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02 June 2003

Subject: FYI THIS MONTH: MAY 2003

FYI THIS MONTH: MAY 2003
HIGHLIGHTS OF DEVELOPMENTS IN WASHINGTON IMPACTING THE PHYSICS
COMMUNITY FROM FYI, THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS BULLETIN OF
SCIENCE POLICY NEWS
Richard M. Jones, Audrey T. Leath           fyithismonth{at}aip.org
                                                                           
                
To read the cited FYIs, see the FYI archive at:
http://www.aip.org/enews/fyi/2003

ENERGY POLICY BILLS:  The House has passed a comprehensive energy
policy bill (H.R. 6), while floor debate on an energy bill (S. 14)
in the Senate is likely to last until September.  Both the House
bill and the bill currently under consideration in the Senate would
authorize significant increases over the next several years to the
budget of DOE's Office of Science.  The Senate bill would also
create an Under Secretary for Energy and Science position within
DOE, and reconfigure the position of Director of the Office of
Science to be the Assistant Secretary for Science (FYI #60).  Many
controversial amendments are expected to be offered during the
Senate floor debate, including one to establish a market-driven
system for trading greenhouse gas emission allowances (FYI #62).

DOD AUTHORIZATION BILLS:  Both the House and Senate have completed
their FY 2004 Defense Department authorization bills (H.R. 1588 and
S. 1050).  Under both bills, the total authorized funding level for
basic and applied research and advanced technology development (6.1,
6.2 and 6.3) would remain about the same as current funding,
representing approximately 2.7% of the entire DOD budget.  However,
within that total, the two bills authorize cuts for Basic and
Applied Research, while significant increases are recommended for
Advanced Technology Development (FYI #68).  Attempts to require
congressional notification before any resumption of nuclear testing
failed, as did attempts to maintain a prohibition against any R&D on
low-yield (five kilotons or less) nuclear weapons (FYI #61).
Instead, a compromise was agreed to that would authorize research,
but require congressional approval for advanced development or
production, of low-yield weapons.

NEW SCIENCE EDUCATION REPORT:  Science and math are often viewed by
students as "too hard, too inaccessible, too elitist, too boring, or
too unfashionable," according to a new report from the Committee for
Economic Development (FYI #63).  In its report, this organization of
industry and education leaders calls on businesses to become more
involved in K-12 education, and frames the improvement of science
and math instruction as an issue of importance to the nation's labor
market, economic growth, and national security.  In contrast to many
similar reports, the CED document targets the "demand" side -
student interest - as well as the "supply" side of educational
reform.

NANOTECHNOLOGY LEGISLATION:  By an overwhelming vote of 405-19, the
House passed a bill (H.R. 766) that would expand upon the federal
government's current efforts in nanotechnology (FYI #64).  The bill
authorizes $2.4 billion for nanotechnology R&D over the next three
years.  Both this legislation and a similar bill working its way
through the Senate (S. 189) enjoy bipartisan support.

ADMINISTRATION VIEWS ON ITER: On May 5 an OSTP official described
the Administration's position regarding U.S. participation in the
International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (FYI #65).  "If the
U.S. joins ITER it would not be as a lead player," he said.  He
added that the U.S. has no interest in hosting the facility and
remains neutral as to the site selection, and that until the
expected commencement of construction in FY 2006, the U.S. decision
to participate in the project "will be overall budget neutral."

"DIRTY BOMB" BILLS:  Legislation has been introduced in both
chambers to enhance the security of radioactive materials that could
be used in a radiological dispersal device, or "dirty bomb" (FYI
#66).  In an address at an International Atomic Energy Agency
conference, Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham also emphasized the
importance of tracking and safeguarding such radioactive materials,
which have many beneficial applications in medicine and other fields
(FYI #67).

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