If you hope to have NSF funding in the future, here's something you can do to increase the odds.
David Inouye Request for Action to Support the National Science Foundation The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) is working with other science-based organizations to increase the budget of the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the current fiscal year. You can help by contacting your Senators and Representative at this critical juncture before the 110th Congress convenes on January 4, 2007. The incoming congressional leadership has announced a plan to fund all federal agencies, except defense and homeland security, under a continuing resolution for the entire fiscal year. Under this plan, most agencies would have a flat budget in FY 2007. This would negate efforts by the President, Congress, and the scientific community to begin the process of doubling the NSF budget in the current fiscal year. In order to double the NSF budget over ten years, the President proposed an increase of 7.9 percent or $439 million for NSF in his FY 2007 budget request to Congress. The House of Representatives passed an appropriations bill that would also increase NSF's budget by 7.9 percent million in FY 2007. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bill that would increase the NSF budget by 7.3 percent. However, Congress adjourned before completing action on the appropriations bills. As a result, the $439 million increase slated for NSF this year will be lost unless the continuing resolution contains a special provision to increase NSF's budget to the level specified in the House or Senate appropriations bills. Preliminary data from NSF indicate that a flat budget would result in 800 fewer research grants, a reduction of 13 percent, compared with the budget proposed by the President and passed by the House of Representatives. Senior researchers with continuing grants are likely to receive their funding but new researchers are less likely to receive funding. A flat budget may delay construction of the Arctic Regional Research Vessel and other major projects. NSF Director Arden Bement said a continuing resolution with a flat budget for NSF is "the worst-case scenario." You can help the National Science Foundation by contacting your Senators and Representative and asking them to contact the incoming leaders of the House and Senate, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), as well as the incoming chairs of the House and Senate Appropriation Committee, Rep. David Obey (D-WI) and Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), urging these Democratic leaders to include increased funding for NSF in the extension of the continuing resolution that will fund most federal agencies for the remainder of the fiscal year. Communications should reach the Democratic leaders by January 4, 2007. You can contact your Senators and Representative by fax, e-mail, or telephone. Contact information for Senators and Representatives is available at <http://www.Senate.gov>www.Senate.gov and <http://www.House.gov>www.House.gov. Sample letters are provided below. If you send a letter by e-mail, the subject line of your message should clearly states the topic, such as "Please Increase Funding for NSF in Year-Long Continuing Resolution." You can increase the impact of your constituent letter by personalizing it with information about the value of NSF to you, your community, and the nation. -------------------------------- [Sample letter to your Representative] The Honorable XXX U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Representative XXX I urge you to ask Speaker-Elect Pelosi and House Appropriations Chair-Elect Obey to include increased funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF), at the levels approved by the U.S. House of Representatives during the 109th Congress, when the extension of the continuing resolution for FY 2007 is deliberated. The NSF supports research and education programs that are critical for maintaining U. S. innovation leadership, sustaining economic growth, and improving environmental quality in the coming decades. Investments in the NSF should not be put off for another year as continuous development and growth of our scientific foundation is essential for a robust innovative environment. Investments in basic research enjoy strong bipartisan support. The Democratic Innovation Agenda, announced last year by Speaker-Elect Pelosi and the Democratic Caucus, calls for doubling of the NSF budget over five years, and the Administration's FY 2007 budget calls for doubling the NSF over ten years. Doubling basic research investments is a multi-year effort and the process needs to start now. We will reap the benefits for years to come for an incremental investment of $439 million for the NSF, as support for basic research has time and again lead to new inventions, new industries, more jobs, and increased productivity. Increasing the NSF budget in the limited adjustment to the continuing resolution would be a simple and necessary step to ensure U.S. competitiveness. Sincerely, -------------------------------- [Sample letter to your Senators] The Honorable XXX United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator XXX I urge you to ask Senate Majority Leader-Elect Reid and Senate Appropriations Chair-Elect Byrd to include increased funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF), at the levels approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee during the 109th Congress, when the extension of the continuing resolution for FY 2007 is deliberated. The NSF supports research and education programs that are critical for maintaining U. S. innovation leadership, sustaining economic growth, and improving environmental quality in the coming decades. Investments in the NSF should not be put off for another year as continuous development and growth of our scientific foundation is essential for a robust innovative environment. Investments in basic research enjoy strong bipartisan support. The Democratic Innovation Agenda, announced last year by Speaker-Elect Pelosi and the Democratic Caucus, calls for doubling of the NSF budget over five years, and the Administration's FY 2007 budget calls for doubling the NSF over ten years. Doubling basic research investments is a multi-year effort and the process needs to start now. We will reap the benefits for years to come for an incremental investment of $439 million for the NSF, as support for basic research has time and again lead to new inventions, new industries, more jobs, and increased productivity. Increasing the NSF budget in the limited adjustment to the continuing resolution would be a simple and necessary step to ensure U.S. competitiveness. Sincerely, -------------------------------- Craig Schiffries, Ph.D. Director of Science Policy National Council for Science and the Environment 1707 H Street, NW, Suite 200 Washington, D.C. 20006 Tel: 202-530-5810 E-mail: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________ The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) is a non-profit organization working to improve the scientific basis for environmental decisionmaking. NCSE is supported by nearly 500 academic, scientific, environmental, government and business organizations.
