A letter should not exceed three paragraphs. They have pledged their support on separate future action for DOD basic research. A statement similar to the Gramm-Lieberman bill, one that encompasses defense research, as well, has been endorsed by the presidents of 105 professional societies, estimated to represent more than 3 million scientists, engineers and mathematicians. For the four fiscal years FY 1994 through FY 1997, the federal budgets of almost all research agencies suffered major declines. Today, increased productivity, driven by technological innovation, receives much of the credit for sustaining the current expansion, which is characterized by low inflation and low unemployment.
Science is the underpinning of technological progress.
Indeed, basic research, according to economists such as Stanford's Michael Boskin and the Pennsylvania's Edwin Mansfield, provide extraordinary social returns on the federal investment. Return to top page.