This Echo is READ ONLY !   NO Un-Authorized Messages Please!
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

5 Mar 2003

FYI THIS MONTH: FEBRUARY 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)

FY04 BUDGET REQUEST RELEASED: With the FY 2003 appropriations cycle 
still incomplete, the Administration released its FY 2004 request (FYI 
#15).  OSTP issued a document highlighting requested funding for 
physical sciences, and the President's Council of Advisors on Science 
and Technology released a letter citing "a need to improve funding 
levels for physical sciences and engineering" (FYI #28).

OFFICE OF SCIENCE: Under the FY04 request, DOE's Office of Science 
would receive approximately the same funding as in FY02 and slightly 
above the comparable request for FY03 (FYI #16), while the ramping 
down of some construction projects would free up more money for 
scientific research.  Director Ray Orbach noted that while support for 
his office from Congress and the Administration is "superb," funding 
levels are insufficient (FYI #29).

DOD S&T: The FY 2003 DOD appropriations bill was one of two completed 
last year.  The FY 2004 proposal would cut defense S&T by 4.9 percent 
from the FY03 appropriation (FYI #18).

NASA REQUEST; COLUMBIA ACCIDENT: Within NASA's FY04 request, Space 
Science and Biological and Physical Research budgets would be 
increased, and Earth Science decreased, from both the FY02 
appropriated and FY03 requested levels.  Space Flight funding would 
drop from the FY02 level, remaining close to the FY03 request (FYI 
#19).  However, NASA's request may be revised as more is learned about 
the shuttle Columbia tragedy.  In the first hearing into the accident, 
Members questioned the value of manned versus unmanned space 
exploration (FYI #27).

NSF REQUEST: In the NSF request, Physics, Materials Research, 
Astronomical Sciences, Engineering, Major Research Equipment and Polar 
Programs would experience budget increases - in most cases substantial 
double-digit increases - over both the FY02 appropriated and the FY03 
requested levels (FYIs #20, 21, 23, and 26).  Geosciences funding, 
while increased over the FY02 appropriation, would remain near the 
FY03 requested level (FYI #22).

SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS: NSF's Education and Human Resources 
programs would be increased over both the FY02 level and the FY03 
request; within this Activity, NSF's Math and Science Partnerships 
would grow from the FY02 level to the level requested for FY03.  
Funding for the Department of Education's Math and Science 
Partnerships would remain the same as the FY02 appropriated and FY03 
requested level (FYI #24).

NIST; USGS; NIBIB: NIST's Advanced Technology Program would be 
terminated and funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnerships 
cut below the FY02 appropriated and FY03 requested levels.  Funding 
for the NIST labs, above than the FY02 level but below the FY03 
request, would support new homeland security and economic growth 
initiatives (FYI #17).  Funding for the U.S.  Geological Survey would 
decline from the FY02 appropriated level, but remain above the FY03 
request.  The budget for the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging 
and Bioengineering would be increased above both the FY02 appropriated 
and FY03 requested levels (FYI #25).       

NANOTECHNOLOGY LEGISLATION: Authorization bills to enhance the 
nation's nanotechnology R&D effort have been introduced in both the 
House and Senate (FYI #30).

 - End of File -
================

---