Status Report

AIP FYI #113: Senate Move to Double NSF Funding Still Seeking Support

By SpaceRef Editor
September 20, 2000
Filed under

Senators Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-Missouri) and Barbara Mikulski
(D-Maryland) are still looking for additional support from their
colleagues to double the National Science Foundation budget over
the next five years. They have the signatures of 38 senators
(counting themselves) on a letter to Senate Majority Leader Trent
Lott (R-Mississippi) and Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (D- South
Dakota) that advocates doubling of the foundation’s budget.
There is a general consensus among proponents of the National
Science Foundation that the expressed support of more senators is
needed — to ensure both a good appropriation for FY 2001 and to
demonstrate a commitment to this five year undertaking.

With the start of the new fiscal year only ten days away, the
timing is tight. Senators respond to letters such as that from
Bond and Mikulski when prompted by their constituents. Senate
offices may be reached by calling 202-224-3121.

FYI #84 contains the full text of the Bond/Mikulski letter. The
first and last paragraphs of the letter, sent on July 12, cite
the five year doubling effort, and read as follows:

“We are writing as longtime supporters of investments in
fundamental research and education the building blocks of the
new economy. Just as we have worked collectively to double the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget over five years, we
believe it is now time to launch a parallel effort to double the
budget of the National Science Foundation (NSF) over five years.
It is our strong belief that the success of NIH’s efforts to cure
deadly diseases such as cancer depends on the underpinning
research supported by NSF.”

“For all these reasons, we hope you will join us in adopting a
five-year goal of doubling the National Science Foundation by
fiscal year 2006.”

The following 38 senators have signed this letter:


  • Alaska: Ted Stevens (R)
  • California: Barbara Boxer (D), Dianne Feinstein (D)
  • Colorado: Wayne Allard (R)
  • Connecticut: Christopher J. Dodd (D), Joseph I. Lieberman (D)
  • Florida: Connie Mack (R)
  • Georgia: Max Cleland (D), Zell Miller (D)
  • Hawaii: Daniel K. Akaka (D)
  • Illinois: Richard J. Durbin (D)
  • Indiana: Evan Bayh (D)
  • Louisiana: Mary L. Landrieu (D)
  • Maryland: Paul S. Sarbanes (D), Barbara A. Mikulski (D)
  • Massachusetts: Edward M. Kennedy (D), John F. Kerry (D)
  • Michigan: Spencer Abraham (R), Carl Levin (D)
  • Minnesota: Ron Grams (R), Paul David Wellstone (D)
  • Missouri: John Ashcroft (R), Christopher “Kit” Bond (R)
  • New Mexico: Jeff Bingaman (D)
  • New York: Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D), Charles E. Schumer (D)
  • North Carolina: John Edwards (D)
  • North Dakota: Byron L. Dorgan (D)
  • Rhode Island: Jack Reed (D)
  • South Carolina: Strom Thurmond (R)
  • South Dakota: Tim Johnson (D)
  • Tennessee: Bill Frist (R), Fred Thompson (R)
  • Vermont: James M. Jeffords (R), Patrick J. Leahy (D)
  • Virginia: Charles S. Robb (D)
  • Washington: Patty Murray (D)
  • Wisconsin: Herbert H. Kohl (D)

It is important to note that another letter was sent to Senate
Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and
Ranking Minority Member Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia) stating:
“Senators Bond and Mikulski have just announced their intention
to double NSF in five years. This is a laudable goal and we urge
your support for NSF funding at levels sufficient to achieve this
goal.” This letter was signed by:


  • Michigan: Spencer Abraham (R)
  • Mississippi: Trent Lott (R)
  • Oklahoma: James M. Inhofe (R)
  • Utah: Robert F. Bennett (R)

A total of 41 senators have expressed support in the two letters
for a doubling of the National Science Foundation budget over the
next five years.

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Richard M. Jones
Public Information Division
American Institute of Physics
fyi@aip.org
(301) 209-3095
http://www.aip.org/gov
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SpaceRef staff editor.