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3/10 FYI No 32- Committee Files Response to S&T Request
Part 2 of 2

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION:   "The FY04 budget request for NSF is
$5.481 billion, an increase of $452.9 million or 9 percent over the
FY03 request, but only 3 percent more than the FY03 appropriated
level.   As a result, when compared to the actual FY03 appropriated
amounts, the high priority for NSF funding expressed in the
President's budget (which was submitted before the FY03 appropriation
was completed) fades to nearly flat funding when adjusted for
inflation. Moreover, the FY04 budget request falls far short of the
$6.39 billion authorized by the 107th Congress for NSF education and
research activities in FY04."  "The Committee believes that NSF should 
receive $6.390 billion in FY04, the amount authorized by the National 
Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-368).  This 
request would increase funding for NSF's core science programs, such 
as information technology and nanoscale science and engineering
research, and it would enable NSF to begin fully funding K-12
education programs and the large facility projects that have already
been approved by the National Science Board."  "The Committee is
pleased that the budget requests $200 million to complete the third
year of funding for the Mathematics and Science Education Partnership
Program.  While the requested level is lower than the amount
authorized last year by the National Science Foundation Act of 2002
(P.L. 107-368), it does restore recent funding cuts and it increases
the overall level to accommodate the high number of quality
applications."  "Finally, the Committee is pleased that the budget
request for NSF's education programs increases the stipend level for
graduate students in research or teaching fellowships from $25,000 to
$30,000."

NASA: "The Administration has proposed $15.469 billion for NASA in
FY04, an increase of less than 1 percent above NASA's FY03
appropriation of $15.335 billion.  Unfortunately, as a result of the
tragic loss of the Space Shuttle, it is impossible at this time to
credibly assess the proposed funding levels contained in significant
portions of NASA's FY04 budget request."  "On February 1, 2003, the
Space Shuttle Columbia was destroyed during re-entry and the seven
astronauts on-board were killed.  Following the accident, NASA
grounded the Shuttle fleet indefinitely pending an investigation by a
team of outside experts.  Clearly, the accident and subsequent
grounding of the Shuttle will have a significant effect on NASA's
proposed FY04 budget request for the Shuttle program and the programs
that rely on the Shuttle, specifically the International Space Station 
(ISS), and the ISS research program which is contained in the Office 
of Biological and Physical Research.  In total, these programs account 
for approximately $6.6 billion of NASA's $15.5 billion budget.  It is 
too early in the investigation to accurately predict what NASA's FY04 
budget requirements will be for these programs."  "NASA hoped to 
achieve U.S. core complete assembly of the ISS [International Space 
Station] by spring 2004 and have 12 research racks in operation.  
However, these plans are being re-assessed as well. Therefore, the 
Committee cannot adequately address whether the Administration's $1.71 
billion FY04 budget request for ISS assembly and operations is 
justified.  While the ISS has been an item of concern for the 
Committee, NASA has made significant progress this past year in 
establishing more credible cost estimates and management processes for 
the program."  "The Administration requested $972 .7 million in FY04 
for NASA's Biological and Physical Research program, which is a 6.5 
percent increase over the FY03 request, as calculated using full cost.  
This budget reflects NASA's commitment to the Research Maximization 
and Prioritization (ReMAP) Task Force recommendations to increase the 
priority and productivity of science on the Space Station.  NASA 
management should be commended for providing more stability to the 
Space Station research program.  However, the loss of the Columbia and 
grounding of the Space Shuttle fleet will impact NASA's ability to 
conduct this research."  "Three major NASA programs, Space Science, 
Earth Science, and Aeronautics are not directly affected by the 
grounding of the Space Shuttle fleet.  The Administration's FY04 
budget request for NASA's Space Science enterprise is $4.01 billion.  
The Committee strongly supports NASA's Space Science program and the 
Administration's request, including Project Prometheus for space 
nuclear power and propulsion systems, optical communications, and the 
Beyond Einstein initiative."

"The Committee supports the Administration's request of $1.55 billion
for NASA's Earth Science Enterprise and applauds NASA's work with the
interagency climate change science program.  However, the Committee is 
concerned that the Administration is requesting only $75 million in 
FY04 for NASA's Earth Science Application programs, despite its proven 
track record of high payoff endeavors, including improved weather 
forecasting, disaster management, terrain mapping, and aviation 
safety.  The Committee is also concerned that the Administration is 
not adequately transitioning NASA's technology efforts, such as space 
radar and weather monitoring sensors, into operational capabilities."

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Richard M. Jones
Media and Government Relations Division
The American Institute of Physics
fyi{at}aip.org
(301) 209-3094
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