At the first hearings in the House Science Committee on the President’s proposed FY04 budget for science and technology, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director John Marburger said the request is a "starting point" that provides important signals that "priorities have been set." While praising the language supporting S&T as vital to the nation’s economic and strategic security, Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) said, "there’s much to cause distress as well – like the virtual elimination of the Advanced Technology Program and the Manufacturing Extension Program, and flat funding for the Department of Energy Office of Science…(T)he concern expressed for the physical sciences in the budget reminds me a little bit of the old joke about the will that said, ‘To Joe – who I said I would mention in my will – Hello, Joe!’"

In its "Views and Estimates" prepared for the House Budget Committee, the Science Committee majority (Republicans) says it will focus committee efforts this year on:

• Homeland Security, including cybersecurity, establishment of the new Department of Homeland Security, and the impact of security concerns on the conduct of research;

• Reauthorization of space and aeronautics programs and the Space Shuttle Columbia investigation; and

• Oversight of the Department of Energy and development of the research title for a comprehensive energy bill.

The Committee Republicans generally endorse the Administration’s five multi-agency R&D priorities – networking and information technology, nanotechnology, climate change, combating terrorism, and math and science education – although they clearly think the proposed funding is too low. For individual agency budgets, their criticism is more pointed, noting in particular that the proposal for the National Science Foundation falls far short of the amount authorized in the recently enacted "NSF doubling" bill. According to the report, "The Committee believes that NSF should receive $6.39 billion in FY04, the amount authorized…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."

Democrats on the Science Committee are even more vocal, calling for an 8-10 percent increase across-the-board from FY03 levels and saying it would be "irresponsible" to "stay wedded to the President’s numbers."

Driven by impending war and currently escalating prices for oil, natural gas, gasoline and heating oil, House committees with jurisdiction over energy legislation are planning action before the two-week Spring recess begins on April 11. The House Science Committee, in particular, is ready to move on its Office of Science research and development authorization. Committee Chairman Boehlert’s bill, HR238, reflects the Office of Science language largely agreed to by conferees on last year’s omnibus energy package. A slightly different tack is taken by a bill (HR34) introduced by House Science Subcommittee on Energy Chair Judy Biggert (R-IL) which has gathered over 70 cosponsors. The bills take a different approach to increasing funding for the Office of Science. While both bills would elevate the Director of the Office of Science to an Assistant Secretary of Energy, HR34 goes farther for formalize increased visibility for R&D programs within the Department by creating an Undersecretary of Energy Research and Science.

The National Nanotechnology Initiative, originally proposed by President Clinton and now given high priority by the Bush Administration, is on track to become a formalized budget priority in FY05. The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) has begun a review of the Grand Challenges and Strategic Plan for the cross-agency program with an eye to aiding in development of FY05 budget priorities. Three informal task forces will investigate issues related to nanotechnology in the fields of medical, biological and social implications; materials and electronics; and energy and the environment. The materials and electronics task force will be co-chaired by Wayne Clough, President of Georgia Institute of Technology.

In Congress, the House Science Committee is considering a bill which would give the Administration’s initiative "a statutory basis and clearer funding expectations, and strengthen its interagency coordination and interdisciplinary focus," according to Committee Chairman Boehlert. The bill, HR766 by Reps. Boehlert and Mike Honda (D-CA), would authorize $2.1 billion over three years for nanotechnology research and development programs at the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, NASA, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The bill also provides a formal structure for coordination of interagency research, emphasizes interdisciplinary research, and requires outside reviews of the program. In the Senate, Ron Wyden (D-OR) and George Allen (R-VA) have introduced a less far-reaching bill which all sponsors hope to reconcile between the House and Senate this spring.

A new Government Agencies Technology Exchange in Manufacturing (GATE-M) has been launched to improve the exchange of information about technical programs and identify potential areas of collaboration. The agencies involved are NIST, the Departments of Energy and Defense, NASA, and the National Science Foundation. Initially, the GATE-M agencies will focus on:

Intelligence in manufacturing, a cross-cutting technology area where industry is only beginning to use capabilities made possible by intelligent, open-architecture controls that could have a major impact on supply chain cost, quality and reliability.

Nano- and micro-scale systems and technologies, which presents many manufacturing and systems issues related to electrical and mechanical applications, assembly, and measuring techniques and tools. GATE-M activities in this area will be coordinated with the National Nanotechnology Initiative.

GATE-M plans to issue joint white papers that represent interagency positions. Other possible strategies include the issuance of joint "challenges" to the research community to tackle and solve difficult technical obstacles, the development of joint Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) topics and awards, and joint support of studies by authoritative third parties to address technical issues.