HONORING NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION FOR 50 YEARS OF SERVICE -- (Extensions of Remarks - May 14, 2001)

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SPEECH OF HON. SHERWOOD L. BOEHLERT

OF NEW YORK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, May 8, 2001

Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, today, under the leadership of my able colleague NICK SMITH, Congress is commemorating fifty years worth of accomplishment by one of the gems of our nation--the National Science Foundation. For fifty years, the National Science Foundation has represented an investment in
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our nation's future, through the Foundation's funding for world class research across the gamut of scientific disciplines. This work in fundamental science has provided the building blocks for many of the technologies that we depend upon today--for example, biotechnology, the Internet, and aerospace materials. We depend on this type of research to find its way into our commercial products, medical systems and treatments, and even defense technologies. We also leverage this research for its training of our future scientific and technology leaders--in universities, industry, and government.

Over the past 50 years, NSF's reach has extended beyond the lab and into the classroom and even the home. The NSF supports projects at museums, science centers, and planetaria that reach about 50 million people. The figure doubles to 100 million for the audiences of radio, television, and film programs on science. And in our nation's schools, NSF has been leading the way in improving the math and science education of students of all ages. In many innovative programs, they have used their unique position to bring our nation's leading scientific researchers and their discoveries into the classroom, to bring the excitement of science and learning to our children. I am pleased that the President has acknowledged their excellent work in education by naming the National Science Foundation as the lead agency for the Math and Science Partnership element of his education initiative, No Child Left Behind.

Through my work on the Science Committee, and in discussions with scientists, corporate technology leaders, and even my constituents back home, I have become very familiar with the NSF. I have come to have great respect for the work that the NSF, its leadership and staff, and the thousands of scientists and educators who are funded by the agency have done. Their innovative spirit and record of success is extraordinary. I join with my colleagues in applauding the National Science Foundation for fifty years of excellent service to their Nation, and wish them well on the next fifty. I hope my colleagues will join us in supporting this resolution, as well in our efforts to support the NSF in future endeavors.

We must continue to support the National Science Foundation with more than words. In recent years, Congress has given the NSF large increases in its budget for both research and educational activities, enabling it to expand on the excellent work it does in scientific discovery, public outreach, and math and science education. As we enter our annual Appropriations process, I will work--along with many of my concerned colleagues--to ensure that Congressional support for significant increases to NSF's budget continues, so that we live up to the words of praise in this resolution. I hope my colleagues who join us in supporting this resolution on the National Science Foundation's past successes will also join in our efforts to support the NSF in its future endeavors.
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