Date: 1998-07-14
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 1273. which authorizes the programs of the � National Science Foundation through Fiscal Year 2000. Mr. Speaker. the National Science Foundation is the only Federal agency with the sole mission to support basic research and engineering research and education in the Nations schools. colleges. and universities. It signals strong support for the key role of the Foundation in developing and sustaining the academic research enterprise of the Nation. It is consistent with the importance of scientific and engineering research and education as a public investment that contributes to the Nations economic strength and to the wellbeing of our citizens. The National Science Foundation programs support research in science and engineering. the operation of national research facilities. the acquisition of stateoftheart scientific. instrum ents. and science education at all levels of instruction. These wideranging activities underpin the technological strength of the Nation through both the generation of new knowledge and the education of scientists and engineers. Moreover. through its initiatives in K12 science education. the National Science Foundation contributes to the important goal of improving the level of science literacy for all citizens. In light of the National Science Foundations important role. I am pleased that H.R. 1273 endorses the Presidents request for a 10percent budget increase for Fiscal Year 1999 and growth above inflation for Fiscal Year 2000. This funding level would provide real growth for sustaining the Foundations core research activities in the major science and engineering disciplines which support individual investigators and interdisciplinary research teams. In addition. H.R. 1273 will allow the Foundation to pursue new initiatives in such areas as knowledge and distributed intelligence and the complex interdependencies among living organisms and the environments that affect and are affected by them. In terms of sustaining the human resource base for research in the Nations colleges and universities. H.R. 1273 will provide support for nearly 27.000 senior scientists. 5.500 postdoctoral researchers. and over 21.000 graduate students.Mr. Speaker. the research investments made by the Foundation generate the new knowledge that fuels the Nations technological innovation and. consequently. our economic strength of the future. I would like to describe some recent examples that show the breadth and potential technological value of results from the Foundations sponsored research. The Foundationsupported scientists are participating in the sequencing of the genome for a model flowering plant. A coordinated network of databases has been established to facilitate study of the sequence information. Discoveries to date have included understanding of how to reduce polyunsaturation in seed oils and how to produce biodegradable plastic in crop plants. Researchers at MIT recently created the first atomic laser. a device that creates coherence among atoms. much like the photons in a light laser. This allows the control group of atoms which can be focused to a point or moved over large distances without spreading out. Atomic lasers may one day be used to fabricate extremely small electronic components that will form the basis for highly efficient navigation and communication devices. Forecasting techniques for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms currently can provide only 30 minutes warning. Researchers at the University of the Oklahoma have now developed a computer model that has for the first time successfully predicted the location and structure of individual storms up to 6 hours in advance before the storms had begun to form. This forecasting tool has great promise for providing protection for lives and families. National Science Foundation support for a wide range of research has led to new ways to exploit the physical. chemical. and biological properties of small groups of molecules. The discovery of novel phenomena and processes at this socalled "nano" scale have led to minuscule transistors that use less energy. tiny medical probes that will not damage tissue. improved computer diskdrive heads to boost data storage density. and new ceramic. polymer and other materials with special properties. In addition to supporting basic research. the National Science Foundations programs help to educate the next generation of scientists. engineers and technicians. and improve science education for all K12 students. These outcomes are achieved through a wide range of activities. including graduate student support. research experiences for undergraduates. development of curricular materials for science courses at all levels of instruction. development of educational applications of computer and communication technologies. and inservice training for K12 teachers. The goals of the Foundations effort to heighten the achievement of all students in science and math are particularly important. The approach now being emphasized has been through partnerships that the Foundation has instituted with States and local school systems to reform math and science instruction and to provide opportunities for professional development of teachers. I believe that the National Science Foundation Urban Systemic Initiative is particularly important in that it focuses on inner city school systems. which often have low levels of student performance in science and math. Finally. the bill provides for several national research facility construction projects. In accordance with the recommendation of a distinguished panel of experts that review the facilities needs of the U.S. Antarctic Program. it authorizes the replacement of South Pole Station and needed upgrades at other Antarctic stations. These facility upgrades are needed to ensure that U.S. facilities in Antarctica are capable of supporting the most advanced research and can provide adequate safety for the scientists and support staff who must function in this hostile environment. H.R. 1237 will provide funding to complete other research facility construction projects and to initiate new projects. including the Polar Cap Observatory and detectors for the Large Hadron Collider. The bill also puts in place new reporting requirements to improve congressional oversight of such construction projects. I want to acknowledge the role of our former colleague. the late Representative Steve Schiff. the former chairman of the Subcommittee on Basic Research. for his efforts during the first session of this Congress to develop H.R. 1273 in a spirit of cooperation. And I .also want to commend the gentleman from Wisconsin . the chairman of the Committee on Science. and the gentleman from California . the ranking Democratic Member. for their leadership in this important legislation. Mr. Speaker. I fully support H.R. 1273 and urge its approval by the House. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.