Previous Editions

• Budget Updates
• Views & Estimates

:: Hearings ::

• (March 13, 2008) - NASA’s Science Programs: Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request and Issues
• (March 11, 2008) - NIST’s FY 2009 Budget Request: What Are the Right Technology Investments to Promote US Innovation and Competitiveness?
• (March 6, 2008) - The Department of Homeland Security’s R&D Budget Priorities for Fiscal Year 2009
• (March 5, 2008) - The Department of Energy Fiscal Year 2009 Research and Development Budget Proposal
• (February 26, 2008) - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Proposal and GAO’s Report on the Aviation Weather Service
• (February 26, 2008) - Oversight of the National Science Foundation
•(February 14, 2008) - Funding for the America COMPETES Act in the FY2009 Administration Budget Request
• (February 13, 2008) - NASA’s Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request

:: Press Releases ::

• (March 13, 2008) - Subcommittee Expresses Concern over Budgetary Outlook for NASA Science Programs
• (March 11, 2008) - Subcommittee Reviews NIST’s FY09 Budget Request
• (March 6, 2008) - Subcommittee Reviews DHS Budget Priorities for FY09
• (March 5, 2008) - Subcommittee Examines DOE FY09 Budget Proposal
• (February 26, 2008) - Subcommittee Examines FY09 NOAA Budget; Releases GAO Report on Effectiveness of U.S. Aviation Weather Services
• (February 26, 2008) - Baird, Subcommittee Members Examine Priorities Outlined in the National Science Foundation’s FY09 Budget
• (February 13, 2008) - Committee Examines FY09 NASA Budget
• (February 4, 2008) -
Gordon on President’s FY09 Budget: Plan Shortchanges U.S. Competitiveness Efforts

R&D Budget Reaction :: February 14, 2008

Press Release

Committee Urges Full Funding of COMPETES Act

(Washington, DC) Today, the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology held a hearing to consider how the Administration’s FY2009 budget proposal addresses programs authorized in the America COMPETES Act (PL 110-69) within the jurisdiction of the Committee.

Dr. John H. Marburger, III, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), testified before the Committee. Members asked questions about how the Administration proposes to fund programs authorized in COMPETES.

The COMPETES Act (H.R. 2272) passed the House (367-57) and the Senate (by Unanimous Consent) on August 2, 2007 and was signed into law by the President on August 9, 2007.

The Committee plans to hold additional hearings on this topic that will address specific agency budgets, including for the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and Department of Energy (DOE).

Full Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) – the lead author and sponsor of the COMPETES legislation – offered the following comment at today’s hearing:

"Last August, Congress passed and the President signed into law the America COMPETES Act. A response to the 2005 National Academies’ report Rising Above the Gathering Storm, and supported by a wide range of U.S. industries, universities, and science organizations, COMPETES seeks to ensure U.S. students, teachers, businesses, and workers will continue leading the world in science, innovation, research, and technology.

As we all know, the global marketplace continues to become more competitive. The fact of the matter is, our country can not and should not compete with the rest of the world on wages when half of the world’s workers earn less than $2 a day. Our country needs to compete at a higher level – with better skills and higher productivity.

This was the goal of the America COMPETES Act. The law presents a balanced set of policies to improve our country’s short-term and long-term competitiveness. COMPETES invests in long-term science and research, but also short-term technology development and innovation.

Read the complete press release >>

Press Release

Chairman Will Work to Strengthen Federal Commitment to Science and Math Education, Research

Members of the House Committee on Science and Technology today questioned the White House’s Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) – Dr. John H. Marburger – on the Administration's proposal for federal research and development funding for Fiscal Year 2008 (FY2008).

"You have heard me say this before, but it continues to ring true - as the father of a five year old daughter, I am deeply concerned that our children will be the first generation of Americans not to inherit a better standard of living than their parents. We need to get serious about ensuring that our country’s economic strength continues to be the envy of the world," said Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN). "I appreciate your answers, Dr. Marburger, but I'm still not convinced this budget proposal is informed or realistic."

In the President's budget, federal basic and applied research is cut by two percent compared to FY2007, and when adjusted for inflation, federal research would see a decrease for the fourth year in a row.

Chairman Gordon was pointedly critical of the Administration's proposal to place 70 percent of its funding for math and science education in the President's American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI) with the Department of Education for math curriculum development. Furthermore, he noted the ACI does not even include a specific science education component.

The National Science Foundation K-12 education programs – home to 50 years of proven research, teacher development and training – have been cut almost 50 percent over the last four years, and the Administration's FY08 budget would preserve those cuts.