A month-by-month review of some of the events reported on in FYI in
2001:
JANUARY: Confirmation hearing for former Senator Spencer
Abraham (R-MI) to be new Energy Secretary goes well, one senator saying
"there's no question, you are stepping into a quagmire of problems."
Defense Secretary-Designate Donald Rumsfeld questioned about National
Missile Defense System and defense S&T spending at his confirmation
hearing.
FEBRUARY: Kansas State Board of Education accepts standards
requiring twelfth grade students to "understand the major concepts of
the theory of biological evolution" and "develop an understanding of the
origin and evolution of the dynamic earth system." Education reform
takes center stage on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. Hart-Rudman
commission recommends that "The President should propose, and the
Congress should support, doubling the U.S. government's investment in
science and technology research and development by 2010." Bush
Administration releases FY 2002 budget "blueprint" that appears to
provide a total $300 million increase for NSF, NASA, and DOE
science.
MARCH: President Bush, responding to a letter from four
senators about the Kyoto Protocol, states his opposition to mandatory
power plant carbon dioxide emission reductions. House Science Committee
releases bipartisan report expressing concern about the "minuscule"
budget increase proposed for NSF, and is "particularly concerned" about
the future of the DOE Office of Science. President Bush nominates Floyd
Kvamme, a venture capitalist, to be co-chair of PCAST.
APRIL: Energy Secretary Abraham decides not to make any
changes in the National Ignition Facility's design, construction, or
operation. Administration releases detailed FY 2002 budget request: NSF,
up 1.3%; DOE science, up 0.1%; NASA, up 1.8%; DOD S&T, up 2.1%;
NIST, down 18.4%; USGS, down 9.4%. Blue Ribbon panel established to
study effectiveness of transferring NSF astronomical responsibilities to
NASA. Proposed USGS budget cut receives much criticism at congressional
hearings.
MAY: Twenty-two representatives introduce Fusion Energy
Science Act to authorize increase in spending. VA/HUD chairman James
Walsh (R-NY) describes FY 2002 NSF budget request as "wholly inadequate"
at appropriations hearing.
JUNE: House Science subcommittee chairman Roscoe Bartlett
(R-MD) at hearing on DOE Office of Science points to many empty Member
chairs, and remarks about "the problem we face in attracting attention"
to Office of Science. National Science Board releases draft report on
the allocation of scientific funding. Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) introduces
bill to reestablish congressional Office of Technology Assessment.
Advanced Technology Program gets high marks at House Science
subcommittee hearing. Brookhaven Laboratory Director John Marburger
nominated as OSTP director.
JULY: Administration provides details of long-awaited FY 2002
DOD request, asking for 2.4% cut in defense S&T spending. House
appropriators recommend increases of 9.4% for NSF and 4.5% for NASA
(both higher than later Senate FY 2002 figures.) Appropriators vote more
money for DOE science programs than Administration request. NRC report
identifies priority areas for physics research. House appropriators
recommend elimination of funding for new ATP grants in 2002, in direct
opposition to later Senate bill.
AUGUST: House and Senate start crafting final education
reauthorization bill. Independent panel begins review of troubled
international space station program.
SEPTEMBER: NRC committee recommends maintaining separate NSF
and NASA astronomy programs. Report released by NRC committee showing
almost 25% decline in federal funding for physics from FY 1993 to 1999.
Administration announces effort to develop evaluation criteria for
federal applied and basic research programs.
OCTOBER: John Marburger receives enthusiastic reception at
Senate confirmation hearing. Quadrennial Defense Review Report calls for
3% of total DOD budget to be spent on defense S&T. USGS receives
3.5% increase in FY 2002 budget.
NOVEMBER: FY 2002 DOE physics funding remains relatively
constant in new appropriations bill. Task Force finds space station
program plan for executing FY 2002-2006 budget "is not credible." Final
FY 2002 appropriations bill provides 8.4% increase for NSF and 3.8%
increase for NASA. Appropriations report language issued that is
skeptical about scaled-down space station configuration. Bill passed
giving ATP program an increase of almost 27% in FY 2002. Sean O'Keefe
nominated as new NASA administrator. Study released showing little
change in student achievement in science from 1996 in grades four and
eight.
DECEMBER: O'Keefe declares, at Senate confirmation hearing,
that performance and outcomes "are [what we are] going to be about at
NASA." Senators express skepticism about proposal to scale-down space
station. Appropriations bill passed raising defense S&T by 11.0%, to
a total which is 3.1% of the overall DOD bill. Congress passes education
reauthorization bill, but later appropriates only $12.5 million for new
math and science partnership program.
