ASME International Capitol Update
July 11, 2001

NASA Official Briefs ASME and Aviation Coalition on Upcoming Aeronautics Blueprint
-- Visionary Blueprint for National Aviation for the 21st Century to be released in September 2001

House Energy Committees Release Initial Draft of Energy Legislation
-- Bipartisan "Energy Advancement and Conservation Act of 2001" addresses clean coal production and conservation measures

Hill Committees Hear from Proponents of Science, Technology R&D Funding
-- Continued technological improvements and national defense will be jeopardized if basic research funding is cut

Nuclear Industry Calls on Congress to Reform "Outdated Regulations"
-- Existing regulatory structure does not accommodate advanced technologies

Congress Moves Ahead on Education Reform Bills
-- "No Child Left Behind" legislation headed to House-Senate Conference

House Passes Energy Appropriations; Senate to Follow

NASA OFFICIAL BRIEFS ASME AND AVIATION COALITION ON UPCOMING AERONAUTICS BLUEPRINT

Benjamin J. Neumann, Executive Officer in NASA's Office of Aerospace Technology, briefed ASME and other members of the Aviation Coalition at the ASME Washington Center on a detailed blueprint under development that will outline the vision for aeronautics for the coming century. The report, Visionary Blueprint for National Aviation for the 21st Century, is anticipated to be released in September 2001. The blueprint will be prepared in concert with the development of NASA's FY 2003 budget and will reflect the realignment of its research and technology program. It is anticipated that the blueprint will establish:

• Clear national objectives for the future of U.S. aviation.
• Reinvestment of existing research and technology into revolutionary new vehicle technologies.
• A plan for the infrastructure necessary to support the blueprint.
• A plan for working with universities to train a new generation of scientists and engineers with the necessary multi-competency skills.
• A plan for development of public-private partnerships required ensuring the success of the blueprint.

The Aviation Coalition is an informal group of professional societies and trade associations and NASA concerned about the status of U.S. leadership in aviation research and technology. It advocates strengthening the stability of the nation's aviation infrastructure by formulating and committing to a national aviation research and technology policy that incorporates adequate federal funding for long-term research.

To view the Coalition's statement entitled The Crisis in U.S. Aviation Research and Technology, go to http://www.asme.org/gric/ps/2000/00-27.html or additional information on aviation and aeronautics issues, contact Kathryn Holmes at 202.785.3756 or at holmesk@asme.org.

HOUSE ENERGY COMMITTEE RELEASES INITIAL DRAFT OF ENERGY LEGISLATION

Republicans and Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee have joined together in drafting the "Energy Advancement and Conservation Act of 2001," a bill that addresses clean coal production and conservation measures. It is anticipated that the draft measure will be considered by the Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee in mid-July.

The draft would provide a tax credit of 10 percent of the amount invested in a clean coal technology "qualifying system of continuous emission control" added to an existing power plant to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxides, nitrogen oxides and particulates. The clean coal technology would be required to have a useful life of at least four years, and the power plant would be required to use coal to generate at least 75 percent of its electricity. The credit would expire after 10 years.

The draft measure would establish efficiency standards for television sets, furnace fans, ceiling fans and cold drink vending machines, and would authorize states to allow hybrid and alternative fueled vehicles to operate in high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes regardless of the number of passengers.

For updated information on the status of the draft legislation, refer to http://energycommerce.house.gov/107/news/07092001_318.htm. For additional information on energy issues, contact Francis Dietz at 202.785.3756 or at dietzf@asme.org.

HILL COMMITTEES HEAR FROM PROPONENTS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY R&D FUNDING

In two separate hearings last week, House lawmakers heard from proponents of increased federal funding of research and development (R&D) for science and technology. Technology sector experts called on members of the House Science Research Subcommittee to direct more funding for basic, long-term research at the National Science Foundation (NSF). Noting that industry invests primarily in near-term commercial applications rather than long-term research, they called on the federal government to fund the basic research needed to continue the technological innovations that are driving the nation's economy. Alfred Berkeley, President of the Nasdaq Stock Market, observed that the federal government is the only source left to fund the long-term, basic research needed to continue technological advancement.

For additional information on that hearing, go to http://www.house.gov/science/research/reshearings.htm. For additional information in R&D issues, contact Francis Dietz at 202.785.3756 or at dietzf@asme.org.

Members of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Research and Development heard from Department of Defense representatives who advocated increasing funding of DOD's science and technology (S&T) programs. E. C. "Pete" Aldridge, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, noted that a combination of a sound strategy and adequate funding are necessary to ensure that U.S. military forces maintain their technological superiority over potential adversaries. Delores M. Etter, Deputy Director for Defense Research and Engineering, called for more coordination and collaboration with federal civilian agencies in the development of nanotechnology. An Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology, anticipated to be established later this year in partnership with a university, would conduct research on providing soldiers with greater protection against projectiles, as well as on advanced materials to help soldiers avoid detection. For additional information on this hearing, go to http://www.house.gov/hasc/schedules/.

For additional information on DOD S&T issues, contact Kathryn Holmes at 202.785.3756 or at holmesk@asme.org.

NUCLEAR INDUSTRY CALLS ON CONGRESS TO REFORM "OUTDATED REGULATIONS"

In testimony before the House Commerce Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee, representatives of the nation's nuclear power industry called on Congress to promptly reform "outdated regulations" and to provide increased financial support to the industry. Failure to do so, they warned, would jeopardize the industry's ability to expand in response to the President's national energy policy recommendations. Other roadblocks to the development of new reactor designs and plans to renew operating licenses include the uncertain extension of the Price-Anderson Act, duplicated antitrust requirements, a ban on foreign ownership of U.S. nuclear plants and increased liability fees for plants.

Richard Meserve, Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), reported that a number of licensees plan to submit applications for early site permits in the near future, an indication of increased interest in the construction of nuclear facilities. Speaking on behalf of the Energy Contractors Price-Anderson Group, Dr. E. Allen Womack, a member of ASME's Industry Advisory Board (IAB), noted that without the liability protection of the Price-Anderson Act, private contractors and suppliers would not assume the financial risk associated with assisting the Department of Energy (DOE) perform its various missions.

For additional information on the hearing, go to http://energycommerce.house.gov/107/hearings/06272001Hearing305/hearing.htm. For more information on nuclear power issues, contact Francis Dietz at 202.785.3756 or at dietzf@asme.org.

CONGRESS MOVES AHEAD ON EDUCATION REFORM BILLS

The House of Representatives and the Senate have approved separate versions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), respectively. The bill, which would re-authorize most of the Department of Education's K-12 programs, will next go to a House-Senate conference. As of this date, conferees have not been named.

Both bills include President Bush's proposal for annual testing of student achievement in reading and math in grades three through eight, and both would allow some flexibility in how states and local school districts use federal funds.

Neither bill authorizes private school vouchers, nor preserves the Eisenhower Professional Development state grants program which in the past has set aside $250 million annually specifically for science and math teacher development. The Senate bill would authorize $33 billion for ESEA programs in FY 2002, while the House bill would authorize $23 billion.

As of this date, conferees have not been named. However, Robert J. Simoneau, Vice President of ASME's Council on Education, has sent a letter to all members of the House and Senate urging that certain provisions of S.1 and H.R. 1 be retained in the final legislation. A copy of those letters may be obtained from Patti Burgio at 202.785.3756 or burgiop@asme.org.

In related actions, the House Science Committee approved two bills relating to science education. H.R. 1858, the National Mathematics and Science Partnerships Act, would authorize a $200 million per year for math and science partnership program within the National Science Foundation (NSF). The measure would also establish a scholarship program for science, math and engineering majors to pursue a teaching career, as well as establishing four national centers for research on education and learning. H.R. 100, the National Science Education Act, also approved by the Committee, would authorize NSF to give grants to universities for training and support of master teachers for K-9 math and science classrooms.

Go to http://www.house.gov/science/press/107pr/107-41.htm for additional discussion of the House Science Committee's approval of these measures. For additional information on K-12 education issues, contact Patti Burgio at 202.785.3756 or at burgiop@asme.org.

HOUSE PASSES ENERGY APPROPRIATIONS; SENATE TO FOLLOW

Department of Energy funding is contained in two different appropriations bills in Congress: Energy and Water Development, and Interior and Related Agencies. Both the House and Senate have acted on these two bills in some way thus far. The House passed both bills in June, while the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its version of the Interior bill on June 28. The full Senate likely will take up the Interior measure shortly, while the Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to pass its version of the Energy & Water bill later this week.

In its bills, the House increased funding beyond the President's request in many instances. Even so, some programs received less than what they have this fiscal year. A major exception was fossil energy research, which the House increased substantially ($130 million) above both current levels and the President's request. Renewable energy research funding was increased substantially ($100 million) above the President's request, but only $1 million above current levels. Nuclear energy research did not fare as well, receiving only a $1 million increase above the request (to $224 million), which is still $36 million below current levels.

Information about specific energy program funding in the House bills can be found in ASME's Government Relations Issues Book: http://www.asme.org/gric/Update/2001/www.asme.org/gric/ibook.html.

For additional information, contact the Government Relations Department at the ASME Washington Center at mailto:%20grdept@asme.org or (202) 785-3756.

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