[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 8, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H1938-H1943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION FOR 50 YEARS OF SERVICE

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 108) honoring the 
National Science Foundation for 50 years of service to the Nation.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 108

       Whereas Congress created the National Science Foundation in 
     1950 to promote the progress of science, to advance the 
     national health, prosperity, and welfare, and to secure the 
     national defense;
       Whereas the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 was 
     signed into law by President Harry S. Truman on May 10, 1950;
       Whereas the National Science Foundation strengthens the 
     economy and improves the quality of life in the United States 
     as the Federal Government's only agency dedicated to the 
     support of education and fundamental research in all 
     scientific and engineering disciplines;
       Whereas the National Science Foundation has worked 
     continuously and successfully to ensure that the United 
     States maintains its leadership in discovery, learning, and 
     innovation in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering;
       Whereas the National Science Foundation has supported the 
     research of more than half of the United States Nobel 
     laureates in physics, chemistry, and economics;
       Whereas the National Science Foundation has been the lead 
     Federal agency in a number of national science initiatives, 
     such as those in information technology and nanotechnology;
       Whereas the National Science Foundation funds almost 20,000 
     research and education projects in science and engineering at 
     over 2,000 colleges and universities, elementary and 
     secondary schools, nonprofit organizations, and small 
     businesses throughout our Nation;
       Whereas the National Science Foundation's innovative 
     education programs work to ensure that every American student 
     receives a solid foundation in science, technology, and 
     mathematics through support for the training and education of 
     teachers, the public, and students of all ages and 
     backgrounds, and by supporting research into new teaching 
     tools, curricula, and methodologies;
       Whereas the programs funded by the National Science 
     Foundation are an exemplary demonstration of the value of 
     scientific peer review in selecting the most innovative and 
     technically excellent research activities using a network of 
     over 50,000 scientists and engineers each year;
       Whereas the National Science Foundation's international 
     programs promote new partnerships and cooperative projects 
     between United States scientists and engineers and their 
     foreign colleagues, and such partnerships play a key role in 
     establishing and strengthening diplomatic and economic ties; 
     and
       Whereas research supported by the National Science 
     Foundation has led to discoveries, technologies, and products 
     which affect our daily lives, including a greater 
     understanding of bacteria, viruses, and the structure of DNA; 
     medical diagnostic tools, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging 
     (MRI); the Internet, web browsers, and fiber optics, which 
     have revolutionized global communication; polymer materials 
     used in products ranging from clothing to automobiles; 
     Doppler radar used for accurate weather forecasting; 
     artificial skin that can help recovering burn victims; 
     economic research in game and decision theory which has led 
     to a greater understanding of economic cycles; and 
     discoveries of new planets, black holes, and insights into 
     the nature of the universe: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) recognizes the significance of the anniversary of the 
     founding of the National Science Foundation;
       (2) acknowledges the completion of 50 years of achievement 
     and service by the National Science Foundation to the United 
     States; and
       (3) reaffirms its commitment for the next 50 years to 
     support research, education, and technological advancement 
     and discovery through the National Science Foundation, the 
     premier scientific agency in the Federal Government.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Smith) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice 
Johnson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on H. Con. Res. 108.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer this resolution H. Con. Res. 108 
honoring the National Science Foundation for 50 years of service to our 
Nation. As chairman of the Committee on Science on Basic Research, 
which is responsible for oversight and authorization of the National 
Science Foundation, I wanted to take a few moments to mention some of 
the highlights of this highly successful and yet often unappreciated 
agency.
  Congress and President Harry S. Truman established the National 
Science Foundation on May 10, 1950 to fund research in the basic 
sciences, engineering, mathematics and technology.
  It is the Federal Government's only agency dedicated to the support 
of education and fundamental research in all scientific disciplines 
from physics and math to zoology and anthropology. For 50 years, NSF-
sponsored research has developed the finest science and new 
technologies that have boosted our economic productivity, enhanced our 
national security, and preserved our citizens' health and well-being.
  Throughout its history, NSF provided support to thousands of 
researchers and students across the Nation in university labs and in 
our schools and our industry, support that has fostered innovation, 
technical achievement, and a greater understanding of our world and our 
universe. From the depths of space to the depths of the ocean, from the 
North Pole to the South Pole around the globe, NSF-funded research has 
helped explain our world and led to innovations that have forever 
changed it.
  The Internet, for example, and the technologies that enable it, began 
in part because of NSF support for networking technologies.

                              {time}  1415

  NSF funded a network, linking computer science departments, then 
moved on to develop a high-speed backbone called the NSFNET that became 
the basis for what is now the Internet.
  NSF-supported research has also led to miracle drugs, vaccinations, 
cell phones, and even bar codes that readers in supermarkets now use. 
NSF supports potentially life-saving research in developing the 
Doppler, research in weather prediction using the Doppler

[[Page H1939]]

radar, earthquake hazard, and identification of the cause of the spread 
of the deadly Hanta virus.
  Today's NSF-led research in nanotechnology, advanced materials, 
biotechnology and countless other areas are setting the foundation for 
the technologies of the future and in the process, training the 
scientists, engineers, and technology entrepreneurs of tomorrow.
  Today, we congratulate NSF on 50 years of service to the United 
States and for its many contributions to our current prosperity. But we 
also reaffirm our commitment as a Congress to support NSF in the future 
in its diverse research in educational activities. NSF's peer review 
system, where grants are reviewed by a panel of researchers in the 
field to judge the merits of research, is a model of how research 
should be evaluated at all other Federal agencies.
  We must also strive to ensure that NSF invests in a broad range of 
sciences in order to support the critical work of well-funded mission 
agencies like the Department of Defense and the National Institute of 
Health. It is important that we continue to support NSF as part of a 
balanced Federal research portfolio and recognize that the basic 
science supported by NSF forms the foundation for research at all other 
Federal research agencies and for applied innovations and productivity 
increases in the private sector.
  My colleagues and I on the subcommittee will keep this goal in mind 
as we work towards our reauthorization of NSF, and we will keep it in 
mind as we work with the administration and the appropriators to work 
and craft a balanced research budget.
  I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice 
Johnson), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Basic Research, a 
cosponsor of this resolution, and for all of her work and support of 
NSF. I would also like to thank the other cosponsors of this resolution 
and certainly my friend, Senator John McCain, and the 19 Senate 
cosponsors of S. Con. Res. 36, the companion resolution. Certainly I 
would like to thank both the Republican and Democratic staffs on our 
subcommittee and the full Committee on Science for their untiring work.
  Mr. Speaker, the NSF is completing its 50th year of service to our 
Nation. With this resolution, this House will recognize this important 
anniversary and express our hope for at least another 50 years of 
continued innovation and education.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 that created 
the National Science Foundation directs the agency to initiate and 
support basic scientific research and to strengthen scientific research 
potential and science education programs at all levels.
  I am pleased to rise in support of this resolution that salutes the 
National Science Foundation on its accomplishments and success in 
carrying out this mission for the past 50 years. I thank the gentleman 
from Michigan (Mr. Smith) for putting forth this timely resolution.
  The National Science Foundation plays a unique and critical role in 
the Nation's research and education enterprise. It sponsors research 
that helps to fill the storehouse of fundamental knowledge about the 
natural world, without regard for immediate applications of these new 
ideas and concepts. Equally important, the National Science Foundation 
supports the development of the Nation's human resource base in science 
and engineering. In short, the National Science Foundation is charged 
with helping to create the underpinnings for the Nation's future 
technological competence and, therefore, for its economic strength and 
security.
  The NSF's record of accomplishment during this 50-year history is 
remarkable. NSF-supported research have collected 100 Nobel Prizes. 
They have received recognition for work in the fields of physics, 
chemistry, physiology and medicine, and economics.
  National Science Foundation's contributions are, in part, manifested 
through the accomplishments of scientists and engineers who were 
trained under NSF awards. It is well-known that the great majority of 
the seminal work in developing such technologies as cell phones, fiber 
optics, and computer assisted design was performed by private industry, 
at labs like Corning, AT&T and Motorola.
  A recent NSF-sponsored study has shown that many scientists and 
engineers who went to graduate school on NSF fellowships and research 
assistantships often played important roles in the development of these 
and other technologies. In a number of cases, they became the 
entrepreneurs who created new firms and markets.
  To use the words of the authors of the study, ``NSF emerges 
consistently as a major, often the major, source of support for 
education and training of the Ph.D. scientists and engineers who went 
on to make major contributions.''
  The resources NSF provides for support of research and education are 
relatively small, but the impact is great. The agency expends only 3.8 
percent of the Federal R&D funds, but provides 23 percent of basic 
research funding at academic institutions.
  For specific research areas, the National Science Foundation's role 
at universities is even larger. It funds 36 percent of research in the 
physical sciences, 49 percent in the environmental sciences, 50 percent 
in engineering, 72 percent in mathematics, and 78 percent in computer 
science.
  The research awards and research fellowships help train over 24,000 
graduate students each year. These are the future scientists and 
engineers who are essential to fuel our high-tech economy.
  Further, the NSF programs help to improve science education for all 
students and prepare them for citizenship in a world increasingly 
dominated by technology. Today we continue to have a manpower shortage 
in many high technology fields. The ideal way to alleviate the 
shortages is by ensuring that children of all races and both genders 
receive the basic grounding in science and mathematics that will 
prepare them to pursue careers as scientists, engineers and 
technologists. The NSF's programs address this need.
  Because of the importance of NSF's role in research and education, it 
is essential that the agency receive adequate resource. Consequently, I 
am extremely disappointed by the fiscal year 2002 budget request for 
NSF, which provides only a 1-percent increase. This is much less than 
what is needed to sustain the NSF's ongoing programs.
  In today's Congress Daily, a story mentioned how science funding is 
increased over Mr. Bush's request. While this is true, it is less than 
half the story. The conference cut funding for science below any 
Member's request in either Chamber and below what President Bush asked 
for in every year but this year.
  The House requested $617 million more and the Senate requested $1.215 
billion more. Indeed, over 5 years, the conference agreement is nearly 
$200 million less than the President's anemic numbers for budget 
authority.
  The only positive number from the conference agreement is the fiscal 
year 2002 budget authority number being $217 million above the 
President's request. Every other number is negative, meaning the 
conference agreement is lower than Mr. Bush's request, the House-passed 
bill and the Senate-passed bill. How ironic it is now that we stand 
here today and honor the National Science Foundation, but at best hold 
their budget below inflation.

  Inadequacies in the size of the National Science Foundation's current 
budget are evident by the fact that the agency currently funds less 
than a third of the research applications it receives and only about 
half of those judged to be of high quality. Even when an applicant 
receives the National Science Foundation award, it is usually sub-
optimal and perhaps half the amount of an NIH award. The current 
situation leaves researchers in NSF-funded fields scrambling for funds 
and spending too much time chasing limited funding rather than in the 
laboratory or mentoring students.
  In order to address this present situation, I, along with 16 of my 
Committee on Science colleagues, recently introduced a National Science 
Foundation authorization bill, H.R. 1472, that provides increases of 15 
percent per year

[[Page H1940]]

for fiscal years 2002 through 2005. The bill will double the NSF budget 
based on fiscal year 2000 appropriations level. Such increases are 
necessary to allow the National Science Foundation to go forward with 
substantial new research initiatives, provide needed increases in 
average grant size and duration, and support needed major research 
facilities for access by academic scientists.
  Equally important, a more robust budget for NSF will support 
expansion of the agency's science education programs. Of particular 
importance are programs to improve the skills and content knowledge of 
K through 12 science and math teachers and to increase participation in 
science and engineering by traditionally underrepresented groups.
  It is also important to expand education research programs, including 
quantifying the most effective uses of educational technology and 
strengthening efforts to assess education programs to determine and 
disseminate information about what methods and approaches are most 
effective in improving student performance in science and math.
  Mr. Speaker, it is entirely appropriate that the House endorse the 
resolution now under consideration, which celebrates the past 
accomplishments of the National Science Foundation. However, it is of 
much greater importance that we ensure that the Foundation receives the 
necessary resources now and in the future to carry out its essential 
role in support of scientific engineering research and education.
  When funding measures for NSF are debated during the coming months, I 
hope all of my colleagues will remember the Foundation's impact during 
the last 50 years and the promise represented by its current programs.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend to my colleagues this resolution honoring the 
National Science Foundation and ask for their support for final 
passage.
  This 50-year report speaks to America's investment in the future. 
That is what we are talking about when we talk about the funding for 
the National Science Foundation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman 
from Minnesota (Mr. Gutknecht), vice chairman of our full Committee on 
Science.
  Mr. GUTKNECHT. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from Michigan 
for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and congratulate the National 
Science Foundation on its 50th anniversary.
  What the NSF does is very important to all of us and to future 
generations of America. The National Science Foundation was created to 
promote the progress of science, for health, economic, and defense 
purposes through basic research.
  Now basic research is critical to the future of the country because 
it serves as the building block for other research that many times 
private industry will not or cannot afford to do. This base of 
innovation provided by the NSF can then be utilized and built upon by 
private industry and help develop new sectors for our economy.
  Research and discoveries made and supported by the NSF affect our 
daily lives, from Doppler radar systems to Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 
MRIs, to all kind of innovations which we enjoy today in America.
  NSF supports research and development in science and engineering 
through various partnerships from the elementary to the university 
level, as well as small business and nonprofit organizations, by 
providing grants to help fund these projects.
  In the end, America depends on science. Science fuels our economic 
booms, medical successes, and national security. Over 50 percent of our 
future economic growth will come from developments resulting from 
scientific research.
  NSF has a strong connection to my home State of Minnesota. Last year, 
301 new NSF awards went to Minnesota. So far this year, there are 
currently 482 active awards ongoing in Minnesota.
  Various universities and colleges, from the University of Minnesota 
down to the smaller schools such as Carleton and St. Olaf in my 
district, are contributing to important research in science, in areas 
like mathematics and engineering.
  NSF's crucial role and notable accomplishments include helping 
universities, because over 40 percent of the basic funding for basic 
research in the physical sciences and engineering comes from the NSF. 
NSF helps to fund projects at 2,000 colleges, universities, and 
elementary schools, as well as nonprofit organizations, small 
businesses, and other organizations each year.

                              {time}  1430

  NSF grants 10,000 new awards each year and just under 20,000 awards 
per year.
  Members, a number of years ago there was a Member of the other body 
from a bordering State that every month gave out what he called the 
Golden Fleece Award, and many times he took advantage of some of the 
things being done at the NSF. The truth of the matter is some of the 
awards we grant here at the Federal level ultimately are wasted. The 
problem, of course, is that we never know which ones.
  One of the great researchers for an organization back in Minnesota, 
3M, a fellow by the name of Arthur Fry, the person who invented the 
Post-It Note, once made a very brilliant observation. He said, ``If we 
knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be research.''
  The truth of the matter is some of this basic research is high risk, 
and we do not know which of these projects will pay enormous dividends 
and which will not, but that research must go on nonetheless.
  NSF has supported 34,000 science, mathematics, and engineering 
students through its NSF graduate research fellowship program. 
Federally supported research has revolutionized many areas, including 
global communications, with accomplishments, as have been mentioned, as 
the Internet, early Web browsers, and fiberoptics.
  Mr. Speaker, it is important that we recognize the NSF. It is also 
important we recognize that we need to continue to show our commitment. 
I am hopeful that by the time the final appropriation bills go to the 
President's desk, we will be able to find additional funding so that 
the work of the NSF can go on.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, how much time is 
remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gibbons). The gentlewoman from Texas 
(Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) has 11\1/2\ minutes remaining, and the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith) has 13 minutes remaining.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to 
the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson).
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues as a 
cosponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 108. This recognition of the 
NSF is well deserved.
  For the last 50 years, the National Science Foundation has been the 
backbone of basic scientific research throughout the country. It has 
served as the clearinghouse for hundreds of thousands of grants for 
graduate research. It has led the way in supporting innovative programs 
in science for elementary and secondary schools, and it has filled a 
valuable role in coordinating scientific endeavors in a variety of 
fields.
  The value of basic scientific research is something we cannot 
overestimate. The mission of the National Science Foundation is to 
further science, health, prosperity, welfare, and national defense. 
Research through NSF grants and scientific exchanges has been the basis 
of innovations in all of these arenas. It has provided the knowledge, 
the understanding, and then the development to drive our increasingly 
technological society.
  This research has also been the basis of increased comfort, longer 
lives, and greater economic prosperity. Over the life of NSF, many 
national priorities, including improved energy efficiency, space 
flight, improved health, and the mapping of the human genome have been 
pursued by NSF grants. I genuinely speak in continued support of the 
National Science Foundation. It represents a valuable contribution of 
the Federal Government to all of society.
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella), former chairman of our 
Subcommittee

[[Page H1941]]

on Technology of the Committee on Science.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time and for his elaborate introduction; and, Mr. Speaker, it is with 
great pleasure that I rise as a cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 108 to 
congratulate the National Science Foundation on 50 years of exemplary 
service. From its rocky start and meager initial budgets, the NSF has 
bloomed into a shining example of government success, producing 
developments and innovations whose benefits are, frankly, immeasurable 
in either economic or societal terms.
  From its creation in 1950, the NSF has grown from a relatively minor 
agency which funded only a small portion of the meritorious proposals 
that are received, to the primary source of support for nonmedical 
research at our Nation's colleges and universities. Approximately 1,800 
academic institutions receive funds from the National Science 
Foundation each year supporting thousands of researchers and projects.
  Developments from research originally funded by NSF grants permeate 
our lives. No American citizen can say that he or she has been 
unaffected by the advancements that science has brought. From the 
common plastics that preserve our food to the complex microprocessors 
that drive our computer age, from natural discoveries in the 
environment to synthetic developments in the labs, from fossils to 
fiberoptics, the NSF has been there to foster and nurture the research 
that led to these wondrous discoveries and lay the foundation for the 
discoveries of tomorrow.
  The National Science Foundation has also played a crucial role in the 
education of our Nation's youth. Following the watershed event of 
Sputnik, the NSF has taken an active role in the direct support of 
students at the graduate level. Today, these efforts have been expanded 
to all levels of education, from kindergarten to the Ph.D., and have 
brought the NSF to the forefront of math and science education in the 
United States. Their continued efforts are critical to the development 
of the next generation of scientists and engineers.
  I am personally grateful to the NSF for its critical support of my 
Commission on the Advancement of Women, Minorities and Persons With 
Disabilities in Science, Engineering and Technology. Its work, 
resulting in findings, have also helped to establish Federal 
partnerships. Their support thus enhances partnerships with the private 
sector and with academia to fulfill its recommendations.
  As we look to the future, I hope the NSF will continue to play a 
prominent role. In his seminal report, ``Science: The Endless 
Frontier,'' which many credit for the formation of a national science 
policy and the NSF, Vannevar Bush noted, ``The frontier of science 
remains. It is in keeping with the American tradition, one which has 
made the United States great, that new frontiers shall be made 
accessible for development by all American citizens.'' His words are no 
less valid today.
  For the last 50 years, the National Science Foundation has been there 
exploring that frontier, bringing its discoveries home to the American 
people. I shall work to do all I can to increase their budget.
  I want to thank Dr. Rita Caldwell for her leadership and all the 
employees of NSF, congratulate them on their 50th anniversary and wish 
them luck for the next 50 years and beyond.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4\1/2\ 
minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bentsen).
  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me 
this time, and I rise in strong support of the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, there is no question in my mind that the reason our 
economy has enjoyed such tremendous growth over the last 8 or 8\1/2\ 
years, and in particular growth in productivity, is because of 
investments made in science. The investments in information technology 
have revolutionized the workplace, revolutionized manufacturing, 
inventory management, and allowed us to reduce unemployment to record 
lows without having a rise in inflation. So I think this makes a great 
deal of sense to honor the National Science Foundation.
  And of course last year, the Congress, after having gone through 3 
years of working towards doubling the budget of the National Institutes 
of Health, decided very wisely that we would try and double the 
National Science Foundation budget over a 10-year period, and in a 
bipartisan way we started down that road. This makes great sense 
because we should not try to separate NIH from NSF. They are 
complementary.
  Some of the speakers talked about the human genome project, part of 
which is being done in my district; and there is no question that some 
of the supercomputer technology used for that came through NSF 
research. The same is true of a clinical endocrinology lab that I saw 
in the Methodist Hospital in my district just a couple of weeks ago. 
But the fact is, Mr. Speaker, we are going to pass this resolution 
today, maybe unanimously, or by an overwhelming vote; then later on 
today we are going to pass a rule, and tomorrow probably pass a budget, 
that would actually cut the NSF in real terms.
  It seems to me that it is ironic that where a year ago, with strong 
bipartisan support, the Congress started down the road of doubling the 
NSF, just as we have gone in doubling the NIH, yet today and tomorrow 
we are going to say we are going to cut the NSF. Now, I know some of my 
colleagues have said we hope we will get that worked out when the 
appropriation bills are done. That maybe says a lot about the quality 
of the budget document that we are going to take up tomorrow; that 
perhaps that budget document cannot hold the water that it is supposed 
to hold and we are not going to meet those spending targets because we 
are going to pass this one political document and do what we want to. 
But I think it is a grave mistake to be making these cuts.
  I want to quote from a Nobel laureate, who is a constituent of mine, 
a professor at Rice University, Dr. Richard Smalley, who won the Nobel 
prize for inventing nanotechnology in the famous buckytubes; and in 
this article he says, ``Promising ideas won't develop if investments in 
key Federal science agencies are slashed.'' And yet that is where this 
House and the other body are heading.
  I think it is quite a shame that today we would vote to give the 
National Science Foundation and all the scientists around the country, 
both at the big schools and the small schools, and the labs that 
benefit from this, this very nice piece of paper from the Congress on 
this very nice piece of parchment honoring them for the 50 years of 
work they have don, and then the next day say, ``We're going to cut 
your budget in real terms. We're going to cut your budget and we are 
not going to double the NSF.'' I think it is a grave mistake that we 
are doing that.
  And if we are not doing that, Mr. Speaker, and I see my dear friend 
from Michigan who I sat with on the Committee on the Budget for a 
number of years, and I know he believes strongly in the sanctity of the 
budget process, but if we are not going to do that, then it means we 
are not passing a real budget tomorrow; that we are passing a document 
that has more holes in it than a slice of Swiss cheese.
  So I hope, Mr. Speaker, that the House does pass this today. I hope 
that the House, although I do not think it will happen, has a stroke of 
wisdom and we defeat the budget resolution tomorrow, and we go back and 
write a realistic one that encompasses the bipartisan support in this 
House and the other body for increasing and doubling the National 
Science Foundation budget over the next 10 years, and let us finish out 
the 9 years left.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record the article regarding Dr. 
Richard Smalley I referred to earlier.

                   Scaling Back Research is a Mistake

                          (By Richard Smalley)

       Stocks are down, and President Bush is talking recession. 
     Yet, he recently targeted three key science agencies for 
     cuts. The research budget at the National Science Foundation 
     would fall 4 percent, at the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration 4 percent and at the Energy Department 3.5 
     percent. That's bad policy at the worst possible time.
       Bush officials say they will compensate with tax breaks 
     that will ``encourage significant increases in private-sector 
     research and development.'' That may sound good--give 
     industry incentives, and it'll take care of everything. 
     Problem is, that policy will derail

[[Page H1942]]

     technology innovation, our nation's economic igniter, which 
     depends on federal investment in research.
       Here's how it works: The federal government supports long-
     range, high-risk research at universities and national labs. 
     Industry transforms promising discoveries into marketable 
     goods.
       There are thousands of examples of how the partnership can 
     generate economic booms. I'll mention two homegrown ones.
       Fifty years ago, the federal government gave $50,000 to a 
     university scientist with an idea too risky for industry to 
     support. His far-fetched plan was to create a source of 
     microwaves. He ended up hatching the laser. Texas industries 
     quickly recognized the potential and began developing 
     products. Today, one in every three high-tech jobs in Texas 
     depends on his discovery.
       The next revolutionary discovery may come from carbon nano-
     fibers--hair-thin wisps with the strength of steel and 
     bewildering electrical properties. The key discoveries were 
     made possible by government support of a few adventurous 
     ideas right here in Texas. As nano-fibers start to show 
     promise, no doubt Texas industries will dominate.
       Promising ideas like these won't develop if investments in 
     the key federal science agencies are slashed.
       There's another reason why it's a bad time to cut the 
     science budget. The proposed cuts would slash the number of 
     people being trained at our nation's universities and 
     national labs. That couldn't happen at a worse time.
       The high-tech economy generates thousands of new jobs per 
     day. Tragically, only 20 percent of our workforce is capable 
     of filing those jobs. To satisfy the demand, Congress raised 
     the cap on visas to allow 300,000 more foreign workers into 
     the country.
       Importing high-tech workers is an unacceptable long-term 
     solution. Our country must train a domestic workforce to fill 
     those jobs. According to the Commission for National 
     Security, the workforce problem ``poses a greater threat to 
     national security over the next quarter-century than any 
     potential conventional war.''
       Congress' course is clear. It must increase, not slash, the 
     agencies' budgets.
       Fortunately, some prominent congressmen know that the 
     strength of the economy depends upon the federal investment 
     in science. A bill to double the federal investment in 
     research, first proposed by Texas' own Sen. Phil Gramm, 
     passed in the Senate last session with 40 co-sponsors. Sadly, 
     there wasn't time to bring it to a vote in the House.
       Some senators are championing efforts to support the 
     National Science Foundation and the Energy Department. But 
     their time will be wasted if President Bush doesn't help. He 
     should tell Congress that he is willing to accept increases 
     to the key agencies that underpin the nation's economic 
     growth and standard of living.

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I agree with my friend from Texas, there needs to be a 
balanced effort in where we go on research. Certainly all of the other 
agencies and Departments that do research depend, to a certain extent, 
on what happens with basic research and primary research mainly 
conducted through our university systems through the National Science 
Foundation.
  However, I would urge my colleagues, including the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Bentsen), to make the suggestions to the appropriators. As 
he well knows, the 302(a) overall spending is incorporated in the 
budget resolution that we will be taking up in the next 2 days. The 
302(b), how to divide up that money and where we go with the 250 
function, is going to be decided through the appropriation process. And 
again, I would urge all of my colleagues to consider the importance of 
having a balanced research budget.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to 
the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the 
resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the National Science 
Foundation. The NSF is not only a national treasure, but an example of 
Federal dollars that reap long-term dividends for our economy and our 
country.
  I hope that we can not just support this resolution, but also 
adequately fund the National Science Foundation over the next 10 years. 
At a time when our country's future economic growth and prosperity 
depend on innovation and scientific advances, we should be investing 
more of the surplus in scientific research and development. Tax cuts 
will not provide the same level of long-term stimulus to our economy 
that Federal investments in R&D will yield in the fields of 
engineering, mathematics, and the sciences.
  Our children are the message we send to a future we will never see, 
and that future will be shaped even more by technological innovation 
than what we have seen in our lifetime. NSF today is developing the 
next generation Internet as well as leading the way in encouraging 
young people to pursue academic studies and careers in these technical 
fields.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the NSF for its efforts to encourage 
women and minorities to pursue careers in math and science. Every 
Member of Congress should take the opportunity to promote the National 
Science Foundation's programs in schools in their districts. Federal 
investments in technology and basic research programs have been the 
engine of growth for America's economy. The development of the Internet 
was achieved through Federal investments in a Department of Defense 
research program called DARPA Net. I am sure Members are aware of that. 
But who would have thought that this relatively small investment in DOD 
and the NSF would have had such a profound effect on every sector of 
our economy and nearly every aspect of our way of life?
  Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to represent a district with one of the 
most vibrant economies in the country, and it is also home to the 
National Science Foundation. Thanks to the Internet, northern Virginia 
has become the high tech hub of the East. By investing in R&D in these 
programs today, we are investing in our future economic potential as a 
country. Unless we increase the flat budgets which basic research has 
experienced in the past several years, we cannot expect to yield the 
kind of scientific advances to ensure the United States remains at the 
forefront of the global economy.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution that 
recognizes and acknowledges the 50th anniversary of the National 
Science Foundation and its achievement and service to the United 
States.
  The NSF is not only a national treasure, but an example of federal 
dollars that reap long-term dividends for our country and our economy.
  This resolution reaffirms our commitment for the next 50 years to 
support research, education, and technological advancement and 
discovery through the NSF.
  At a time when our country's future economic growth and prosperity 
depend on innovation and scientific advances, we should be investing 
more of the surplus in scientific research and development. Tax cuts 
will not provide the same level of long-term stimulus to our economy 
that federal investments in R&D will yield in the fields of 
engineering, mathematics and the sciences.
  Our children's future will be shaped even more by technological 
innovation than what we have seen in our lifetime. The NSF is leading 
the way in encouraging young people to pursue academic studies and 
careers in these technical fields.
  I would also like to commend the NSF for its efforts to encourage 
women and minorities to pursue careers in math and science. Every 
Member of Congress should take the opportunity to promote the NSF's 
programs in the schools in their districts.
  Federal investments in technology and basic research programs have 
been the engine of growth for America's economy. The development of the 
Internet was achieved through federal investments in a Defense 
Department research program called DARPA Net.
  I am privileged to represent a district with one of the strongest and 
most vibrant economies anywhere in the United States. Thanks to the 
Internet, Northern Virginia has become the high-tech hub of the east. 
Who would have thought this investment in DOD and NSF would have 
permeated every sector of our economy and way of life?
  My district is also home to the National Science Foundation, which 
has been performing amazing work toward establishing the Next 
Generation Internet as well as fostering the pursuit of science, math, 
engineering and other technical sciences in this country.
  By investing in R&D in these programs today, we are investing in our 
future economic potential as a country. Unless we increase the flat 
budgets which basic research has experienced in the past several years, 
we cannot expect to yield the kind of scientific advances to ensure the 
United States remains at the forefront of the global economy.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and the 
ongoing work of the National Science Foundation.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further 
requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may

[[Page H1943]]

consume; Let me, in closing, say I think we would all like to also 
thank the management and staff at the National Science Foundation, 
certainly the director, the assistant director, those who run the eight 
directorates; the many program directors, and the support personnel, an 
estimated 50,000 scientists and engineers throughout the country that 
are making the research effort, that are offering their time and 
service on the peer review system, and certainly the hundreds of 
thousands of teachers that are making a difference in exciting young 
students about math and science and research.
  Last week we had a subcommittee hearing regarding education research, 
to try to improve K through 12 learning, especially in the areas of 
math and science. The Education and Human Resource division of the 
National Science Foundation has done great work.
  So again, thanks to our staffs on our full committee and 
subcommittee, all of the members of our committee, and my colleagues in 
Congress who are supporting the National Science Foundation and its 
continued efforts, I hope this resolution will pass with unanimous 
support.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of this resolution honoring the National Science Foundation for 
its fifty years of service to the Nation. As a member of the Science 
Committee, I have had the opportunity to witness the efforts and 
initiatives of this important federal agency and am pleased to say that 
their recent achievements have been outstanding.
  Fifty years ago, the National Science Foundation was created to 
ensure that this great Nation would continue to be the world leader in 
discovery, learning, and innovations in the sciences, mathematics and 
engineering. Without the tireless efforts that this agency and its 
employees have put forth, the many technological strides our Nation has 
made in the preceding decades would never have come to fruition.
  Mr. Speaker, as the Federal Government's only agency dedicated to the 
support of education and fundamental research in all scientific and 
engineering disciplines, the National Science Foundation has been one 
of the most important contributors to many progressive projects. One 
such program that touches close to home for me is CONNSTRUCT, 
Connecticut's Statewide Systematic Initiative for science education. 
This project has received approximately $15 million from the National 
Science Foundation since 1991 to implement a comprehensive 
restructuring of science and mathematics education in my home state.
  This ten-year National Science Foundation investment demonstrates a 
significant partnership with Connecticut to ensure that all students 
are exposed to challenging mathematics and science curricula. It also 
ensures that the students are taught by well-prepared teachers who use 
stimulating instructional practices, and are supported by school 
districts and communities that expect all students will take, learn, 
and be able to use their knowledge to continue learning throughout 
their lives.
  Programs like this have been invaluable to our society. That is why I 
am an original co-sponsor of H.R. 1472, a bill to double the funding of 
the National Science Foundation. This bill provides for 15 percent 
annual increases in the agency's budget for Fiscal Years 2002 to 2005 
that, together with the 13 percent increase for the current fiscal 
year, would double the Foundation's budget over that period. The 
increases provided for in H.R. 1472 will allow the agency to go forward 
with substantial new and ongoing initiatives, such as the deployment of 
broadband networks for schools and libraries.
  Mr. Speaker, without the significant contributions that the National 
Science Foundation makes to these many projects across our Nation, we 
would be far less competitive in our technology-based world. I applaud 
the past efforts and achievements of the National Science Foundation 
and I urge all of my fellow Members to vote with me in support of H. 
Con. Res. 108, which reaffirms this Congress's commitment to support 
research, education, and technological advancement and discovery 
through the National Science Foundation.
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 108.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the 
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a 
quorum is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gibbons). Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX, 
and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion 
will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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