Research teams often take years to assemble and, once broken up, can rarely be put back together. The fabric of science is delicate and easily destroyed. In the past 5 years, for example, using new, real-time imaging and chemical tests developed by engineers from basic physics, chemistry and applied mathematics discoveries, we have learned more about the human brain and central nervous system than in all prior history. And this is important, since one in four of all Americans will suffer serious brain- related disorders during their lifetimes. More people are hospitalized for these disorders each year than for any other major disease group, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.
New understanding can reduce such suffering and costs dramatically.
The twenty-three societies whose presidents are endorsing the Joint Statement that we have presented to you, to the Administration, and to Congress have also been drawn together out of our common concern that the federal investment in science has been shrinking for the last four years after decades of growth. Should this downward trend continue, the leadership that the United States has enjoyed in science and technology over the last half of the twentieth century will be in very real jeopardy,as will our ability to maintain the health and quality of life of our citizens, our ability to compete in an increasingly hostile global market place, and our ability to assure our national security. Beyond that, we should never give up our international leadership lightly. It is worth remembering that, in 1501, the Portuguese were the planet's dominant seafarers and in that year discovered and claimed Brazil. Shortly thereafter, however, internal budget pressures forced them to turn inward, to reduce their investment in exploration, and they rapidly dropped from the world scene.