From: rsherme@diamond.nswc.navy.mil (Russel Shermer (R43))
Newsgroups: sci.research
Subject: fyi #131: Warning Shot Across the Bow: Congress Presses NSF
Keywords: science, research, funding, congress, NSF.
Date: 8 Oct 92 14:16:50 GMT
Article-I.D.: relay.1992Oct8.141650.14594
Organization: NAVSWC DD White Oak Det.

Posted for:
Public Information Division
American Institute of Physics
Contact:  Richard M. Jones
Phone: (202) 332-9661
Email: fyi@aip.org


Warning Shot Across the Bow: Congress Presses NSF Transformation

FYI No. 131, September 30, 1992


       (NSF Physics Meeting Notice - See Last Paragraph)


There has been much discussion in science policy circles about the
instructions to the National Science Foundation in the final
conference report accompanying the VA, HUD, Independent Agencies
Appropriations Bill.  Although conference report language does not
have the force of law, congressional appropriations committees
exert strong influence over a government agency.

In the case of the National Science Foundation, this influence
becomes even clearer since the chairs of the House and Senate
appropriations subcommittees have to sign-off on the "current plan"
for the agency.  This plan specifies how NSF will spend its
appropriation.

It should be noted that House subcommittee chairman Bob Traxler is
retiring this year.  Senate subcommittee chair Barbara Mikulski,
who is credited with pressing the NSF to make this transformation,
will thus likely have a stronger influence on the NSF current plan.
The applicable conference report (House Report 102-356) language
follows:

"The conferees commend the National Science Board and the Director
of NSF for establishing a commission on the Foundation's future.
The conferees believe that this review is both timely and necessary
if NSF is to remain a strong and viable force in our nation's
research enterprise in the post-Cold War period. This point is
confirmed by a recent Science Board report, "The Competitive
Strength of U.S. Industrial Science and Technology: Strategic
Issues", that found that: the U.S. spends too few dollars on
research and development in industrial science and technology; does
not allocate research and development expenditures well; and does
not utilize its investment effectively. This sober assessment of
the state of U.S. research, and the concerns it raises about the
United States' economic strength, confirms the sentiments outlined
in the Senate report.  If the NSF is to help transform this
condition, it seems apparent that it must in fact change the
fundamental emphasis it places on various research initiatives.

"The conferees believe that the recently-formed Commission may
offer some chance for this transformation to begin -- but only if
the changes proposed are serious, substantive, and broad-based in
the Foundation's approach to research and development.  The
conferees agree with the recommendations of the Science Board
report that proposes a reallocation of expenditures to strengthen
certain priority areas: process research and development;
engineering research; emerging and pre-competitive technologies;
and fundamental research with ties to future industrial interests.
The conferees hope, at a minimum, that specific reflection upon,
and recommendations by, the Commission on these areas are included
in its final report.

"For these reasons, the conferees have temporarily set aside the
three directives in the Senate report referred to earlier [see
report language below.] They believe that the Commission should
have the chance to proceed and complete its work by the end of
November as is now planned before potentially reinstating these
directives.  Should their concerns not be addressed, the Committee
reserves the right to revisit these issues in the operating plan.

"As a result, the Foundation should submit its operating plan to
the Committees on Appropriations by no later than December 15,
1992, with a detailed assessment of how it proposes to implement
the Commission's recommendations through its allocation of
resources, and how these actions address the issues raised in
Senate Report 102-356. In addition, the Foundation should revise
its strategic plan accordingly, emphasizing more this change in
direction than simply the wish for obtaining additional federal
appropriations."


The Senate report language referred to above is evidently that
found in Senate Report 102-356, which accompanied the Senate
version of this bill.  It is contained in a lengthy passage about
the present and future role of the foundation, and reads as
follows: "This role should include: opening up applied research
programs to greater participation by nonacademic personnel; making
education programs better prepare future scientists and engineers
for the needs of industry; and building day-to-day relationships
with other Federal agencies whose missions require cutting edge
technology."

Finally, as an indication of congressional sentiment, it should be
noted that $5 million was set aside for a NSF initiative to
establish an institute "to address fundamental issues critical to
the development and implementation of agile manufacturing
techniques and infrastructure."


PLEASE NOTE:  On October 18, the NSF Advisory Committee on Physics
will hold an open meeting on the future role of the National
Science Foundation.  For further information on this meeting, to be
held at NSF headquarters in Washington, D.C., call Robert
Eisenstein at 202-357-7985.


###############
Public Information Division
American Institute of Physics
Contact:  Richard M. Jones
(202) 332-9661
##END##########
Newsgroups: sci.research