Lawmakers, Scientists Urge Larger Federal Commitment to Science
BYLINE: Brandon Stumbo, CongressNow Staff
Reps. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) and Judy Biggert (R-Ill.) joined with a number of prominent scientists today at a news conference urging Congress not to short-fund key science agencies.
Biggert said the research community is dissatisfied with the 2008 omnibus appropriation package, which she said left many programs wanting for funds. Some of these programs include NASA and the National Science Foundation.
Holt asserted that while only 4 percent of the American workforce is made up of scientists and researchers, their productivity creates jobs that impact more than 96 percent of the workforce. He added that the recent economic stimulus package might not have been necessary if research had been properly funded in the last few decades.
"Research and development is where we should be putting our money," Holt said.
Dr. Russell Lefevre, a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers was among the speakers from the scientific and research community who said they are concerned about the competitiveness of U.S. research and development on the global scale.
"Research is an investment, not an expense," Lefevre said.
Speakers also expressed concerns that a lack of funding is discouraging the younger generation from pursuing careers in research and the hard sciences.
"This is sending a message not only to the international community ... but also to our young people ... that we are not going to properly fund them," Biggert said.
Dr. John Geissman of the American Geophysical Union and graduate students representing the higher education community, emphasized how a lack of funding could threaten the future of their disciplines.
"The attractiveness of research is waning," said Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate student Al Swiston.
According to Geissman, students are abandoning research fields because the outlook for funding is far from certain. Geissman described the current funding situation as the "worst of times."
Biggert did interject a sense of optimism about the future of scientific research.
"Fortunately, we have the opportunity to stop the 'brain drain' and put America back in the lead when it comes to research and development," Biggert said.