WASHINGTON NEWS
FROM THE FEDERATION OF MATERIALS SOCIETIES
MARCH 8, 2004

OUTLOOK BLEAK FOR SCIENCE BUDGETS

While the Administration proposes a $6 billion increase in federal research and development spending for fiscal 2005 over FY 2004, virtually all the additional monies would go to weapons development and homeland security R&D. According to data compiled by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, most other R&D programs would receive flat or declining funding; basic and applied research funding would actually fall 0.1 percent to $56 billion. For a detailed analysis, see http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd

Congressional budget resolutions currently working their way through the House and Senate would actually freeze non-discretionary spending (including R&D accounts) at FY 2004 levels. While appropriations bills for individual agencies are expected to provide funding increases for specific programs, it is highly unlikely that all 13 appropriations measures can be passed during this election-foreshortened year. Many Congressional observers already are predicting a series of “continuing resolutions” to keep the government functioning at current spending levels.

Supporters of strong science and technology budgets in both houses of Congress already are working to reshape the President's proposals. In its “Views and Estimates” report, the House Science Committee notes the impact of budget deficits on the nation's long-term economic health, and “urges Congress to recognize the importance and contributions of science and technology to productivity and economic growth – and consequently – fiscal security.” The report declares that “Indeed, nothing benefits federal revenues over the long-term as much as accelerated economic growth, and nothing fuels long-term economic growth more than science and technology.”

Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-MI), Chairman of the Science Subcommittee on Environment, Technology and Standards, echoed that theme in testimony before the House Budget Committee. “Scientific research and development forms the foundation of increased innovation, economic vitality and national security,” he said. “Scientific research is an investment that promises, and has historically delivered, significant returns on that investment…Basic research and science education are essential to advances in medicine, military applications and continued economic prosperity, including the development of cancer therapies, GPS- or laser-guided missiles, and the Internet. As a nation, we cannot afford to starve basic science research and education.”

VISA PROCESS TO BE IMPROVED

Administration officials acknowledged before a House Science Committee hearing at the end of February that there are problems with the current visa process for science students and scholars, but outlined steps they are taking to improve the system and reduce visa delays. The officials were responding to problems identified in a General Accounting Office report, Border Security: Improvements Needed to Reduce Time Taken to Adjudicate Visas for Science Students and Scholars ( http://www.gao.gov )

Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) said, “When it comes to visa policy, we sometimes talk about finding ‘the proper balance' between enhancing homeland security and ensuring a thriving scientific enterprise. But talk of balance is in many ways misleading. Our nation will not be secure, in the long run, if it does not have a healthy scientific enterprise, and science cannot thrive in an atmosphere of insecurity. But security and science are also complementary in more practical ways that must be kept in mind when reviewing visa policy. A visa regime that casts too wide a net – that hold up just about everybody for excessive security checks – that regime is not good for security or for science.” Added Ranking Minority Member Bart Gordon (D-TN), “excessive delays and uncertainty in the visa program have made the U.S. less attractive as a destination for scientific training and for research collaborations. That's bad news for science. But just as importantly, it's bad news for America because our nation has benefited from welcoming the infusion of scientific and engineering talent from abroad. We need to find that place where the need to protect America's homeland security interests is balanced against the well-being of the nation's science and technology enterprise.”

In its report, GAO recommended that the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Director of the FBI and the Secretary of Homeland Security, develop and implement a plan to improve the security check process known as Visas Mantis to avoid unnecessary delays in visa issuance. Specifically, the government should:

• Consider actions to establish milestones to reduce the current number of pending Visas Mantis cases;

• Develop performance goals and measurements for processing Visas Mantis checks;

• Provide additional information to consular posts that clarifies guidance on the Visas Mantis program; and

• Work to achieve interoperable systems and expedite the transmittal of data between agencies.

DHS is continuing to work on improving the technical problems and critical process of the Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The agency also is working to increase its presence at consular posts throughout the world. The Office of Consular Affairs at the State Department is working to improve interoperability of computer systems by investing over $1 million to update from a cable-based system, which the FBI can connect to. The State Department also is continuing to improve officer training at the consular level to address questions and uncertainty regarding application of the Visa Mantis program.