[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 59 (Tuesday, May 12, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4659-S4662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1997

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, there will now be 10 
minutes of debate equally divided on S. 1046, which the clerk will 
report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1046) to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
     years 1998 and 1999 for the National Science Foundation, and 
     for other purposes.

  The Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. JEFFORDS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont.


                           Amendment No. 2386

(Purpose: To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1998, 1999, and 
   2000 for the National Science Foundation, and for other purposes)

  Mr. JEFFORDS. I understand there is a substitute amendment at the 
desk. I ask for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Vermont (Mr. Jeffords), for Mr. McCain, 
     Mr. Hollings, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Frist, Mr. 
     Rockefeller, and Ms. Collins, proposes an amendment numbered 
     2386.

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The text of the amendment is printed in today's Record under 
``Amendments Submitted.'')
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I rise to offer an amendment to the 
S.1046, the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1998. This 
amendment authorizes the National Science Foundation for a period of 
three fiscal years, 1998, 1999 and 2000.
  I am very pleased to see that this amendment represents a bi-partisan 
effort by both the Commerce and the Labor Committees. These two 
Committees share jurisdiction of the National Science Foundation. I 
would also like to thank the co-sponsors of this amendment, Senators 
Jeffords, Hollings, Kennedy, Frist and Rockefeller, for their support 
of this amendment.
  The National Science Foundation (NSF) plays a critical role in the 
development of much of this country's science and technology 
infrastructure. Its efforts cover a variety of issues

[[Page S4660]]

such as education--from the kindergarten to the post-doctorate levels--
research and development, and Internet development.
  Given that half of the new economic growth in the economy is due to 
technological advancements, the role of the National Science Foundation 
in basic research is an important one. Many companies in the private 
sector have indicated that they cannot afford to conduct the long term 
basic research required for many of these technological advances. They 
have come to rely upon the basic research of the National Science 
Foundation and other government agencies as the basis for many of their 
commercial products. For it is through the commercialization process of 
these research results that the government and the American public 
benefits. From this process, new industries are started, jobs are 
created, and many new products are generated to improve our quality of 
life of all people.
  Because of the research at the National Science Foundation, we have 
the Internet today. The growth of the Internet and the role it is 
playing in electronic commerce today is far beyond anyone's 
expectations when the project was started. We look forward to the 
National Science Foundation's involvement in the Next Generation 
Internet project.
  In a time when we are hearing of the terrible performance of 
America's students in math and science education, it is important that 
we do our jobs as members of the Senate and authorize agencies' such as 
the National Science Foundation to ensure that the federal government 
is doing its share to improve upon the lives of all Americans through 
education and other related research activities.
  I urge the other members of the Senate to support this amendment and 
the final passage of the bill. Again, I would like to thank the co-
sponsors of this amendment for their support and hard work.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I know of no objection to the amendment. 
I urge its adoption.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the amendment is agreed to.
  The amendment (No. 2386) was agreed to.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, it is a great pleasure to come before 
you today to seek Senate approval of S. 1046, the National Science 
Foundation Authorization Act of 1998. I introduced this legislation, 
along with my colleagues Senators Kennedy, Frist, and Collins, on July 
22, 1997. The bill was reported unanimously by the Senate Committee on 
Labor and Human Resources on October 15, 1997. This bipartisan proposal 
will be further enhanced by the manager's package I am bringing to the 
floor on behalf of my colleagues Senators McCain, Hollings, Kennedy, 
Frist, Rockefeller, and Collins. This package reflects similar 
bipartisan cooperation, builds upon the foundation contained within S. 
1046 and contains improvements proposed by both Committees. This 
legislation will make an important investment in our nation's 
scientific and technological future.
  S. 1046, as amended, will authorize more than $9 billion for research 
and development activities, and $2 billion for math and science 
education activities over the next 3 years. The bill will support more 
than 19,000 projects at 2,000 colleges, universities, primary, 
elementary, and secondary schools across the Nation.
  This authorization bill also recognizes that the future of science in 
this country will be determined by our basic educational policy. Two 
billion dollars is authorized over the next 3 years for K through 12 
math and science systematic reform, undergraduate science education 
activities, graduate education, and efforts to advance the public 
understanding of science. These efforts will continue to contribute to 
improvements in the education we offer to our children and maintain a 
strong cadre of scientific leaders needed to remain competitive well 
into the next century.
  S. 1046 provides a strong bipartisan response to the research and 
science education challenges facing the Nation.
  The strong bipartisan support which NSF enjoys is a reflection of its 
historic contribution to both our national security and our economic 
competitiveness. The prominent role of science in the American war 
effort during World War II left us with a new appreciation of the 
importance of research in establishing and preserving economic and 
military security. Federally funded research led to the development of 
radar, sonar, blood plasma, sulfanilamide, penicillin and the atomic 
bomb. In 1944, President Roosevelt charged Vannevar Bush, his chief 
science adviser, with evaluating the most effective way to harness this 
technological infrastructure in peacetime. The Bush report--Science--
The Endless Frontier--established a strategy and rationale for Federal 
support of basic research. The report argued, and argued correctly, 
that ``a nation which depends upon others for its new basic scientific 
knowledge will be slow in its industrial progress and weak in its 
competitive position in world trade regardless of its mechanical 
skill.'' This report provided the blueprint for creation of the 
National Science Foundation.
  NSF was established in 1950 to ``develop and encourage the pursuit of 
a national policy for the promotion of basic research and education in 
the sciences.'' Following the 1957 Soviet launch of the Sputnik 
satellite, this mission was expanded to provide greater support for 
science education and literacy. Over the next three decades, NSF became 
the primary Federal sponsor of basic research in mathematics, physical 
sciences, computer science, engineering and environmental science at 
colleges and universities. Equally important to the future of our 
Nation, NSF became a catalyst for the reform of math and science 
education.
  The manager's amendment which we are bringing to the floor authorizes 
more than $11 billion for research and development activities at NSF 
over the next three years--$3.5 billion in fiscal year 1998, $3.7 
billion in fiscal year 1999, and nearly $3.9 billion in fiscal year 
2000. This Federal funding will be very well invested. Although the 
National Science Foundation's budget accounts for only 4 percent of 
Federal research and development funding, NSF provides 25 percent of 
Federal support to academic institutions for research. NSF grants 
support more than 19,000 research and education projects at 2,000 
colleges, universities, primary, elementary, and secondary schools, 
businesses, and other research institutions. Competition for these 
grants is fierce. NSF funds only about one-third of the 30,000 
proposals it reviews annually and the grants that survive this review 
process represent the finest proposals that the research community can 
put forward.
  The importance of this investment in basic research cannot be 
exaggerated. Over the past decade, private sector investment in 
research and development has eclipsed Federal investment in public 
science. However, the Federal investment in basic science is a major 
contributor to industrial innovation in the United States. A recent 
review of American industrial patent applications revealed that the 
Government or nonprofit foundations supported 75 percent of the main 
papers cited as the foundation for new industrial innovation.
  A few of NSF's contributions illustrate the importance of our 
investment in basic research and development:
  The Internet--Over the past decade, NSF has transformed the Internet 
from a tool used by a handful of researchers at the Department of 
Defense to the backbone of this Nation's university research 
infrastructure. Today the Internet is on the verge of becoming the 
Nation's commercial marketplace.
  Nanotechnology and ``Thin Film''--50 years ago scientists developed 
the transistor and ushered in the information revolution. Today 3 
million transistors can fit on a chip no larger than the first 
fingernail-sized individual transistor. NSF's investments in 
nanotechnology and ``thin films'' are expected to generate a further 
1,000-fold reduction in size for semiconductor devices with eventual 
cost-savings of a similar magnitude.
  Genetics--A great deal of attention is paid to the effort conducted 
by the NIH to map the Human Genome. What is often overlooked; however, 
is the critical role played by NSF in supporting the basic research 
that leads to the breakthroughs for which NIH justly receives so much 
credit. Research supported by NSF was key to the development of the 
polymerase chain reaction

[[Page S4661]]

and a great deal of the technology used for sequencing.
  Magnetic Resonance Imaging--MRI technology is widely utilized to 
diagnose a wide array of illnesses. The development of this technology 
was made possible by combining information gained through the study of 
the spin characteristics of basic matter, research in mathematics, and 
high flux magnets. The Next Generation Nuclear Magnetic Resonance 
Imager, currently under construction, will allow for the identification 
of the 3-dimensional structures of the 100,000 proteins whose genes are 
being sequenced by the HGP.
  Buckeyballs--One of the most exciting recent discoveries in the world 
of material science was the discovery of carbon-60. Although this 
occurs in nature, its discovery (which won the researchers a Nobel 
prize) was the product of work by astronomers. This in turn led to the 
discovery of the nanotube which has been found to be 100 times stronger 
than steel and a fraction of the weight. Nanotubes may produce cars 
that weigh no more than 100 pounds.

  CD Players--CD players rely on data compression algorithms that were 
developed using an NSF grant. These algorithms were first used in the 
transmission of satellite data and now provide the foundation for new 
developments in data storage.
  Jet Printers--The mathematical equations that describe the behavior 
of fluid under pressure provided the foundation for developing the ink 
jet printer.
  Plant Genome--Research into the genome of a flower plant with no 
previous commercial value, led to the discovery of ways to increase 
crop yields, the production of plants with seeds having lower 
polyunsaturated fats and to the development of crops that produce a 
biodegradable plastic.
  Artificial Retina--Researchers at North Carolina State University 
have designed a computer chip that may pave the way for creation of an 
artificial retina. Problems with bio-compatibility have been solved by 
researchers at Stanford who developed a synthetic cell membrane that 
adheres to both living cells and silicon chips.
  Cam Corders--Virtually all camcorders and electronic devices using 
electronic imaging sensors are based on charge-coupled devices. These 
devices, sensitive to a single photon of light, were developed and 
transformed by astronomers interested in maximizing their capacity for 
light gathering.
  I could go on at length about the many technological advances that we 
enjoy today that are attributable to basic research supported by NSF. 
These advances would not be possible, however, if we as a nation did 
not continue to train and support a cadre of the world's most talented 
researchers. S. 1046 recognizes the importance of maintaining an 
investment in human resources and authorizes more than $2 billion for 
the education and human resources directorate over the next three 
years. This directorate has primary responsibility for NSF's education 
and training activities. In contrast with the programs of the 
Department of Education, NSF science and math education programs are 
experiments which link learning and discovery. Proposals are selected 
by outside peer review panels on the basis of their potential to 
provide long-lasting and broad impact. NSF has made notable 
contributions in the areas of curriculum and instructional material 
development, professional development, and improved the participation 
in science research and science education of women, minorities, and 
individuals with disabilities. The legislation before you strengthens 
and enhances these efforts.
  The Education and Human Resources Directorate also provides funding 
for the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. As 
noted in the Committee report, this program plays an important role in 
ensuring that small states, like Vermont, build the capacity to more 
fully participate in NSF's research programs. The program has been 
particularly successful in developing infrastructure in those states 
where a limited research base has made the attraction and retention of 
young faculty, equipment purchases, network connections, human resource 
development, research project development, and technology transfer 
difficult. Such infrastructure building remains a crucial part of 
guaranteeing that the participating states are competitive and must be 
continued.
  The Foundation has initiated a new co-funding effort which is 
designed to integrate the research community in the EPSCoR states more 
completely into the larger research community. As research funding for 
NSF increases in general, I expect that the matching requirements for 
cofunding will not result in the displacement of non-EPSCoR NSF funding 
which institutions would otherwise receive. I look forward to working 
closely with the Foundation to ensure continued growth in the co-
funding initiative without reducing the amount available for standard 
grants.
  And finally, I want to proudly note the partnership that has been 
forged between the National Science Foundation and the State of 
Vermont. NSF currently supports over 74 projects in the Green Mountain 
State. Grants have been provided to the Barre Town Elementary School, 
Middlebury College, Mountshire Museum of Science, Woodbury College, 
Cabot School, Charlestown Elementary School, St. Michael's College, 
Johnson State College, Trinity College, and the University of Vermont. 
In 1992, the Vermont Institute for Science, Math and Technology 
received a five-year award of $7.9 million to establish a collaborative 
statewide education reform effort linking business, higher education, 
government, and community sectors. This year, as a result of the 
success of this collaboration, NSF has elected to extend the award for 
an additional five years. In addition, Trinity College was this year 
awarded $1.2 million to improve the instruction of math and science in 
our primary, secondary, and elementary schools.
  This legislation builds upon partnerships like that forged with the 
State of Vermont. It provides a strong bipartisan response to the 
research and science education challenges facing our Nation. I also 
want to note that it reflects the hard work of staff for both 
Committees. I particularly want to express my appreciation for the work 
of Scott Giles of my staff, Danielle Ripich, Marianna Pierce and 
Jonathan Halpern of Senator Kennedy's staff, Floyd DesChamps of Senator 
McCain's staff and Lila Helms of Senator Hollings' staff and I urge all 
my colleagues to support this package.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support this package.
  Mr. KENNEDY addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I strongly support passage of the 
National Science Foundation Authorization Act. It is a privilege to 
join Senator Jeffords, Senator McCain, and Senator Hollings in 
sponsoring this bipartisan legislation, which looks to the future by 
strengthening our national commitment to research and development. It 
also ensures the continued success of the teacher training and 
professional development programs of the NSF. In addition, it will 
improve science and math education from kindergarten to graduate 
school, and help maintain America's competitive edge into the 21st 
century.
  Few federal agencies deliver as much ``bang for the buck'' as the 
National Science Foundation. It is now funding 20,000 peer-reviewed 
science and education projects at more than 2,000 colleges, 
universities, schools, businesses and research facilities in all parts 
of the United States.
  Last year, these projects involved 27,000 senior scientists, 21,000 
graduate students, 28,000 undergraduates, 110,000 precollege teachers, 
and 14,000 students from kindergarten through the twelfth grade. Almost 
15 million people are affected by NSF activities through museums, 
television programs, videos, journals, and outreach activities.
  NSF accounts for 4 percent of total federal research and development 
funding. But it provides 25 percent of basic research support at 
academic institutions. It provides as much as half of all federal 
funding for research in fields such as mathematics, computer science, 
environmental science, and the social sciences.
  NSF also plays an important role in training teachers and developing 
math and science curricula to prepare students for tomorrow's 
challenges. It promotes innovative education programs in partnerships 
with colleges, universities, elementary and secondary

[[Page S4662]]

schools, science museums, and state and local governments. These 
programs encourage the discovery of new knowledge and its application 
to real-world problems.
  NSF support for basic research and science education has also had an 
important role in encouraging economic growth over the last fifty 
years. According to a recent study, each dollar that the federal 
government spends on basic research contributes 50 cents or more to the 
national output each year. In other words, investing in NSF pays for 
itself in two years. These benefits are spread throughout the economy, 
enhancing the productivity of the nation's workforce and improving the 
quality of life for all Americans.

  At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for example, NSF funds 
have enabled scientists to explore the commercial applications of their 
research. Technology developed at MIT had a role in the launching of 13 
companies in 1995. They manufacture products ranging from computer 
chips to communication networks. These enterprises have bolstered the 
state and local economies, and provided jobs and opportunities for many 
citizens. In fact, a 1997 report by BankBoston found that research and 
development at MIT has created 125,000 jobs in Massachusetts.
  In our state, NSF is funding a wide range of other projects on the 
cutting edge of research. NSF grants have been instrumental in building 
the state's biotechnology industry, mapping the oceans at the Woods 
Hole Oceanographic Institute, developing new superconductors at the 
Material Research Science and Education Center at Harvard, and creating 
cooperative partnerships with schools, parents, businesses, and 
community organizations to strengthen math and science education.
  Nationwide, NSF grants cover a broad range of projects from providing 
health care to fighting crime to protecting the environment. Specific 
grants are improving the treatment of arrhythmia, facilitating more 
accurate identification of crime suspects, developing new biotechnology 
techniques to cleanup hazardous waste sites, enhancing the speed of 
semiconductors in processing information, and even analyzing the 
Antarctic meteorite to determine whether life existed on Mars.
  NSF funds benefit the humanities as well. The Next Generation 
Internet Project will give researchers access to information from the 
world's libraries and museums at rates that are 100 to 1,000 times 
faster than today's Internet.
  This authorization Act will put research and development on a more 
secure footing over the next two years. It will increase NSF funding by 
10 percent in FY1999 and 3 percent in FY2000, which are consistent with 
the levels recommended in President Clinton's FY1999 budget. The 
increased funding will provide larger award amounts, so that scientists 
can undertake longer-range projects.
  The legislation also strengthens efforts to improve science, 
mathematics, engineering, and technology training for teachers and 
students. In addition, it authorizes the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy in the White House to prepare a report analyzing 
indirect costs, which play a vital but little understood role in 
federal R&D spending.
  The National Science Foundation is doing an outstanding job in 
fulfilling its missions. Passage of this bill will strengthen America's 
leadership in science and technology, and I urge all of my colleagues 
to support this important legislation.
  I congratulate our chairman for bringing us to this point in the 
legislative process.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I would like to engage Senator Lott, 
Senate Majority Leader, and Senator Jeffords, Chairman of the Labor and 
Human Resources Committee, in a colloquy on certain programs within the 
National Science Foundation.
  Mr. LOTT. I would be pleased to join Senator McCain and Senator 
Jeffords in a colloquy on this subject.
  Mr. McCAIN. As Chairman of the Commerce Committee, I have noted with 
great pleasure the success and impact on the NSF's program to establish 
outstanding research and education centers at colleges and universities 
in partnership with industry. These centers are making great 
contributions to research, science, and technology education, and the 
economic development and global competitiveness of our nation.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. As Chairman of the Labor Committee, I too have been a 
strong supporter of the NSF's efforts to strengthen research and 
education efforts at colleges and universities across the nation. NSF 
provides support to over 2000 colleges and universities and nearly 
17,000 researchers nation-wide.
  Mr. LOTT. A particular success is the Engineering Research Centers 
Program which has stimulated focused university-industry partnerships 
in research and education, and has served as a catalyst for economic 
development within the United States. Much success can be attributed to 
the Foundation's leadership in ensuring each center establishes a clear 
vision and conducts careful strategic planning involving their industry 
partners. Among the impacts of this program are: Next generation 
engineering systems developed from new knowledge discoveries and new 
technological developments; Technology transferred to hundreds of 
companies and governmental agencies; Technical assistance and training 
provided for industry and government; Thousands of undergraduate and 
graduate students involved in the research of the centers and exposed 
to next generation systems research and development; and Outreach to K-
12 and to underrepresented groups.
  NSF Science Technology Centers and other NSF university centers have 
likewise cultivated strong university-industry affiliations with 
centers focused on specific research areas related to industry needs. 
For example, the modern Internet browser was developed at the NSF 
National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of 
Illinois; a turbomachinery computational model developed at the 
Engineering Research Center for Computational Field Simulation at 
Mississippi State University is now used by all jet engine 
manufacturers; the Center for Molecular Biotechnology at the University 
of Washington is developing tools for industry use to analyze and 
interpret the information content of biological molecules such as DA 
and proteins, to analyze and interpret the information content to 
biological molecules; and the Center for High Pressure Research at the 
State University of New York at Stony Brook works with several 
companies to develop new ways that industry can use high-pressure 
technology to produce exotic materials, such as industrial-grade 
diamonds. Hundreds of similar contributions can be cited from these and 
other NSF-funded university centers.
  I believe this program should be greatly expanded and that the NSF 
should become even more active in ensuring the development of long-term 
vision and strategic planning of each center. Further, NSF should build 
on successful centers and seek ways to sustain the investment with 
continual support when appropriate. Areas that show great potential for 
the future include: computation engineering, biotechnology and 
bioengineering, manufacturing, and industrial systems, electronics and 
communications systems, materials processing including polymers and 
composite materials, manufacturing systems, remote sensing systems and 
technologies, and optical systems as well as ship building, 
telecommunications and super-computing supercomputer technology for 
university research centers.
  Mr. McCAIN. I thank the distinguished Majority Leader and the Labor 
Committee Chairman, for their insights into these matters and how 
important research and education is to the overall National economy.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. The distinguished Majority Leader should be commended 
for his strong support for basic scientific and engineering research 
and I look forward to working with him to strengthen the engineering 
research centers program.
  Mr. LOTT. I also would like to thank Senator McCain and Senator 
Jeffords for their leadership in these areas of science and technology.

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