But we are not. Rather, we are in a period of unprecedented prosperity. The federal budget deficit has declined steadily every year since 1992, and last year it turned into a surplus for the first time in 3 decades.
Every projection shows that surplus continuing to grow.
Yet we are told by the majority leadership that we do not even have enough money to continue many programs in the VA-HUD bill at the current year's level. I find that incredible. Those where the words of a scientist in describing the need to continue to invest in science programs that have been at the root of our ability to continue to expand this economy. Politicians brag a lot about what we have done to keep the economy going, but mostly what keeps the economy going is the right investment decisions both by the private sector and by the Government. And we are falling far short in meeting those obligations in science.