[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 91 (Friday, July 14, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1246-E1247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE DAY 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 13, 2000

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize Science Day 2000, sponsored 
by The Science Coalition, an alliance of more than 400 organizations, 
institutions, and individuals dedicated to sustaining the federal 
government's historic commitment to U.S. leadership in basic science. 
Representatives of The Science Coalition visited several Members of 
Congress today to remind us that an investment in research is an 
investment in our future.
  Medical advances depend on advances in basic science and engineering. 
For example, scientists are recreating pancreatic islet cells to 
replace damaged ones, essentially reconstructing the pancreas to treat 
diabetes. Islet implants are possible thanks to nanotechnology. Working 
molecule by molecule, scientist are able to create new molecular 
structures and this ability may lead to new ways of building human 
tissue and organs. The federal investment in research makes many of 
these breakthroughs possible.
  Advancement in science and engineering requires the interactions of 
many disciplines. The interaction of physics, chemistry, materials 
science, computer science, and engineering in combination with the 
biological sciences makes advancements in health technologies, 
instruments, and treatments possible.
  The physical sciences have transformed the modern world. We could not 
have mapped the human genome without advances in information 
technology. Modern navigation aids would not be possible without the 
Global Positioning System, an outgrowth of astronomy. New diagnostic 
tools such as digital mammography are grounded in electrical 
engineering and mathematics.
  The economy is changing. Innovations in information technology and 
research based industries like telecommunications and biotechnology are 
leading the nation to a new level of prosperity based on federally 
funded research.
  Twenty years ago few could have imagined an economic expansion based 
primarily on fiber optics and information technology. Yet they are at 
the core of today's information and innovation economy. How did we get 
there? Through university research. The next new economy is taking 
shape at universities today.
  Alan Greenspan and leaders of industry continue to state that our 
economic prosperity is flowing from investments in science and 
technology we made years ago. Technologies that fuel today's economy 
came from these investments at university laboratories.
  The global market for products manufactured by research-intensive 
industries such as aerospace, computers, electronics, communications, 
and pharmaceuticals, is growing more than twice as fast as that for 
other manufactured goods. This is driving national economic growth 
around the world. Increased federal investment in university research 
is one of the most important steps we can take to prepare for the 
``information and innovation'' economy of the 21st century.
  The current pace of new scientific breakthroughs holds the promise to 
raise the quality of our lives even further. To make this a reality 
however, it is imperative that we continue to fuel this engine by 
ensuring a sustained commitment of federal funding for basic research 
in these fields.
  As a scientist and a Member of Congress, I am in a special position 
to speak about the need to ensure continued success of the research and 
development enterprise by increasing federal support for basic 
research.

[[Page E1247]]

With this goal in mind, I am a cosponsor of The Federal Research 
Investment Act, H.R. 3161. This bill calls for doubling the federal 
government's current rate of investment in research and development 
over a 10-year period. This would be achieved through annual increases 
above inflation, so that by fiscal year 2010, 2.6 percent of the 
Federal budget would be spent on non-defense R&D. This bill would 
assure a basic level of federal funding across a wide array of non-
defense, basic scientific, biomedical, and engineering research.
  This legislation would provide a balanced investment across 15 
agencies engaged in activities for basic research including: the 
National Institutes of Health, within the Department of Health and 
Human Services; the National Science Foundation; the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Energy and the 
Department of Agriculture. We must fuel the engine that directs such 
prosperity by adequately funding the next generation of potential 
scientific discoveries.
  In addition to increasing our financial commitment to the basic 
research enterprise, we must also ensure that we produce a 
technologically proficient workforce. Improving science education for 
all children in our public schools is also critical to developing a 
broader appreciation for science and the scientific method in society 
and producing well-trained and informed citizens. I believe that 
teachers are the most critical element in improving education. Nothing 
makes more of an impact on our children than a well-trained, caring, 
and dedicated teacher.
  Public schools will have to hire more than two million new teachers 
over the next 10 years. Many of these new teachers will have to teach 
math and science in the elementary grades. Unfortunately, many of 
today's teachers, especially in elementary school, do not feel prepared 
to teach science. Over half of America's high school teachers of 
physical sciences (including chemistry and earth science) do not have a 
major or minor in any physical science. About one-third of public high 
school math teachers do not have a teaching certificate in math.
  Science literacy is at the core of maintaining our economic strength, 
given the realities of global competition. We must strive for an 
education system that teaches every student every science every year. 
The support of professional scientists and engineers in education is 
important in assuring the development of concerned and responsible 
citizens in the future who understand the nature of the self-correcting 
system of science.
  Again, I applaud the efforts of the Science Coalition in promoting 
Science Day 2000. I urge my colleagues to consider the high return on 
the investment in basic research as we move forward together.

                          ____________________