on 
any future issues to enable the program's success.
  The NASA budget also includes: $2.2 billion--a four-percent increase 
over 1999--for Space Science, a program that made several significant 
discoveries in 1998, including the first confirmable evidence of ice on 
the moon; $1.46 billion--a three-percent increase over 1999--for Earth 
Science, which seeks to understand the influence of natural processes 
and human activities on the global environment and which will launch in 
2000 the first in a new series of faster, cheaper satellites, known as 
Earth System Science Pathfinders; $254 million for Advanced Space 
Transportation Technology, which in 1999 will initiate development of 
the first in a new series of reusable launch vehicle demonstrations, 
known as Future-X; $620 million for Aeronautics Research and Technology 
programs, including Aviation Safety R&D and $1.2 billion in funds after 
2000 to support new launch vehicles to lower NASA's launch costs. 
Finally, the budget includes a $463 million, five-year technology 
investment to leverage recent successes in Space Science, like Mars

[[Page 115]]

Pathfinder, and to enable robotic scientific outposts throughout the 
solar system.

  Department of Defense (DOD): The budget funds $1.1 billion in basic 
research and $3.0 billion in applied research, and $3.3 billion in 
advanced technology development, providing options for new defense 
strategies and laying the groundwork for procuring next-generation 
defense systems. Because of DOD's emphasis on the physical sciences, its 
research and development investments are vital to the nation's 
engineering, mathematics, and computer science efforts. The budget 
supports the Dual Use Science and Technology program and the Commercial 
Operations and Support Savings Initiative, which put commercial 
industry's technical know-how and economies of scale to the service of 
national defense. The budget proposes $118 million to conduct Advanced 
Concept Technology Demonstrations (ACTDs), which bring technology 
experts and military operators together early in technology system 
development to eliminate communication barriers, improve management of 
development programs, and address key warfighter challenges. Forty-four 
ACTDs are now under way, and 13 have been completed. Recent DOD 
technological accomplishments include development of a vaccine effective 
against the infectious hepatitis A virus, a vaccine recently approved by 
the Food and Drug Administration and now commercially available for 
military and civilian use. Similarly, DOD has demonstrated the efficacy 
of a genetically engineered vaccine to protect against malaria. In 
addition, the Department has funded the development of a new material 
for body armor that provides lighter-weight protection against 
projectiles such as bullets or shrapnel.

Department of Commerce: 

  National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): The budget 
provides $239 million--an 18-percent increase over 1999--for NIST's 
Advanced Technology Program to promote unique, rigorously competitive, 
cost-shared R&D partnerships that develop technologies promising 
widespread economic benefits. The budget provides $396 million--a 17-
percent increase over 1999--for research and facilities at NIST's 
Measurement and Standards Laboratories. In 1998, NIST improved our 
understanding of what happens when atoms approach each other at very 
slow speeds, building on the 1997 Nobel Prize winning work of NIST's Dr. 
William Phillips. This research is critical to both theoretical physics 
and future generations of time standards. In 2000, NIST will conduct 
additional research on fundamental physical constants, refined standards 
for weight and electricity, and critical infrastructure protection.
  Manufacturing Extension Partnership: The budget proposes $100 million 
for this Nation-wide network of 75 centers and over 325 field offices 
offering technical assistance to help the Nation's 382,000 small 
manufacturers compete more effectively, leading to stronger economic 
growth and job creation. This funding is matched by States and 
localities.
  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Office of Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research: The budget provides $283 million for research to 
provide a scientific basis for national policy decisions in areas such 
as climate change, air quality, and stratospheric ozone depletion, as 
well as research to promote economic growth through efforts in marine 
biotechnology and environmental technologies.
  National Telecommunications and Information Administration's National 
Information Infrastructure Grants Program: The budget proposes $20 
million--an 11-percent increase over 1999--for grants to fund innovative 
projects that demonstrate how information technology can improve the 
delivery of educational, health, and other social services. These grants 
are highly competitive and have stimulated several hundred million 
dollars in non-Federal matching funds.

  Department of Agriculture (USDA): The budget provides $837 million for 
the Agricultural Research Service, $28 million more than in 1999, and 
$56 million for the Economic Research Service, which together conduct a 
broad range of food, farm, and environmental research programs. The 
budget also provides $475 million for Research and Education Programs of 
the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service 
(CSREES), including $200 million for the National Research Initiative 
(NRI), a 68-percent increase over the 1999 level. CSREES provides grants 
for agri

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cultural, food, and environmental research, and for higher education. 
NRI competitive research grants improve the quality and increase the 
quantity of USDA's farm, food, and environmental research. The budget 
also proposes increases for high priority research in areas such as 
nutrition, food safety, climate change, air and water quality, food 
quality protection, agricultural genomes, sustainable ecosystems, and 
the Forest Service's Forest and Rangeland Research program. An 
additional $120 million in mandatory funding will be available in 2000 
under the Agricultural Research Extension and Education Reform Act of 
1998.
  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The budget provides $535 
million for EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD), which 
performs the majority of EPA's research and provides a sound scientific 
and technical foundation for environmental policy and regulatory 
decision-making. ORD also provides technical support for EPA's mission, 
integrates the work of its own scientific partners, and provides 
leadership in addressing emerging environmental issues, thereby 
assisting EPA in protecting human health and the environment. In the 
last year, EPA researchers discovered a method to render lead-
contaminated soil safe for humans, thereby potentially decreasing the 
number of children suffering from lead poisoning.
  Department of the Interior's U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): The budget 
provides $838 million--a five-percent increase over 1999--for science 
that supports natural resource and environmental decision making. In 
1998, USGS science efforts provided critical information to restore the 
Florida Everglades and respond to Hurricane Bonnie and Hurricane Mitch. 
The budget supports research on enhanced understanding of species 
habitat, invasive species, and declines in amphibians and coral reefs. 
The budget also supports research and technical assistance on the 
scientific needs of land managers and local land-use planners. In 2000, 
this information will promote local planning and conservation efforts to 
protect the most valuable open spaces and critical habitat. USGS will 
use its mapping, remote sensing, and natural resources monitoring 
capabilities to develop new ways to improve the availability and 
dissemination of domestic natural disaster hazard and earth science 
information, as well as to support NASA's Earth Observing System 
satellites.
  Department of Veterans Affairs' Medical Research: The budget provides 
$316 million--about a third of the Department's overall $1 billion 
research program--for clinical, epidemiological, and behavioral studies 
across a broad spectrum of medical research disciplines. Among the 
agency's top research priorities are improving the translation of 
research results into patient care, geriatrics (including end-of-life 
care and Alzheimer's disease), and treatment of Parkinson's disease and 
Persian Gulf Veterans' illnesses.
  Department of Transportation: The budget proposes a total of $390 
million for the Highway Research and Deployment Initiative--a $228 
million increase over the 1999 level. This funding will support 
activities such as improving the durability of pavement and bridges, 
enhancing pedestrian safety, and refining air quality analysis models. 
The budget also includes $271 million for the Intelligent Transportation 
System (ITS) initiative--a package of technologies to enhance the safety 
and efficiency of surface transportation infrastructure. This ITS total 
includes $113 million for continued deployment of integrated 
``intelligent infrastructure,'' such as interactive traffic signals, 
traveler information systems, and advanced electronic motor carrier toll 
clearance systems in urban and rural areas and the commercial vehicle 
industry.
  Department of Education: The budget proposes a $45 million increase 
for the National Education Research Institutes. The increase includes 
$25 million for the agency's contribution to the second year of the 
Education Research Initiative, a collaborative effort with NSF. The 
initiative will continue to support large-scale research focused on the 
best approaches to raising student achievement. Activities will focus on 
applying the latest research findings to the development, 
implementation, and evaluation of new program models in three areas: 
increasing readiness for reading and mathematics, sustaining reading and 
mathematics skills in grades K-3, and improving teacher preparation. The 
proposed increase for the Institutes will also support additional 
research on comprehensive school reform, and new research on English 
language skills acqui

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sition for children with limited English proficiency.

National Science and Technology Council Interagency Initiatives

  The National Science and Technology Council provides management 
oversight that will ensure efficient and effective coordination for key 
multi-agency initiatives, including:

  High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) and the 
Information Technology Initiative: The budget provides $1.8 billion for 
these programs, including $366 million for the Information Technology 
Initiative, a bold, new effort focused on two, interrelated topics: 1) 
fundamental research that could lead to major breakthroughs in the next 
generation of supercomputers, networks and applications--research that 
is too high-risk and/or long-term for private sector funding; and 2) 
development of extremely powerful supercomputers, hundreds of times more 
powerful than today's best, for applications in a variety of civilian 
fields. Resulting advances in these fields could lead, for example, to 
better predictions of global warming and regional weather, as well as 
improved pharmaceutical development. The continuing HPCC program will 
pursue breakthroughs in high-end computing and computation, large-scale 
networking, and high-confidence systems. This ongoing work includes the 
Next Generation Internet Initiative. In the last year, the program 
demonstrated many key components of the Next Generation Internet, 
including ultra-high-speed switching devices, and various data-intensive 
applications ranging from medical imaging to advanced storm forecasting.
  U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP): The budget proposes $1.8 
billion--a six-percent increase over 1999--to observe, understand, 
predict, and assess the state of the Earth and how it changes in 
response to natural and human-induced forces. USGCRP science was 
critical in the accurate prediction of the 1997-98 El Nino event and 
other resulting climate anomalies, allowing for advanced preparations 
and, in some cases, minimization of human and economic losses. In 2000, 
the USGCRP will address a range of critical unanswered scientific 
questions: the origins of natural and human-caused changes; the role of 
multiple stresses on the rate and severity of environmental change; how 
climate change may vary by region and over time scales of decades, 
rather than centuries; and the potential for abrupt and surprising 
changes in the global climate. In 2000, the program will also focus on 
how the terrestrial biosphere produces and consumes carbon dioxide on a 
regional scale, to increase our understanding of the role of biological 
processes on the Earth's climate.
  Climate Change Technology Initiative: The budget proposes $1.8 billion 
for the second year of this research and technology initiative to 
promote energy efficiency, develop low-carbon energy sources, and 
develop and demonstrate technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 
Led by DOE and EPA, the effort also includes USDA, the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, and NIST. Of the amount proposed, $1.4 
billion is for R&D spending on energy efficiency and renewable energy 
technologies, sequestration (storage) of carbon, extending the useful 
life of existing nuclear plants, and development of highly efficient 
fossil fuel technologies. The remainder, $0.4 billion, is for tax 
credits to stimulate the adoption of energy efficient technologies in 
buildings, homes, industrial processes, vehicles, and power generation.
  Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles: The budget proposes $264 
million--$24 million more than in 1999--for this cost-shared, industry 
partnership, which centers on three research goals: to develop advanced 
manufacturing techniques; to use new technologies for near-term 
emissions improvements; and to develop production prototype vehicles 
three times more fuel-efficient than today's cars, with no sacrifice in 
comfort, performance, or price. Federal funding focuses mainly on the 
third goal. In the last year, the automobile companies completed hybrid 
drivetrain prototype development and have moved further development in-
house, requiring no more Federal support for these activities. Federal 
funding is now focusing on timely development of crucial components such 
as low-emissions direct-injection engines, fuel cells, power 
electronics, batteries, and lightweight materials. The program will lead 
to concept cars in 2000, and production prototypes in 2004.