ASME International Capitol Update
August 1, 2001

ASME WISE Interns Present Research Findings at NSF Briefing
-- Nanotechnology workplace readiness, life cycle analysis focus of research

House Approves FY 2002 VA-HUD Appropriations Bill
-- Bill increases NASA funding to $14.9 billion

Senate Energy Chair Unveils Blueprint for Electricity Restructuring
-- Plan would extend federal jurisdiction to all transmission activities

Senator Rockefeller Introduces Math and Science Education Bill
-- S. 1262 comes in response to studies showing US students are falling behind

International Cooperative Effort on Nuclear Energy Technology Development Announced
-- Seven nations will work to develop a generation nuclear technology

Congress Debates Elevating EPA to Cabinet Status
-- Debate on proposal to create a "chief science officer" contentious

ASME WISE INTERNS PRESENT RESEARCH FINDINGS AT NSF BRIEFING

ASME's two WISE (Washington Internship for Students of Engineering) interns presented the results of their 10-week research projects, respectively, at a briefing hosted by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Founded in 1980, the WISE program brings 15 outstanding engineering students in the final year of undergraduate study to Washington, DC for a 10-week internship to study public policy making and the role engineers can contribute to that process. Each intern is required to research and present a paper on a topical engineering-related issue.

Brian Pandya, from Penn State University, presented a paper entitled Nanotechnology Workforce Pipeline Challenges: A Current Assessment and The Future Outlook. He concludes that generating interest in math and science among children will be necessary to fill the nanotechnology workforce pipeline with adequately trained workers to meet the demands of industry, government and academia. Chris Vehar, from the University of Dayton, examined life cycle analysis as an engineering tool promoting sustainable development. Her paper, LCA in the US: Should Governmental Funding Be Increased for the North American Database, examined the history of life cycle analysis, its shortcomings, and the creation of a new North American Database as an enhanced engineering tool for use by industry, government and the public.

For additional information on the WISE program, contact Allian Pratt at 202.785.3756 or a pratta@asme.org or click on http://www.wise-intern.org/apply.html.

HOUSE APPROVES FY 2002 VA-HUD APPROPRIATIONS BILL

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve the Veteran Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and Independent Agencies (VA-HUD) Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2002 (H.R. 2620) on July 31st. The bill would increase funding for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for Fiscal Year 2002 to $14.9 billion. The Fiscal Year 2001 appropriation was $14.3 billion.

For the past few years, ASME has been actively involved with an aviation coalition concerned about the U.S. leadership in global aviation research and technology. In its report, the Appropriations Committee recommended an increase in funding for NASA's Science, Aeronautics and Technology programs. The Committee also expressed concern about the "downward spiral of investment in aeronautics research and technology," as well as the merging of the budgets for aeronautics and space technology into a single aerospace technology program element, making it virtually impossible to account for the current investment in aeronautics. The Committee directed NASA to reestablish a consolidated aeronautics line in the FY 2002 operating plan, and to notify the Committee on how NASA intends to "obtain formal aeronautics industry and related organization's input into their proposed aeronautics blueprint."

The Senate Appropriations Committee has marked up its bill (S.1216) recommending $14.6 billion for NASA. The Senate is expected to vote on the measure before the August recess.

On July 18th, ASME's Aerospace Division joined other organizations in sending letters to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, urging increased funding for the NASA for FY02. The letter is available to review online at http://www.asme.org/gric/ps/2001/01-32.html. For additional information, contact Kathryn Holmes at 202.785.3756 or at holmesk@asme.org.

SENATE ENERGY CHAIR UNVEILS BLUEPRINT FOR ELECTRICITY RESTRUCTURING

Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has unveiled an electricity restructuring blueprint intended to achieve two goals: ensuring the development of competitive markets; and, achieving a nationally integrated electricity system with increased capacity and reliability. The blue print, available for review at http://energy.senate.gov/legislation&docs/pdf/107-1/electricity_leg.pdf, recommends repealing tax incentives that create disincentives for transmission line projects, as well as repealing portions of current energy legislation. It recommends that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) have jurisdiction over all transmission facilities through the U.S., including bundled as well as unbundled energy services.

Chairman Bingaman believes that "what is needed is to use federal eminent domain as a backstop to a more cooperative, regionally based approach to transmission and siting issues." That could be achieved through the authorization of "regional regulatory compacts" that would be charged with exercising jurisdiction over transmission planning, expansion and siting within a given region.

For additional information on energy issues, contact Francis Dietz at 202.785.3756 or at dietzf@asme.org.

SENATOR ROCKEFELLER INTRODUCES MATH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION BILL

Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) has introduced S. 1262, the National Math and Science Partnerships Act, in an effort to prevent the U.S. from losing its competitive edge in the technological world. Stating that the U.S. must "reclaim the lead in science and math education," he noted that numerous studies have indicated that U.S. science instruction lags that of other countries.

S. 1262 would establish a scholarship program for college students who agree to become K-12 math or science teachers, as well as set aside $20 million per year to expand the National Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology Education Library. Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives earlier this year. S. 1262 may be viewed by clicking on http://thomas.loc.gov/ and then searching by bill number. To view the press release announcing the bill's introduction, go to http://www.senate.gov/~rockefeller/2001/pr072701.html. For additional information on K-12 education issues, contact Patti Burgio at 202.785.3756 or at burgiop@asme.org.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE EFFORT ON NUCLEAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCED

Secretary of Energy Spenser Abraham has announced that seven nations are working cooperatively to develop the next generation of nuclear technology. Representatives of the U.S., Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom have signed the formal charter of the Generation IV International Forum (GIF). Abraham believes that this agreement "is the foundation for the U.S. and our international partners to develop innovative and revolutionary nuclear energy technologies that will be safer, more reliable, more economic, and more proliferation-resistant." Refer to the Department of Energy (DOE) press release at http://www.ne.doe.gov/home/07-23-01.html.

The GIF was established to avoid duplication of international nuclear work. It will build on the existing three generations of nuclear technology, i.e., prototypes, current operating plants, and advanced light water reactors. Generation IV technologies may include nuclear power that produces non-electric products, e.g., hydrogen, process heat, and desalinated water. A technology road-map outlining the GIF's research and development priorities is anticipated to be release in October 2001.

For additional information on nuclear energy issues, contact Francis Dietz at 202.785.3746 or at dietzf@asme.org.

CONGRESS DEBATES ELEVATING EPA TO CABINET STATUS

Congress is currently considering legislation (H.R.2438 and S. 159) that would elevate the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to Cabinet status. Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, believes that EPA should have "equal standing with the Department of Energy" and other cabinet agencies such as the Department of Defense and the Department of Agriculture. He observed that of 198 countries around the world, the U.S. is among the only ten that have not accorded their environmental agencies cabinet status.

Because a large number of EPA regulations have been overturned by federal courts on the basis of inadequate or erroneous use of science, legislation was introduced earlier this year, i.e., H.R. 64 and S. 1176, to establish a chief science officer within EPA. To view ASME's endorsement of this concept, go to http://www.asme.org/gric/ps/2001/01-27.html and to http://www.asme.org/gric/ps/2001/01-17.html. However, some legislators believe that the establishment of a chief science office at EPA would duplicate the work handled by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

It remains to be seen if the two concepts, i.e., elevating EPA to a cabinet-level agency and establishing a chief science officer within that Agency, will move in tandem or separately. At the current time, there appears to be more bi-partisan support for the former rather than for the latter.

To view the above-reference bills, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/, and then search by bill number. For additional information on environmental issues, contact Kathryn Holmes at 202.785.3756 or at holmesk@asme.org.

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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