- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022

[Senate Hearing 117-]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022

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U.S. Senate,
Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations,
Washington, DC.

NONDEPARTMENTAL WITNESSES

[Clerk's note.--The subcommittee was unable to hold
hearings on nondepartmental witnesses. The statements and
letters of those submitting written testimony are as follows:]
Prepared Statement of the Coalition for National Security Research
Dear Chairman Tester and Ranking Member Shelby, and distinguished
Members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to submit
outside witness testimony as you begin to craft the fiscal year (FY)
2022 Defense Appropriations bill. The Coalition for National Security
Research (CNSR) (https://cnsr4research.org/) is a broad-based alliance
of more than 100 members from industry, academia, scientific and
professional associations, and non-profits conducting vital scientific
research to create new and improve existing technologies and
capabilities to support the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD)
operations.
With nearly 70 percent of Research, Development, Test and
Evaluation (RDT&E) conducted extramurally,\1\ DoD relies on its
partners such as CNSR members to perform the RDT&E that will provide
the Department the technologies and capabilities it needs to secure our
national security. If the United States military is to maintain its
technological advantage during great power competition, it is
imperative that we make robust investments in the Defense Science and
Technology (S&T) enterprise, including strengthening the future defense
workforce. As noted by the Defense Science Board (DSB), lower funding
levels for Defense S&T could threaten the dominance of the U.S.
military.\2\
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\1\ https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf21329.
\2\ https://dsb.cto.mil/reports/1990s/
DefenseScienceandTechnologyBaseforthe21stCentury.pdf.
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fiscal year 2022 budget request for the defense s&t program
The Biden-Harris Interim National Security Strategic Guidance
states that the United States will double down on science and
technology investments and support cutting-edge technologies and
capabilities that will advance our military and national security in
the future.\3\ In addition, the National Defense Strategy (NDS) calls
for establishing an unmatched twenty-first century national security
innovation base and sustaining Joint Force military advantages.\4\
Unfortunately, the FY 2022 budget fails to meet the commitment in the
Interim National Security Strategic Guidance and request the
appropriate resources to implement the NDS.
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\3\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/
2021/03/03/interim-national-security-strategic-guidance/.
\4\ https://dod.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/2018-National-
Defense-Strategy-Summary.pdf.
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While the budget requests the RDT&E top line ever, it
simultaneously calls for cutting Defense S&T funding within the larger
portfolio by 13% or more than $2.1 billion. The budget also requests
cutting defense basic research, the type of research that makes
discoveries to enable future technologies and military capabilities, by
14.5% or more than $388 million. With China investing three times more
annually in R&D than the U.S. and likely to be the world's top R&D
performer in the near future,\5\ now is not the time to cut funding for
the DoD's primary programs that create new technologies and
capabilities--as well as to help train the next generation defense
workforce--to ensure the U.S. military maintains its global dominance.
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\5\ https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb20203.
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The FY 2022 budget proposes more than just cutting the Defense S&T
program below FY 2021 Congressionally enacted levels, it proposes to
cut certain research programs below levels requested in the FY 2021
budget request. More specifically, DoD requested fewer resources
compared to its last budget request for overall 6.1 defense basic
research; Army University Research Initiatives; Army applied research;
Navy basic research; Air Force basic research; Air Force applied
research; DTRA Basic Research Initiatives; and Defense-Wide basic
research. This de-emphasis on supporting the kind of research that
maintains our technological and strategic advantage over adversaries
developing advanced capabilities puts the military at a competitive
disadvantage. Condoning this proposed budget will have many negative,
sustained implications for our national security in the short-term and
long-term.
CNSR urges Congress to reject cuts requested in the FY 2022 budget
for the Defense S&T program and increase funding by least 6% over FY
2021 consistent with the recommendations from the National Defense
Strategy Commission; \6\ DSB; \7\ National Security Commission on
Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI); \8\ National Academies; \9\ Center for
a New American Security (CNAS); \10\ House Armed Services Committee's
Future of Defense Task Force; \11\ Council on Competitiveness; \12\ and
American Academy of Arts and Sciences.\13\
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\6\ https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/2018-11/providing-for-
the-common-defense.pdf.
\7\ http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a403874.pdf.
\8\ https://www.nscai.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Full-Report-
Digital-1.pdf.
\9\ https://www.nap.edu/catalog/11463/rising-above-the-gathering-
storm-energizing-and-employing-america-for.
\10\ https://www.cnas.org/publications/commentary/sharpening-the-u-
s-militarys-edge-critical-steps-for-the-next-administration.
\11\ https://armedservices.house.gov/--cache/files/2/6/26129500-
d208-47ba-a9f7-25a8f82828b0/6D5C75605DE8DDF0013712923B4388D7.future-of-
defense-task-force-report.pdf.
\12\ https://www.compete.org/reports/all/202.
\13\ https://www.amacad.org/sites/default/files/publication/
resources/Perils-of-Complacency_Full-Report_1.pdf.
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defense basic research pe recommendations
For decades, the defense basic research programs have provided the
scientific breakthroughs to give the warfighter the weapons and
infrastructure needed to succeed. Capabilities that help ensure our
national security--such as advances in hypersonics testing, various
quantum technologies, semiconductors critical to defense radar systems,
solar cell efficiency, laser technologies, stealth capabilities, night
vision, GPS, sonar, radar, precision munitions, biosensors, and near-
real-time delivery of battlefield information--all derive from defense
basic research.
We off the following recommendations for the key defense basic
research PEs that serve as the foundation of the defense innovation
pipeline necessary to maintaining the U.S military's global
technological superiority.

university research initiatives
The FY 2022 budget request would cut University Research
Initiatives (URIs) by more than 20% which means funding at levels below
2005, adjusted for inflation. Given that universities and colleges
perform the majority (55%) of DoD-funded basic research,\14\ the type
of research that creates paradigm shifts in DoD's technological
capabilities, cutting URIs this significantly will not only harm
defense innovation efforts, but also workforce development since basic
research funding often attracts the most creative minds in fields of
critical interest to DoD.\15\
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\14\ https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf21329.
\15\ https://dsb.cto.mil/reports/2010s/BasicResearch.pdf.
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A program within URIs, the Multidisciplinary University Research
Initiative (MURI) regularly produces revolutionary new military
technologies and has become an essential skunkworks for create
innovation.\16\ Unfortunately, the FY 2022 budget request proposes to
fund MURIs at levels below FY 2005, adjusted for inflation. This will
only exacerbate the fact that the program is already dramatically
underfunded. According to DoD, the MURI program received 365 proposals
in FY 2020 but was only able to make 26 awards--leaving 339 proposals
unfunded including 32 potentially game-changing research projects that
were determined to be worthy of funding but were not due to a lack of
appropriations. Not funding potentially revolutionary defense
scientific research will hurt our ability to maintain global military
technological superiority.
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\16\ https://www.ida.org/idamedia/Corporate/Files/Publications/
IDA.../STD/D-5361.pdf.
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In addition, the situation is similar for the Defense University
Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP), which provides infrastructure
and equipment support to build universities' capacity to conduct
defense-relevant research. The FY 2022 budget request proposes to fund
DURIP at levels below FY 2010, adjusted for inflation, further
underfunding this program. According to DoD, the DURIP program received
724 proposals in FY 2020 but was only able to make 172 awards--leaving
a staggering 552 proposals unfunded including 229 critical
infrastructure and equipment projects that were determined to be worthy
of funding but were not funded due to a lack of appropriations. If
universities and colleges do not have the infrastructure and equipment
necessary to do unique defense research, the DoD will potentially lose
its biggest source of support for developing new capabilities.
minerva research initiative
The Minerva Research Initiative is DoD's signature social science
basic research program that funds university-led teams to address
problems of strategic importance to U.S. national security. As noted by
DoD officials, because many national security challenges are driven by
complex social dynamics, Minerva is an important source of new ideas to
better understand social, behavioral, cultural, and political
considerations that are inherent to our security and stability. Despite
its importance, the FY 2022 budget request cuts funding for Minerva
from $17 million to only $4 million within the Defense-Wide Basic
Research Initiatives PE.
This cut is shortsighted for two main reasons. First, Minerva's
research is aligned with and critical to carrying out the NDS in
support of Department-wide priorities. Recently funded Minerva
projects, such as ``Russian Disinformation and Propaganda Campaigns''
and ``Empirical Analysis for Meeting Great Power Challenges'' have
given DoD unique insights that help shape future national security
policies and better position the warfighter to navigate a complex
global environment. Second, Minerva is another underfunded defense
basic research program. According to DoD, in FY 2019, Minerva received
180 applications but only funded 15--at least 6 projects were
determined to be worthy of funding but were not funded due to a lack of
appropriations.
defense applied research pe recommendations
Basic scientific research is just the first step in creating new or
improving existing military technologies. Researchers, scientists, and
engineers must apply the fundamental knowledge learned from basic
research to solve complex military problems and develop the systems and
components for potential solutions. To that end, we propose to
highlight the success of the Defense-Wide Manufacturing Science &
Technology PE, which the FY 2022 budget requests cuts of 45%. This PE
provides DoD's contributions to the Manufacturing USA Institutes that
help move discoveries from the nation's universities and research
laboratories to the defense industrial base while strengthening the
U.S. workforce. For example, DoD-funded institutes have demonstrated
enhanced heat exchange capabilities for additive manufacturing,
addressed cybersecurity supply chain issues, reduced weight of armor
for military ground vehicles, and developed a first-of-its-kind
advanced functional fiber to enable underwater communications.\17\ In
FY 2019, the Manufacturing USA Institutes conducted 561 major applied
research and development projects of high priority to broad industry
sectors. In addition, the network had more than 32,000 workers and
students participate in education and workforce development activities.
The Manufacturing USA Network is an example of a program supporting
implementation of the NDS to enhance the domestic manufacturing and the
defense industrial base. In order to ensure that discoveries made
through basic research are translated into practical military
technologies and capabilities, we offer the following recommendations
for our priority applied research PEs.
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\17\ https://www.nist.gov/publications/manufacturing-usa-20192020-
highlights-report.

[$ in thousands]
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FY21 CNSR FY22
Agency--RDT&E Program Element (PE) FY21 PBR Enacted FY22 PBR Request
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Army................................................... Lethality Technology $42,425 $108,925 $64,126 General Support
Army................................................... Soldier Lethality Technology $125,435 $204,435 $105,168 General Support
Army................................................... Ground Technology $28,047 $154,047 $56,400 General Support
Army................................................... Next Generation Comb$217,565le $265,565gy $172,166 General Support
Army................................................... High Performance Comp$188,024der$228,024 $189,123 General Support
Navy................................................... Marine Corps$50,623orce$55,623logy$51,112 General Support
Navy................................................... Commo$48,001re A$43,703Rese$51,477 General Support
Navy................................................... Warfighter Sustainment Applied Research $67,765 $116,255 $70,547 General Support
Navy................................................... Electromagnetic Systems Applied Research $84,994 $92,994 $85,157 General Support
Navy................................................... Ocean Warfighting Environmental Applied $63,392 $80,284 $70,086 General Support
Research
Navy................................................... Future Naval Capa$167,590 Ap$170,724sea$173,356 General Support
Navy................................................... Manufacturing Technology Program $60,122 $60,122 $57,263 General Support
Navy................................................... Advanced Undersea Prototyping $115,858 $89,812 $58,473 General Support
Air Force.............................................. Materials $140,781 $238,281 $113,460 General Support
Air Force.............................................. Human Effectiveness Applied Research $115,222 $134,122 $136,273 General Support
Air Force.............................................. Aerospace Sensors $211,301 $233,301 $174,683 General Support
Air Force.............................................. Directed Energy Technology $128,113 $130,613 $121,869 General Support
Air Force.............................................. Dominant Information Sciences and Methods $178,668 $215,668 $169,110 General Support
Air Force.............................................. High Energy Laser Research $45,088 $29,208 $0 General Support
Defense-Wide........................................... Cyber$15,255ty R$25,255 $15,380 General Support
Defense-Wide........................................... Defense-Wide Manufacturing S&T Program $93,817 $245,817 $134,022 $260,566
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defense advanced research projects agency (darpa) recommendations
DARPA's ability to create truly revolutionary new capabilities is
well documented. AI, microelectronics, speech recognition, touchscreen
displays, unmanned aerial vehicles, and advanced wireless capabilities
all stem from DARPA-funded research. DARPA has worked with the academic
community to create the Internet, computer chips critical to AI
systems, self-driving cars, stealth technologies, metamaterials, and
neuro-prosthetics. More recently, DARPA's research was partially
responsible for developing RNA-based vaccines, which have been critical
in the global response to COVID-19.\18\ It is safe to say that the
world would be a different place without DARPA-enabled research. CNSR
strongly supports robust funding for DARPA. We recommend a funding
level of $3.7 billion for DARPA to continue supporting game-changing
scientific research.
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\18\ https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/
Tompkins%20Statement%20For%20
The%20Record.pdf.
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Again, thank you for the opportunity to submit outside witness
testimony as you develop the FY 2022 Defense Appropriations bill.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any assistance
during the FY 2022 appropriations process.
______

Prepared Statement of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership
On behalf of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership (COL), which
represents our nation's leading ocean science, research, and technology
organizations from academia, industry, and the larger nonprofit sector
(to include philanthropy, associations, and aquariums), I appreciate
the opportunity to submit for the record our fiscal year (FY) 2021
funding priorities for the Department of Defense (DOD).
The United States is a maritime nation whose military and national
defense are essential, not only to the security of our own country, but
to the stability of global democracy. A key component of this continued
success is our military's technological superiority, which has provided
superior weapons and systems that offset size and geographic advantages
of potential adversaries for more than 70 years. This extends to our
dominance in the ocean environment. The late Admiral James D. Watkins,
chief of naval operations from 1982-1986, used to stress that our
superior knowledge of the undersea domain gave the United States the
competitive advantage necessary for our victory in the Cold War.
Do we have that same competitive advantage in oceanography-which
lets us understand the undersea environment-to outcompete an adversary
today? As other nations, such as Russia and China, increase their
investments in ocean-related research and development (R&D) spending,
they threaten our leadership in this sector, which was once second to
none. Advances in technology are necessary for us to observe, monitor,
map, explore, and characterize our undersea environment; without those
capabilities, we cannot maintain our competitive advantage. As a way to
address the eroding competitive advantage in ocean science, the Navy
established Task Force Ocean (TFO).
However, it is not just in the undersea domain where our science-
and technology-induced dominance is eroding. This same runs true for
our overall technological advantage, with DOD leaders testifying to
other nations meeting and beating the United States in innovative and
strategic capabilities. There are many who believe our gap in
leadership is closing due to multiple factors, including both changes
in composition of research and development funding as well as the
growing technological skills of potential adversaries. While there are
many efforts that must be taken to maintain our technological advantage
(TFO being just one of them), one consideration that has been raised is
the adequacy of DOD's investments in Research, Development, Test, and
Evaluation (RDT&E).
While the president's budget request for FY 2022 includes a request
for the largest increase ever for the RDT&E top line (4.5% over FY 2021
funding levels), this does not extend to the science and technology
(S&T) budget within RDT&E. The S&T budget request includes a steep 13%
decrease for the S&T budget compared to FY 2021 enacted levels, with
basic research (6.1) and applied research (6.2) seeing a 14.5% decrease
and advanced technology development (6.3) dropping 11.1%. Similar
decreases are proposed within Navy's budget but with an 11.9% overall
decrease to S&T: 8% for basic research, 17.5% for applied research, and
7.2% for advanced technology development.
These dramatic decreases in S&T funding would impact our nation's
military superiority and our technological edge, and COL echoes the
concerns and requests from testimony submitted by the Coalition for
National Security Research (CNSR), which includes more than 100 members
from industry, academia, scientific and professional associations, and
nonprofits that advocate for a strong Defense S&T enterprise. As stated
in CNSR's testimony, ``With China investing three times more annually
in R&D than the U.S. and likely to be the world's top R&D performer in
the near future, now is not the time to cut funding for the DoD's
primary programs that create new technologies and capabilities--as well
as to help train the next generation defense workforce--to ensure the
U.S. military maintains its global dominance.''
I respectfully request the subcommittee reject the proposed Defense
S&T cuts and instead increase funding by at least six percent over FY
2021 levels, in accordance with the CNSR request, which is consistent
with recommendations from the National Defense Strategy Commission, the
National Academies, the House Armed Services Committee's Future of
Defense Task Force, and many others. I'd also like to highlight funding
priorities for several program elements (PE) important to our defense
ocean science and technology enterprise.
Defense Basic Research: University Research Initiatives
DOD supports basic research to advance fundamental knowledge in
fields relevant to national defense. To accomplish this work, DOD has a
strong relationship with academia, with universities and colleges
performing 55% of DOD-funded basic research. The University Research
Initiatives (URI) exist across the services to improve the quality of
research and to support scientists and engineers necessary for our
national defense needs. The proposed 20% cut to URI funding across the
Army, Navy, and Air Force would put funding, when adjusted for
inflation, at lower than 2005 levels. For Navy URI specifically, the
budget request proposes an 18.9% decrease.
One of the Navy URI programs, the Defense University Research
Instrumentation Program (DURIP), is a competitive annual grants process
that supports university research infrastructure, including
instrumentation essential for cutting-edge research, that is necessary
for high-quality research in the Navy's interests. Given the role
colleges and universities play in performing the majority of DOD-funded
basic research, it is critical they maintain the requisite
infrastructure and equipment. DURIP's calls for proposals have only
been able to fund a fraction of what is needed--in FY 2020, DURIP
(including Army and Air Force DURIPs) funded 172 projects but left 552
proposals unfunded, including 229 critical infrastructure and equipment
projects that were not funded simply due to a lack of appropriated
funds, even though they were considered worthy of support. I
respectfully request strong support for URI and at least an additional
$20 million for Navy DURIP (PE 0601103N) in FY 2022.
Defense Applied Research: Task Force Ocean (PE 0602435N/Ocean
Warfighting Environment Applied Research)
The Chief of Naval Operations launched Navy's Task Force Ocean
(TFO) in 2017 to bolster the Navy's commitment to ocean science and
technology by strengthening partnerships with academia and the private
sector to advance ocean science relevant to Navy interests. Its goals
and scope are based on the recognition that the entire U.S. ocean
scientific and technological enterprise must be utilized to sustain our
naval competitive advantage. I appreciate the subcommittee's support
for TFO and respectfully request an increase of $10 million to the
Ocean Warfighting Environment Applied Research, Navy RDT&E, Line 10, PE
0602435N for Research at Sea in Support of Task Force Ocean. This
additional funding would enable more at-sea research that would help
the Navy improve operations and meet its goals. It would allow for
increased testing and demonstration of science and technology concepts
(e.g., seagoing oceanography, acoustics, signal processing, uncrewed
systems, and data analytics) and would more quickly move research to
operations due to the increased number of scientists and projects able
to go to sea.
Defense Applied Research: National Oceanographic Partnership Program
(PE 0602435N/Ocean Warfighting Environment Applied Research)
For more than 20 years, the National Oceanographic Partnership
Program (NOPP), established in the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 1997, has been facilitating interagency and public-
private partnerships and advancing large-scale collaborations in ocean
research that address economic development, national security, quality
of life, and science education. NOPP-supported projects have enabled
unique partnerships between DOD, federal agencies, universities, and
the private sector to help us understand our ocean, improving our
understanding of strategic bathometric and natural processes that are
essential to advanced ocean combat and security activities,
particularly with respect to China's growing interest in ocean
domination. NOPP has also helped grow the ocean-STEM pipeline through
support of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (described below) and
significantly contributes to the buildout and modernization of the
National Security Innovation Base. I greatly appreciate the Navy's
continued support for NOPP and respectfully request an addition $8.7
million above the FY 2021 enacted level for a total of $17.5 million.
Finally, it is imperative that Navy STEM funding be prioritized and
increased, as attracting, recruiting, and retaining a talented and
diverse workforce is critical to operations. Building a diverse
workforce capable of maintaining our military superiority does not
start with support for those already in the STEM fields (which is an
important component of it) but instead begins with bringing talented
individuals to the pipeline. A series of workshops supporting the
development of TFO's strategy and roadmap recommended investing in K-12
ocean-STEM initiatives--because the recruitment pipeline must begin
prior to university training or military enlistment--as a mechanism to
ensure the Navy has an adequate ocean science workforce in the coming
decade.
However, most high schools don't include Earth or ocean sciences as
part of their formal coursework; while 98% and 94% of high schools
offer disciplinary biology and chemistry courses, respectively, only
48% offer environmental or Earth science courses. Therefore, it is up
to informal education programs to build interest and knowledge in ocean
science and careers in ocean science and engineering. It is crucially
important for the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to increase investment
in informal ocean education programs. For example, ONR is a founding
sponsor of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB), but support for
such educational programs--as with ocean science as a whole--has not
been able to keep pace with the need for talent in this field. In its
24-year history, the NOSB, a program of COL and a quiz-bowl style ocean
science competition for high schoolers, has introduced tens of
thousands of students to the possibility of a career in ocean science
years before they might have otherwise considered it as a career path
(if at all). By supporting the NOSB, the Navy can engage a future
skilled workforce capable of enhancing maritime domain awareness and
exploring viable solutions to the growing challenges facing our ocean
and planet. I respectfully request an additional $50 million to support
ONR's K-12 STEM education efforts.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony and for your time
and consideration, as maintaining our nation's competitive advantage in
the maritime domain is of utmost importance.

_______________________________________________________________________
consortium for ocean leadership members

Alaska Ocean Observing System
Alaska SeaLife Center
Aquarium of the Pacific
ARCUS
ASV Global, LLC
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
Chevron USA
College of William & Mary (VIMS)
Columbia University (LDEO)
Consumer Energy Alliance
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Duke University
Earth2Ocean
East Carolina University
Esri
Estuary & Ocean Science Center, San Francisco State University
Exocetus Autonomous Systems
FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Florida Institute of Oceanography
Harte Research Institute
Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute
IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
IOOS Association
JASCO Applied Sciences
L-3 MariPro, Inc.
Liquid Robotics, Inc.
Louisiana State University
Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium
MARACOOS
Marine Technology Society
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Moore Foundation
Mystic Aquarium
National Ocean Industries Association
NERACOOS
New England Aquarium
North Carolina State University
North Pacific Research Board
Nova Southeastern University
Ocean Aero, Inc.
Old Dominion University
Oregon State University
Pennsylvania State University
Rutgers University
Saildrone
Savannah State University
Schmidt Ocean Institute
Sea-Bird Scientific
Severn Marine Technologies, LLC
Shell
Skidaway Institute of Oceanography of UGA
Sonardyne, Inc.
South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium
SURA
Stanford University
Stony Brook University
Texas A&M University
ThayerMahan
U.S. Arctic Research Commission
U.S. Naval Postgraduate School
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of California, Davis
University of California, San Diego (Scripps)
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Cruz
University of Delaware
University of Florida
University of Hawaii
University of Maine
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
University of Miami
University of New Hampshire
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina, Wilmington
University of Rhode Island
University of South Carolina
University of South Florida
University of Southern California
University of Southern Mississippi
University of Texas at Austin
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences
Vulcan, Inc.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

[This statement was submitted by Dr. Alan P Leonardi, President and
CEO,
Consortium for Ocean Leadership.]
______

Prepared Statement of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
Dear Chair Tester, Ranking Member Shelby, and Members of the Senate
Defense Appropriations Subcommittee:
Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony concerning the
public availability of significant Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Court (FISC) decisions, orders, and opinions. The FISC rules on
government requests to conduct domestic electronic surveillance
pursuant to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Unlike
traditional courts, whose opinions and orders are publicly available by
default, the FISC's decisions, orders, and opinions (hereinafter
``opinions'') are routinely kept secret.
A cornerstone of any democracy is the rule of law, which requires
that laws be available to the public. This is the method through which
the public consents to the law and creates a feedback mechanism through
which law is made to reflect popular will. To the extent the FISC
issues rulings that interpret and expand upon laws enacted by Congress,
those substantive opinions must be publicly available for the
democratic process to work.
The role of the FISC has expanded over the decades to include
issuing substantive opinions, but laws governing transparency of those
opinions have been slow to keep up. For example, there was controversy
over mass surveillance in 2013 arising in part from decisions of the
FISC, which prompted Congress to debate new transparency and
accountability measures intended to ensure the FISC's opinions are
sound and reflect Congressional intent.\1\ Ultimately, Congress chose
to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in 2015 to provide
for more transparency.
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\1\ Reform of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Courts: A Brief
Overview, Congressional Research Service Rpt. R43451 (March 31, 2014).
https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R43451.html.
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Specifically, Congress directed the release of significant FISC
decisions, orders, and opinions. Section 402 of the USA Freedom Act of
2015 requires the Director of National Intelligence, in consultation
with the Attorney General, to ``conduct a declassification review of
each decision, order, or opinion issued'' by the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Court ``that includes a significant construction or
interpretation of any provision of law.'' \2\ Accordingly, the FISC has
published some materials online.\3\
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\2\ USA FREEDOM Act of 2015, P.L. 114-23. https://www.congress.gov/
bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2048.
\3\ See Public Filings--U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Court, United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (accessed
May 12, 2021). https://www.fisc.uscourts.gov/public-filings.
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The original scope of section 402 is unclear. Was it to apply to
all opinions or only opinions from 2015 forward? Regardless, the
Executive branch took the position that the law should not be
understood to apply to all rulings, but only those from 2015 forward.
Thus, Congress, the public, and litigants before the FISC have some
access to recent substantive opinions, but virtually no access to an
unknown number of prior, substantive rulings by the Court. These
earlier decisions have precedential effect.
We believe, within the framework established in law, that all of
the FISC's substantive rulings should be publicly available, regardless
of when they were issued.
This view is shared by the House of Representatives and the Senate,
which both passed legislation requiring disclosure of substantive FISC
opinions last Congress as part of the USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act
of 2020.\4\ A disagreement over an unrelated matter prevented that bill
from becoming law.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020, H.R. 6172. https://
www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6172/text/eh.
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Section 301 of the draft USA FREEDOM Act, as engrossed by the House
of Representatives, provided for a declassification process for all
substantive opinions.
``Section 602 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978
(50 U.S.C. 1872) shall apply with respect to each decision, order, or
opinion issued by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court or the
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review before, on, or after
the date of the enactment of such section. With respect to such
decisions, orders, or opinions issued before or on such date, the
Director of National Intelligence shall complete the declassification
review and public release of each such decision, order, or opinion
pursuant to such section by not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act.'' (emphasis added).
The Senate passed identical language. As mentioned above, the House
requested a conference committee to address other matters, but the
Senate did not concur and the legislation died.
We note there is ongoing litigation to provide for transparency
concerning FISC opinions. A petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, filed
by ACLU lawyers, former Solicitor General Ted Olson, the Knight First
Amendment Institute at Columbia University, and the Media Freedom and
Information Access Clinic at Yale University, ``argue[d] that the First
Amendment gives the public a presumptive right of access to significant
judicial opinions, including those of the FISC.'' \5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ The Public Should Have Access to the Surveillance Court's
Opinions, by Charlie Hogle and Alex Abdo, Just Security (April 19,
2021). https://www.justsecurity.org/75809/the-public-should-have-
access-to-the-surveillance-courts-opinions/.
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This is a matter best resolved by Congress. The FISC is a creation
of the Legislative branch and the determination of what should be made
publicly available should be made by the people's representatives. In
our view, such direction is best grounded in Congress's policy-making
function, not the Court's remedial function concerning Constitutional
violations.
The Defense Appropriations Act for FY 2022 is the best route to
address transparency concerning all significant FISC opinions. In
addition, this request is within the scope of work traditionally
performed by appropriators. We are requesting the Director of National
Intelligence be directed to provide all significant decisions, orders,
and opinions to appropriators pursuant to the already existing legal
framework, and to make them publicly available as part of that process.
Appropriators routinely request reports from agencies on matters of
public interest and direct that they be publicly available. Because
Defense Appropriations has jurisdiction over the Office of the Director
of National Intelligence, we make this request of you.
Please direct the Director of National Intelligence to report to
Congress and to make publicly available all current and historical
decisions, orders, and opinions as described in Section 402 of the USA
Freedom Act of 2015 (50 U.S.C. 1871(a)(5)) within one year of enactment
of the Appropriations Act.
Thank you again for the opportunity to submit this testimony.
______

Prepared Statement of The HALO Trust
Please Support $19 Million for the Humanitarian Demining Research
and Development Program.
As the world's largest humanitarian demining organization, The HALO
Trust leads the effort to protect lives and restore livelihoods for
those affected by conflict. We remove and destroy landmines and other
explosive remnants of war and help secure weapons that could fall into
the hands of terrorist groups. Since 2002, HALO has partnered with the
U.S. Department of Defense's (DOD) Humanitarian Demining Research and
Development (HD R&D) Program in more than ten countries and
territories. This program, implemented by the U.S. Army, specializes in
developing and testing innovative technologies to detect and clear
landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and improvised explosive devices
(IEDs). These technologies increase the effectiveness, efficiency, and
safety of demining operations for military and humanitarian use--saving
lives and taxpayer money.
The HD R&D team designs technologies to respond to technical
challenges in the field, drawing from new commercial technology,
equipment currently in use by the DOD, and advanced sensor technology
available only through other DOD R&D programs. They then trial
prototypes in real field conditions through partnerships with the
Department of State's (DOS) humanitarian demining programs. During
field evaluations, operators provide feedback on the functionality and
effectiveness of the equipment. This allows HD R&D to modify and
improve the equipment and increase the U.S. technical capacity to
respond to explosive threats.
HD R&D produces four specific outcomes. First, the field evaluation
process collects data that helps to improve detection technologies used
by the U.S. Armed Forces. Second, successfully trialed equipment is
used to train and equip explosive disposal units of the U.S. military
and allied militaries. By equipping partner militaries to address their
own explosive threats, U.S. soldiers are more likely to remain out of
harm's way. Third, HD R&D equipment saves civilian lives from
landmines, most frequently children, and amplifies the impact of
American assistance by increasing the amount of clearance performed on
DOS projects without increasing costs. Fourth, the HD R&D program
supports American jobs by utilizing American manufactured machines and
products when possible in their equipment development process.
The HD R&D Program has a track record of success, having performed
nearly 240 operational field evaluations in 43 countries since 1995.
The program is responsible for developing advanced technology for the
Handheld Standoff Mine Detection System, which combines metal detection
with ground penetrating radar, the rotary mine comb, designed to
efficiently excavate low metal content anti-vehicle mines, and TRAXX,
built to cut through hard-to-see tripwires and lift mines from soil.
Overall, HD R&D equipment has been used to clear more than 19,000 acres
of land, and to destroy more than 226,000 mines and UXO.
As you know, HD R&D now receives funding from the following
account: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Army/Advanced
Component Development & Prototypes/PE: 0603920A/Program Title:
Humanitarian Demining. Due to strong bipartisan support, the program
received $17 million in Fiscal Year 2021. However, the FY22 President's
Budget proposes only $8.649 million for HD R&D, which would represent a
49% decrease from the previous year, and the lowest funding level in
over ten years. This proposed funding reduction would substantially
curtail the ability of the HD R&D program to develop necessary demining
equipment that would otherwise create cost savings on State Department
demining contracts and protect our soldiers.
This program has a long list of unfunded projects it is waiting to
trial, including anti-tank mine detection equipment in Afghanistan and
magnetic technology in Iraq. Further, this program recently moved under
Army Futures Command and will now be subject to an Army tax that will
cut into its program budget, unless this new expense is offset through
a higher appropriation this year. Thus, even flat funding the program
at a level of $17 million would result in reduced resources for
technological advances required by military and humanitarian deminers.
We appreciate the support this subcommittee has provided for this
valuable program, and urge the subcommittee to raise funding to a level
of $19 million in FY22 for HD R&D. This additional funding will improve
the ability of U.S. soldiers and our allies' ability to safely detect
and clear landmines, UXO, and IEDs. This funding is especially
important as new conflicts uncover new threats in areas like the Middle
East, Libya, and Ukraine.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.

[This statement was submitted by Chris Whatley, Executive Director,
The HALO Trust (USA).]
______

Prepared Statement of the Melanoma Action Coalition
Dear Chairman Tester and Ranking Member Shelby:
The Melanoma Action Coalition thanks you for supporting the
Defense-funded melanoma research in the Fiscal Year 2021 Defense
Appropriations bill and requests that the Senate Defense Appropriations
Subcommittee provide $40 million for melanoma research in the Fiscal
2022 Department of Defense Appropriations bill. This program is funded
within the Defense Health account.
The Melanoma Action Coalition represents more than 40 community-
based foundations and advocates nationwide focused on increasing
awareness about melanoma, providing education about sun safety, and
raising funds for melanoma research. Each of us has been touched
personally by melanoma. Some of us are survivors; others have lost
spouses or children to this disease. We are united by our dedication to
working towards a time when no other individuals or families suffer the
pain and loss that we have experienced.
Melanoma is a unique and major threat to our military community,
who carry out their missions in environments of extreme solar
radiation. Decades of studies from WWII to the current generation of
war fighters confirm the linkage of this exposure to the development of
deadly melanoma. Continued innovation in melanoma prevention,
detection, and treatment is only possible with continued investment in
high quality research.
A 2000 ``Annals of Epidemiology'' study comparing mortality among
WWII veterans of the Pacific and European Theaters found that Pacific
Theater Prisoner of War veterans had an estimated 3 times greater risk
of dying from melanoma than veterans of the European Theater.\1\ The
article concluded that these data are ``consistent with the hypothesis
that exposure to high levels of solar radiation in young adulthood is
associated with a higher risk of melanoma mortality.'' \2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Page, William F., David Whiteman, and Michael Murphy. ``A
comparison of melanoma mortality among WWII veterans of the Pacific and
European theaters.'' Annals of epidemiology 10, no. 3 (2000): 192-195.
\2\ Ibid.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to The Pulse, the online source for the Uniformed
Services University, ``melanoma is the most significant cancer to
affect the active duty military population.'' \3\ A Vanderbilt School
of Medicine study cites that only 22 percent of military personnel were
made aware of the risks of sun exposure, 77 percent reported being
exposed to bright sunlight for more than 4 hours a day, and only 27
percent had regular access to sunscreen.\4\ The study concluded that
``the past decade of United States' combat missions, including
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, have occurred at a more equatorial
latitude than the mean center of the United States population,
increasing the potential for ultraviolent irradiance and the
development of skin cancer.'' \5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Mason, V. (2018). Improving the Detection of Melanoma in Active
Duty Military. [online] The Pulse. Available at: https://
usupulse.blogspot.com/2018/02/improving-detection-of-melanoma-in.html
[Accessed 26 Feb. 2020].
\4\ Powers JG, Patel NA, Powers EM, Mayer JE, Stricklin GP, Geller
AC. Skin cancer risk factors and preventative behaviors among United
States military veterans deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan [published
online ahead of print June 25, 2015]. J Invest Dermatol. doi: 10.1038/
jid.2015.238.
\5\ Ibid.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recent studies have borne out these conclusions. A study published
in the Military Service Monthly Report found that in a 10-year
surveillance period from 2005 to 2014, malignant melanoma was one of
the most frequent cancer diagnoses among male service members, and the
second most frequent cancer diagnosis among female service members.\6\
Another 2014 Military Medicine Study found that the overall incidence
rate of melanoma in active duty military personnel between 2000 and
2007 was 62 percent greater than among the general population during
the same period.\7\
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\6\ Lee, T., V. F. Williams, and L. L. Clark. ``Incident diagnoses
of cancers in the active component and cancer-related deaths in the
active and reserve components, US Armed Forces, 2005-2014.'' MSMR 23,
no. 7 (2016): 23-31.
\7\ Lea, C. Suzanne, Jimmy T. Efird, Amanda E. Toland, Denise R.
Lewis, and Christopher J. Phillips. ``Melanoma incidence rates in
active duty military personnel compared with a population-based
registry in the United States, 2000-2007.'' (2014): 247-253.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Given the clear threat melanoma poses to our service members, and
the volume of high-quality research proposals, the Melanoma Action
Coalition respectfully requests that the committee provide $40 million
for melanoma research in the Fiscal Year 2022 Defense Appropriations
bill.
Thank you for considering this important request. Should you have
any questions, please contact me at:
[email protected].
Sincerely.

[This statement was submitted by Neil Spiegler, President, Melanoma
Action
Coalition.]
______

Prepared Statement of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for this
opportunity to provide testimony on behalf of the National Multiple
Sclerosis Society (Society) regarding Department of Defense (DoD)
Appropriations for fiscal year 202 (FY22). We are pleased to be able to
discuss the importance of the research funded by the Multiple Sclerosis
Research Program (MSRP) to those affected by MS.
Thank you for the investment that you have provided for the MSRP.
Past Committee investments have allowed the program to fund a new
clinical trial award mechanism and expand its focus to identify
triggers and risk factors for MS. As you consider funding priorities
for FY22, we urge the Subcommittee to provide $20 million for the MS
Research Program (MSRP) within the Congressionally Directed Medical
Research Programs (CDMRP). This is the same funding level that Congress
awarded the program last year and we believe that this funding level
will ensure the greatest return on investment in the program and
maintain funding consistency for MS researchers.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling
disease of the central nervous system that interrupts the flow of
information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms
range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The
progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS in any one person
cannot yet be predicted. Nearly one million Americans live with MS and
most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with
women being diagnosed at two to three times higher more often than men.
The Society mission is to cure MS while empowering people affected
by MS to live their best lives. To accomplish this, the Society funds
cutting-edge research, drives change through advocacy, facilitates
professional education, collaborates with MS organizations around the
world, and provides programs and services designed to help people with
MS and their families live their best lives. We see ourselves as a
fundamental partner to the U.S. government in many critical areas--
particularly in the arena of MS research. To date, the Society has
invested over $1 billion dollars in research, and we work in
coordination and collaboration with our federal partners at the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the MSRP to ensure that the
best research is funded and that there is no overlap or duplication.
The CDMRP is a peer-reviewed program funded through the Department
of Defense via the Defense Appropriations Act. Individual programs like
the MSRP are funded at the direction of Congress and fill research gaps
by funding high impact, high-risk and high gain projects that other
research agencies--like the NIH, may not venture to fund. The CDMRPs
are distinctive in that they involve active participation of people
living with the program disease area. These patients and patient
representatives are highly coveted roles, as they are involved in all
areas of the program--from establishing the mission/vision of the
program, to reviewing applications and making recommendations for
funding, and evaluating the impact of the program. People living with
MS value the opportunities within the MSRP as a way they can engage in
the research process. The Society applauds the way MSRP structure is
designed and believes that it aligns with the direction of patient
centered drug development and care in the research and drug development
ecosystem.
MS Prevalence and Military Service
The Society confirmed that nearly one million people are living
with MS in the United States, more than twice the original estimate
from previous studies.\1\ Extrapolating figures this estimate, we
believe there are approximately 70,000 veterans in the U.S. that live
with MS. Each year, the Veterans Health Administration provides care to
more than 20,000 veterans living with MS. Additionally, between the
years 2009-2018, over 2,400 active-duty service members, reserve, and
National Guard members received a new diagnosis of MS within the
military health system (MHS).\2\ Including other DOD beneficiaries such
as former Service members and family members, the MHS had more than
21,000 new cases of MS. During this period, more than 36,000 DOD
beneficiaries had over 1.1 million outpatient encounters and 537,000
hospital bed days for MS within the MHS.\3\ In addition, the Department
of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence, East and
West branches, serve approximately 49,000 Veterans with MS.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Mitchell T. Wallin, William J. Culpepper, Jonathan D. Campbell,
Lorene M. Nelson, Annette Langer-Gould, Ruth Ann Marrie, Gary R.
Cutter, Wendy E. Kaye, Laurie Wagner, Helen Tremlett, Stephen L. Buka,
Piyameth Dilokthornsakul, Barbara Topol, Lie H. Chen, Nicholas G.
LaRocca. Neurology Mar 2019, 92 (10) e1029-e1040; DOI: 10.1212/
WNL.0000000000007035.
\2\ Williams VF, Stahlman S, Ying S. 2017. Multiple sclerosis among
service members of the active and reserve components of the U.S. Armed
Forces and among other beneficiaries of the Military Health System,
2007-2016. MSMR Aug; 24(8): 2-11.
\3\ Data includes both direct care (care received at Military
Treatment Facilities) and purchased care (care received at Civilian
facilities that is covered by TRICARE). Data does not include care
received while deployed, or any care received outside of the Military
Health System that was not processed through TRICARE.
\4\ Gromisch ES, et al. Who is not coming to clinic? A predictive
model of excessive missed appointments in persons with multiple
sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2020 Feb;38:101513.
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MS is considered a presumptive condition and veterans who have
symptoms of MS in the military or within seven years after honorable
discharge are eligible for the service-connected status. To date,
approximately 12,000 U.S. veterans have a service-connected disability
for MS, meaning that their MS was incurred or aggravated during their
military service. An advisory committee by the Veterans Administration
recommended further study into the potential link between combat
service and increased risk of developing MS. The Society supports this
recommendation and believes that more research is needed that examines
the longer time impact for those who have served, from veterans from
the Vietnam War through to those who served in Operation Enduring
Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn. To appropriately monitor this
cohort of servicemen and women, the Society recommends that Congress
ensure that information and data can be easily shared between the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. Because
the demographics of the military have changed over the past several
decades, it is more critical these two Agencies can share data in real
time to examine health impacts and needs by age, race, ethnicity and
sex/gender.
Research into the underlying causes of MS and improving methods of
diagnosing, treating and potentially curing MS is critical to improving
the lives of those serving in the military and all of those living with
MS. As the underlying cause of MS is still unknown, MSRP funded
research will help improve knowledge about those currently serving in
the military who can be deployed to areas and environments that may
increase the risk of developing neurologic diseases like MS. Further,
MRSP supported projects will also improve understanding on how to
counter these environmental triggers to improve the readiness and
deployability for future service personnel.
Multiple Sclerosis Research Program
The MRSP was established by Congress in 2009. Its vision is to
prevent, cure, reverse, or slow the progression, and lessen the
personal and societal impact of MS. Like many of the other programs
within the CDMRP, the MSRP specifically encourages applications that
address critical needs of the MS community and concentrate on: the
biological basis of disease progression, risk factors leading to the
prevention of MS, drug discovery and biomarkers for preclinical
detection of MS. MSRP research has led to four patent applications and
patents. To date, Congress has appropriated approximately $73.1 million
dollars to the MSRP, including $16 million for FY20. The total MSRP
investment since 2009 has funded 111 awards, 98 projects, 4 clinical
trials and 3 patents. MSRP funded investigators have been awarded 47
follow-up research grants from federal and non-federal research
partners, including the NIH and the Society, totaling over $34 million
to build on and advance knowledge gained from the initial MSRP funded
grant.
MSRP funds studies that examine gap in MS from basic science to
rehabilitation research. A particular area of interest in MS research
is imaging technology, as diagnosis of MS and tracking disease
progression remains challenging, both for active-duty military
personnel, veterans and civilians. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is
often used by health care providers to track disease activity.
Currently, MRI findings are not accepted by the Food and Drug
Administration as indicators of clinical meaningfulness in the MS drug
development and approval process and more research is needed in the
form of more long-term studies correlating brain MRI with disability
progression.
Additionally, a growing body of evidence have implicated
environmental, genetic factors, age, and microbial infections in the
development of MS. Recent MRSP funded studies have examined
alternations in the gut microbiota and suggest that these alterations
influence the onset and progression of autoimmune diseases like MS.
This information will be incredibly useful to people with MS, who often
ask about the impact of dietary and lifestyle changes to help manage MS
symptoms and reduce the occurrence of relapses.
This body of research that will improve MS diagnosis and the drug
development process, by answering questions that are important to
people living with MS. Further, MSRP funded research allows the
healthcare system to better track disease progression and activity,
allowing healthcare providers in both the military and civilian
populations to better anticipate the needs of people living with MS.
The clinical application of the research done at MSRP is particularly
important--as MRSP also funds novel research to expedite much needed
symptom management treatments for those living with MS. Further, the
clinical application of this research will facilitate better
conversations surrounding troop readiness and the ability of an
individual to deploy.
Due to the impact the MSRP has had on driving both novel research
into MS and its focus on funding innovative research focused on the
development of potential therapies to improve diagnosis and treatment
of MS, the Society requests that Congress continue to fund the MSRP at
$20 million in FY22.
On behalf of the Society, thank you to this Committee for its
investment in the CDMRP, particularly the MSRP. We appreciate the
opportunity to provide written testimony and our recommendations for
FY22 appropriations for the program. The MSRP is of vital importance to
people living with MS and we look forward to continuing to work with
the Committee to help move us closer to a world free of MS.

[This statement was submitted by Leslie Ritter, Associate Vice
President, Federal Government Relations, National Multiple Sclerosis
Society.]
______

Prepared Statement of the Neurofibromatosis Network
Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony to the
Subcommittee on the importance of continued funding for the Department
of Defense's Peer-reviewed Neurofibromatosis (NF) Research Program
(NFRP). NF is a terrible genetic disorder closely linked to many common
diseases widespread among the American population. The highly
successful Neurofibromatosis Research Program has shown tangible
results and direct military application with broad implications for the
general population.
On behalf of the Neurofibromatosis (NF) Network, a national
organization of NF advocacy groups, I speak on behalf of the 120,000
Americans who suffer from NF as well as the millions of Americans who
suffer from diseases and conditions linked to NF such as cancer, brain
tumors, heart disease, memory loss, bone abnormalities, deafness,
blindness, and psychosocial disabilities, such as autism and learning
disabilities. Thanks in large part to this Subcommittee's strong
support, scientists have made enormous progress since the discovery of
the NF1 gene in 1990 resulting in clinical trials now being undertaken
by the NFRP.
In Fiscal Year 2022, we are requesting at least $25 million to
continue the Army's highly successful Neurofibromatosis Research
Program (NFRP). The NFRP is now conducting clinical trials at nation-
wide clinical trials centers created by NFRP funding. These clinical
trials involve drugs that have already succeeded in eliminating tumors
in humans and rescuing learning deficits in mice. In addition, in March
2020, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first ever drug,
co-developed by NIH and AstraZeneca, with seed money from the NFRP, for
the treatment of plexiform tumors in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).
Administrators of the Army program have stated that the number of high-
quality scientific applications justify a much larger program. For
these reasons, it is imperative that we continue to invest in research
if we are to advance toward treatments and a cure for the numerous
diseases associated with NF.
what is neurofibromatosis?
NF is an unpredictable genetic disorder of the nervous system that
affects almost every organ system in the body. There are three types of
NF: NF1, which is more common, NF2, which initially involves tumors
causing deafness and balance problems, and Schwannomatosis, the
hallmark of which is severe pain. NF causes tumors to grow along nerves
including in the skin, just below the skin, and in the brain and spinal
cord. NF is the most common neurological disorder caused by a single
gene and affects more people than Cystic Fibrosis, hereditary Muscular
Dystrophy, Huntington's disease and Tay Sachs combined. It strikes
worldwide, without regard to gender, race or ethnicity. Approximately
50 percent of new NF cases result from a spontaneous mutation in an
individual's genes and 50 percent are inherited.
NF can cause a myriad of devastating clinical problems including
nerve and brain tumors; disfiguring skin growths; inability to heal
after bone fracture, which may ultimately require amputation;
psychosocial disabilities, including autism and learning disabilities;
unmanageable chronic pain; deafness; blindness; cardiovascular defects;
vascular disease; and paralysis. NF gene mutations are also important
'drivers' of cancers in the lungs, liver, brain and breast.
nf's connection to the military
Neurofibromatosis (NF) has become a clinical 'model' for advancing
medical research. The genetic information learned from NF holds the key
to understanding a number of health issues that benefit the war
fighter, as well as the general population, including cancer, bone
fracture and repair, vascular disease, nerve regeneration, behavior and
psychosocial issues, and pain.
The Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP) is providing critical
research that directly benefits the War Fighter including:
Bone Repair.--At least a quarter of children with NF1 have abnormal
bone growth in any part of the skeleton. In the legs, the long bones
are weak, prone to fracture and unable to heal properly; this can
require amputation at a young age. Adults with NF1 can have low bone
mineral density, placing them at risk of skeletal weakness and injury.
The NFRP is a strong supporter of NF1 bone defects research and as a
result this field has made significant progress in the past few years.
Bone fractures sustained by the war fighter and how to repair them is
of interest to the military. Research studies will identify new
information about understanding bone biology and repair and will pave
the way to new strategies to enhancing bone health and facilitating
repair.
Pain.--Severe and unmanageable pain is seen in all forms of NF,
particularly in schwannomatosis, and significantly impacts quality of
life. NF research has shown similarities between NF pain and phantom
limb pain. NFRP funding has been critical in supporting this. Chronic
pain, and how to treat it effectively, is one of the most poorly
understood areas of medicine but has very high relevance to those in
the military recovering from service-related injuries. NF Research in
this area could help identify new ways to target pain effectively with
the right drugs or therapies.
Vascular Disease.--NF1 elevates the risk of vascular disease
including aneurysm, stroke and vessel occlusive disease. NF1
predisposes patients to early cardiovascular disease, which is also the
leading cause of death among United States Veterans. NF research has
demonstrated that when treating affected NF mouse models with an
antioxidant medication it reduced vessel disease. Discoveries related
to cardiovascular disease in NF1 are likely to be more broadly
informative, including for veterans and active duty military personnel.
Psychosocial and Cognitive Disabilities.--In the last couple of
years, NFRP research has revealed common threads between NF1 learning
disabilities, autism and other related disabilities. Research being
done within the NF Clinical Trials Consortium, NFRP created clinical
centers, has led to important findings and expanded research in this
area. This research contributes to our broadening understanding of how
brain signaling can impact on behavior and psychosocial difficulties.
Members of the military returning from service can suffer from
psychological trauma and it is not easy to understand how this can be
effectively treated. As we learn more from the NF population about
psychosocial function, we will be able to shed light on this area for
the benefit of the military.
Nerve Tumors and Repair.--Nerves are the most common location for
tumor development amongpatients with NF1, NF2, and schwannomatosis.
Tumor growth alone, or treatments for the same, commonly cause nerve
injury and associated deficits. Identifying mechanisms to improve nerve
repair would benefit patients with NF, as well as advance the science
needed to better treat nerve injury common in warfighters.
the army's contribution to nf research
While other federal agencies support medical research, the
Department of Defense (DOD) fills a special role by providing peer-
reviewed funding for innovative and rewarding medical research through
the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP). CDMRP
research grants are awarded to researchers in every state in the
country through a competitive two-tier review process. These well-
executed and efficient programs, including the NFRP, demonstrate the
government's responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
Recognizing NF's importance to both the military and to the general
population, Congress has given the Army's NF Research Program strong
bipartisan support. From FY1996 through FY2021 funding for the NFRP has
amounted to $382.85 million, in addition to the original $8 million
appropriated in FY1992. In addition, between FY1996 and FY2019, 430
awards have been granted to researchers across the country.
The Army program funds innovative, groundbreaking research which
would not otherwise have been pursued, and has produced major advances
in NF research, including conducting clinical trials in a nation-wide
clinical trials infrastructure created by NFRP funding, development of
advanced animal models, and preclinical therapeutic experimentation.
Because of the enormous advances that have been made as a result of the
Army's NF Research Program, research in NF has truly become one of the
great success stories in the current revolution in molecular genetics.
In addition, the program has brought new researchers into the field of
NF. However, despite this progress, Army officials administering the
program have indicated that they could easily fund more applications if
funding were available because of the high quality of the research
applications received.
In order to ensure maximum efficiency, the Army collaborates
closely with other federal agencies that are involved in NF research,
such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Senior program staff
from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
(NINDS), for example, sit on the Army's NF Research Program Integration
Panel which sets the long-term vision and funding strategies for the
program. This assures the highest scientific standard for research
funding, efficiency and coordination while avoiding duplication or
overlapping of research efforts.
Thanks in large part to this Subcommittee's support, scientists
have made enormous progress since the discovery of the NF1 gene. Major
advances in just the past few years have ushered in an exciting era of
clinical and translational research in NF with broad implications for
the general population. These recent advances have included:
--In March 2020 the Food and Drug Administration approved the first
ever drug, co-developed by NIH and AstraZeneca, with seed money
from the NFRP, for the treatment of plexiform tumors in
neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).
--Phase II and Phase III clinical trials involving new drug therapies
for both cancer, hearing tumors, vision tumors, bone graft and
cognitive disorders.
--Establishment of the Neurofibromatosis Clinical Trial Consortium
which includes an operation center and 25 clinical sites.
Allows for partnerships with well-established NF Centers,
pooling expertise and resources, quicker turn arounds of
scientific reviews and regulatory approvals, leveraged work
with pharmaceutical companies all towards the common goal of
new treatments and a cure for Neurofibromatosis.
--Successful elimination of tumors in NF1 and NF2 mice with the same
drug.
--Development of advanced mouse models showing human symptoms.
--Rescue of learning deficits in mice with an already existing well
known drug.
--Determination of the biochemical, molecular function of the NF
genes and gene products.
--Connection of NF to numerous diseases because of NF's impact on
many body functions.
fiscal year 2022 request
The Army's highly successful NF Research Program has shown tangible
results and direct military application with broad implications for the
general population. The program has now advanced to the translational
and clinical research stages, which are the most promising, yet the
most expensive direction that NF research has taken. Therefore,
continued funding is needed to continue to build on the successes of
this program, and to fund this promising research thereby continuing
the enormous return on the taxpayers' investment.
We respectfully request that you include at least $25 million in
the Fiscal Year 2022 Department of Defense Appropriations bill for the
Peer-reviewed Neurofibromatosis Research Program. With this
subcommittee's continued support, we will prevail. Thank you for your
support.

[This statement was submitted by Kim Bischoff, Executive Director,
Neurofibromatosis Network.]
______

Prepared Statement of the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance and the
Society of Gynecologic Oncology
The Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) and the Society of
Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) thank the Subcommittee for the opportunity
to submit comments for the record regarding our funding recommendations
for the Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Research Program, which is
under the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical
Research Program. We respectfully request a funding level of $45
million for the Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Research Program
in Fiscal Year 2022.
The Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) works every day to fund
cures, foster community, further conversations and, ultimately, the
cause. OCRA is the oldest and largest global organization dedicated to
fighting ovarian cancer. We advance research to prevent, treat and
defeat ovarian cancer. We support women and their families before,
during and beyond diagnosis. And we work with all levels of government
to ensure that eradicating ovarian cancer is a priority.
The Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) is a national medical
specialty organization of physicians who are trained in the
comprehensive management of women with malignancies of the reproductive
tract. The SGO's mission is to prevent and treat gynecologic cancers
with equity, thereby improving lives through advocacy, engagement,
education, research, and collaboration. The SGO's strategic goals
include advancing the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of
gynecologic cancers by establishing and promoting standards of
excellence.
ovarian cancer's deadly statistics
Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death
in women and the deadliest gynecologic cancer. The American Cancer
Society estimates that in 2021, approximately 21,410 women in the U.S.
will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer and approximately 13,770
women will die from the disease. Nearly 25 percent of women diagnosed
with ovarian cancer will die within a year, and less than 50 percent
will survive five years. There is currently no early detection test for
ovarian cancer so more than 85 percent of women are diagnosed at late
stage when survival is significantly decreased. When women experience a
disease recurrence there are limited treatment options with life
altering side effects and suboptimal efficacy.
ovarian cancer's impact on the military
Of the 850,000 female service members, wives of active duty
military and adult daughters of active duty military, approximately
11,800 will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer over the course of their
lifetimes. Over the last five years alone, nearly 2,600 members of our
military or their families have been hospitalized for ovarian cancer or
suspected ovarian cancer. It is clear that the cost of ovarian cancer
to our military is great, not only in terms of troop readiness, but
also in terms of cancer care costs: treating all of these cases of
ovarian cancer over these patients' lifetimes could cost TRICARE an
estimated $971.2 million. Therefore, it is imperative that the
Department of Defense pursues the scientific discoveries that help
readiness and address both the personal and economic costs of ovarian
cancer.
dod ocrp: a program that complements non-defense ovarian cancer
research
The Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Research Program (DoD
OCRP) was initiated in Fiscal Year 1997 to support high-impact,
cutting-edge research that fills unmet needs. The DoD OCRP establishes
priorities to target the most critical needs along the research
development pipeline from basic to translational to clinical research,
including clinical trials, and to push the field of ovarian cancer
forward through its vision to ``eliminate ovarian cancer''.
The DoD OCRP complements but does not duplicate the important
ovarian cancer research carried out by the National Cancer Institute
(NCI). First, the DoD OCRP funds innovative, high risk, high reward
research which many large, non-DoD Federal research agencies do not
have the flexibility to engage in. For ovarian cancer research, we
believe that the DoD OCRP is the sole funding source for innovative,
groundbreaking research with an emphasis on promoting readiness for
military members and their families as well as the overall health of
citizens of the United States and the world.
Second, the DoD OCRP is designed to prevent funding research that
overlaps with other ovarian cancer research that has been funded by the
NCI, other agencies, or private foundations. Before funding an award,
DoD OCRP grant managers at the DoD are required to thoroughly check all
sources of information to determine if a proposal is redundant of a
previous DoD OCRP grant or a grant awarded by another federal agency
such as the NCI or by a private foundation.
Third, the DoD OCRP pushes investigators to make rapid progress in
their research by requiring them to reapply every funding cycle.
Because proposal reviews conducted by the DoD OCRP are double blinded
by investigator and research institution, an investigator's progress is
evaluated on its own merit and must have sufficient new findings, data,
or ideas to warrant new funding.
Cancer research performed by the DoD has been responsible for
fundamentally changing the way cancer research is conducted. Many
innovative practices and methods created by the Congressionally
Directed Medical Research Programs have been adopted by the other
research agencies, such as the use of cancer patients as consumer
reviewers in the proposal review process.
Also, the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program has
created funding mechanisms to incentivize research, such as the Idea
Award, that fills voids in our understanding of cancer. Additionally,
large ovarian cancer research teams do not exist in many academic
medical or research centers. In order to provide much needed mentoring,
networking and a peer group for young ovarian cancer researchers, the
DoD OCRP created an Ovarian Cancer Academy award in Fiscal Year 2009.
The DoD OCRP Ovarian Cancer Academy is growing and meeting its
potential of developing a unique, interactive virtual academy that
provides intensive mentoring, national networking, and a peer group for
junior faculty. The overarching goal of this award is to develop young
scientists into the next generation of successful and highly productive
ovarian cancer
researchers within a collaborative and interactive research
training environment including collaboration with research conducted at
military healthcare institutions.
discoveries and advancements in ovarian cancer
From Fiscal Year 1997-Fiscal Year 2020, the DoD OCRP has received
$371.5 million in Congressional appropriations. Through Fiscal Year
2019, the DoD OCRP has funded 479 research awards, resulting in over
1,583 peer-reviewed publications and 103 patent applications. The DoD
OCRP has funded key studies that have led to several new discoveries
and advancements in the treatment and understanding of ovarian cancer.
These advancements have spanned treatment with FDA approval of
rucaparib, an oral therapy for treatment of advanced ovarian cancer, to
OVA1, a blood test combined with imaging that can better identify
patients at high risk for malignant ovarian cancer. The studies have
also served as the basis for the universal ovarian cancer patient
genetic testing recommendations.
future direction and strategic goals in ovarian cancer research
The DoD OCRP's Strategic Plan is centered around the scope of the
ovarian cancer problem affecting military and veteran populations and
all women affected by the disease, as well as the pressing research
gaps faced by the ovarian cancer community. The DoD OCRP's ultimate
goal is to prevent, detect, treat, and cure ovarian cancer. The
following research goals identified in the DoD OCRP Strategic Plan are
critically important to improving patient care and winning the war
against this deadly disease:
--Promote readiness for military members and their families as well
as the overall health of citizens of the United States and the
world.
--Enhance and sustain the pool of ovarian cancer scientists.
--Promote research that will address health disparities and improve
access to quality care and the physical and psychosocial well-
being of those diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
--Utilize precision medicine and computational approaches that
identify individual tumor characteristics and predictive
biomarkers across diverse groups to optimize patient care and
outcomes.
--Develop or improve the performance of screening and diagnostic
approaches.
--Understand the precursor lesion/stem cell, microenvironment, and
pathogenesis/progression of all types of ovarian cancer,
including rare subtypes.
--Develop and validate models to understand initiation, progression,
metastasis, treatment response, and recurrence of ovarian
cancer.
--Increase long-term survivorship and improve quality of life
throughout the continuum of ovarian cancer care.
--Promote research that focuses on cancer risk and primary
prevention.
--Investigate tumor and host response to therapy, including tumor
survival, dormancy, cell death, clonal evolution, resistance,
and immune factors.
--Promote synergistic team science, including: the OCRP Ovarian
Cancer Academy supporting early career ovarian cancer
investigators, consortia, and collaboration with intramural and
extramural DoD programs.
the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on cancer research
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on cancer
research in addition to the tremendous public health and economic toll
it has extracted. A new study published in January of this year in the
Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open
indicates that during the first wave of the pandemic last spring, the
number of newly launched cancer treatment studies dropped by 60%, and
that does not include the number of cancer trials that were suspended,
delayed, or in which enrollment rates were drastically reduced.
According to the JAMA article, the number of ongoing trials fell by
approximately 50% last spring.
For these reasons, The Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance and the
Society of Gynecologic Oncology are requesting a $10 million increase
for the DoD Peer-Reviewed Ovarian Cancer Research Program, resulting in
a total funding request of $45 million in FY 2022, to preserve current
investments in ovarian cancer research and continue the program's
successful work to improve prevention, early diagnosis, and survival
rates from ovarian cancer.
conclusion
The Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance and the Society of Gynecologic
Oncology maintain a long-standing commitment to work with Congress, the
Administration, and other policymakers and stakeholders to improve the
survival rate from ovarian cancer through education, public policy,
research, and communication. Please know that we appreciate and
understand that our nation faces many challenges and that Congress has
limited resources to allocate; however, we owe it to those who bravely
served our country to pursue promising research that will improve
treatments for ovarian cancer and improve the survival rate from this
deadly disease.
On behalf of the entire ovarian cancer community--patients, family
members, clinicians, and researchers--we thank you for your leadership
and support for federal programs that seek to reduce and prevent
suffering from ovarian cancer. Thank you in advance for your support
for $45 million for the Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Research
Program in FY 2022.