ACS COMMENT
mm iHb MuyubNHWM outspoken in recent years, there is more that we can and should do. We must get the message across to our elected officials that support for basic research provides much more than funding for scientists and engineers in academia. In ELI PEARCE, ACS PRESIDENT-ELECT fact, no other federal investment generates a greater long-term return to the economy and society than does basic research, promiECENTLY, I HAD THE OPPORTUthe areas that provide substantial returns to nent economists agree. Estimates attribute nity to present testimony before the economy and society—and these at least 30% of U.S. productivity growth to Congress on the proposed include basic research. advances in science and technology budget for the National Science It is critical that scientists take action Foundation. The testimony— now—not just because of new Federal support for basic which was delivered jointly with the prescaps on spending but because, research is also critical to priidents of the American Physical Society apart from N I H , research vate innovation. Although prithe American Mathematical Society and agencies were overshadowed vate firms have increased their the Federation ofAssociated Societies for in the budget released by the total R&D spending in recent Experimental Biology—urged the House Administration earlier this years, only a small portion of Appropriations Committee to boost the month (see page 39). To baltheir spending goes to basic Bush Administration's flat budget request ance significant increases for research. And given shortfor NSF in fiscal 2002. education, health, defense, and term market pressures, it is other areas, budget cuts or doubtful that industry would The testimony was very well received, freezes were proposed for normally fund the types of and it should come as no surprise that the agencies including NSF and long-term research supported leading societies for chemistry, physics, the Department of Energy A L nfUpr federal ^ y NSF and other agencies. biology and mathematics could agree on a (DOE)—the two largest pro- % J " Federal research also helps unified statement on NSF programs. After all, NSF is the only agency charged with viders of research support in ITlVCStTHCflt educate and train the next supporting fundamental research and edugeneration of scientists and the physical sciences. NSF aenerates a cation across disciplines. What was note- would be held essentially even, * engineers, which is especially worthy was the strong bipartisan support critical today to help meet the while DOE wouldreceivea3% greater lOTlgfor NSF among House subcommittee growing demand for skilled cut. (Whilewe are encouraged term return tO members, including Chairman James T workers in the new economy by the plan to boost R&D and Walsh (R-N.Y.) and ranking Democrat It's no secret that legislators testing at the Department of the eCOUOmy Alan B. Mollohan (WVa.)—both of whom Defense by $2.6 billion next do respond to their conand society than stituents. Although we are all support significant increases for NSF. It year, it is not yet clear what was particularly refreshing to hear Chairvery busy with our primary portion will be devoted to does basic man Walsh describe the need for balanced responsibilities, I believe that research.) On top of all this, we research growth among scientific disciplines in know that when competition we in the chemical sciences and order to ensure medical progress and ecofor resources is fierce, longengineering community owe it nomic growth. term investments like R&D are particuto our profession and to society to make our larly vulnerable voices heard inWashington. If we do not, we Such bipartisanship is needed now more must not grumble if science gets slighted than ever. Although support for basic How then can we get the political winds when the tough spending decisions are made research traditionally has risen above parto shift in our direction? By speaking out on Capitol Hill this summer. • tisan politics, this year's divisive debate over and shifting them ourselves. After all, we tax cuts and aggregate spending will loom are an organization of 163,000 members. over many budget decisions, including fedWe should all take advantage ofACS proCONGRESSIONAL VISITS DAY eral research. To make room for a promised grams that make it easy to contact our legtax cut of $1.6 trillion over 10 years, Presiislators, such as the Web-based LegislaHundreds of scientists and engineers, dent George W Bush has proposed to hold tive Action Network. This program was including 45 ACS members, will converge discretionary (nonentitlement) spending very effective last year, for example, in on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, May 2, to to just over inflation. As a scientific and prohelping to bolster Senate support for present a unified message to Congress fessional society, clearly ACS must stay research at D O E and NSF. To learn more on the importance of federally funded above the fray on how to divide projected about the program, go to http://con R&D. Specifically, Congress will be asked budget surpluses among tax relief, spending gress.nwdc.us/chemical. We also should to restore a strong, balanced federal growth, and debt reduction. But as Convisit with our legislators when we can and share of R&D investment to drive future gress revises the President's budget (which invite them to speak at ACS local section innovation and maintain the U.S.'s world it invariably does), we must encourage both meetings. Although I believe chemists leadership in research. political parties to sustain investments in and chemical engineers have been more
NSF CAUGHT IN BUDGET DOWNDRAFT
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