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Bill to Strengthen NSF WASHINGTON (25 November 2002) — The National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (H.R. 4664), which IEEE-USA has supported since its introduction in May, cleared the Senate on 14 November and heads to the President for his signature. The House Science Committee bill, introduced by Nick Smith (R-Mich.) and bipartisan cosponsors, authorizes a 15 percent annual increase for the National Science Foundation (NSF) in FY 2003-2005. This puts the NSF budget on track to double by FY 2007 to $9,839,262,000. "NSF funds cutting-edge research in engineering and computing that are of tremendous value and interest to U.S. IEEE members, and ultimately beneficial to all Americans," IEEE-USA President LeEarl Bryant said. "These funds will help maintain a viable U.S. technology workforce, which is critical to our nation's economic competitiveness and security." Other highlights of H.R. 4664 include authorization of the President's Math and Science Education Partnership Program in elementary and secondary schools; new research into plant biotechnology; and the Tech Talent program to address the decline in the technical workforce and to improve undergraduate math and science education. "These programs will help NSF address new challenges, including information technology, nanotechnology and homeland security, and could help offset the recent declines in Defense Department support for electrical and electronics-related research at universities," IEEE-USA Vice President for Technology Policy Ralph W. Wyndrum said. Research Subcommittee Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) praised the bill. "This is truly an historic piece of legislation for science policy in the United States that will have profound and lasting effect on the future prosperity of our nation," she said. An independent agency established by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 to advance scientific and engineering progress in the United States, NSF is the government's premier research agency. It supports 46 percent of the basic research in engineering performed at universities and colleges, and helps train more than 25,000 graduate students each year. "Scientific research at NSF has advanced science and technology and greatly enhanced our lives," Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) said. "Investment in the sciences is an investment in our future." IEEE-USA is an organizational unit of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers created in 1973 to promote the careers and public-policy interests of the more than 235,000 electrical, electronics, computer and software engineers who are U.S. members of the IEEE. The IEEE is the world's largest technical professional society. For more information, go to http://www.ieeeusa.org.
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November 2002 |