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6 May 2003

FYI THIS MONTH: APRIL 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

RESULTS OF FY03 APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS:  A review of the final FY
2003 appropriations for the departments and agencies tracked by FYI
shows which program budgets grew relative to fiscal year 2002, and
which declined (FYI #51).  The largest increase went to the Education
Department's Math and Science Partnership program, which grew from $
12.5 million to over $100 million (FYI #43), while NASA's Academic
Programs experienced the greatest reduction.  It is important to
remember that program content may change from year to year.  The FY03
appropriations for NIST, USGS, and NIBIB are summarized in FYI #46. 

ANALYSIS OF FY04 REQUEST:  An analysis of the Bush Administration's
request for FY04 shows that, of the programs tracked by FYI, the
greatest proposed increase over FY03 funding - of 36.2% - would go to
NSF's Major Research Equipment and Facilities.  NIST's Manufacturing
Extension Partnership would experience the deepest cut, of 88.1%
(FYI #53).

FY04 FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS:  As Congress begins work on its FY04
appropriations bills, many efforts have been initiated, both in
Congress and by outside groups, to press for specific funding levels
for various agencies and programs.  Statements or letters with
funding recommendations for S&T programs have been sent to Congress
by coalitions of scientific societies in which AIP and some of its
Member Societies participate.  FY04 funding recommendations have been
issued for DOD S&T programs, NSF, DOE's Office of Science (FYI #55),
and the Education Department's Math and Science Partnerships (FYI
#59).  A group of Nobel Laureates and corporate leaders sent a letter
to President Bush, calling for stronger support for "the long-term
research portfolios of DOE,
 
NASA, and the Department of Commerce, in addition to NSF and NIH"
(FYI #58).  At a March 31 hearing, DOD officials urged Congress to
ensure that in the future, DOD S&T programs receive 3% of the total
Defense budget (FYI #45). 

CONGRESSIONAL INDICATIONS ON S&T FUNDING:  Both House and Senate
appropriators expressed disappointment with the FY04 request for NSF,
using words like "paltrey," "dismal," and
"inadequate" (FYI #44 and
FYI #52).  Congressional efforts to seek greater funding have
targeted NSF (FYI #49 and FYI #54) and DOE's Office of Science (FYI
#47 and FYI #49).  The Senate version of a comprehensive energy bill
now contains provisions that would increase authorization levels for
the Office of Science and create a new Under Secretary for Energy and
Science position (FYI #60).  At another hearing, Members of the House
VA/HUD Appropriations Subcommittee voiced support for NASA and
expected to make only "minor changes" to the request (FYI #48). 

S&T IN HOMELAND SECURITY:  The atmosphere was somber as the
newly-sworn-in Under Secretary for Science and Technology at the
Department of Homeland Security, Charles McQueary, appeared before
both House and Senate committees in a single day to address questions
about his directorate's budget, goals and milestones, staffing, and
cooperation with other agencies (FYI #50).

FOREIGN STUDENT VISA DELAYS:  In another homeland security-related
issue, several hearings have looked into delays in the processing of
visa applications for foreign scientists and students, and glitches
in the system intended to track foreign students in this country
(FYI #56).  Noting that "this Administration values the contribution
foreign scientists and students make to the nation's scientific
enterprise," OSTP Director John Marburger focused on the visa
problems in a recent speech (FYI #57). 

Please visit the AIP Science Policy site at http://www.aip.org/gov
for previous issues of FYI, other science policy information, and
subscriber options.

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