Building Careers and Shaping Public Policy

20 October 2005

The Honorable Christopher Bond
United States Senate
274 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Bond:

I am writing on behalf of the more than 225,000 technology professionals who are U.S. members of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers to urge you to support at least the House-approved appropriation levels for the National Science Foundation during your conference on H.R. 2862. The House-approved levels contain increases for each Directorate within NSF's Research and Related Activities budget. While the differences may appear insignificant overall, the relative difference in each of these Directorates’ individual budgets can have a significant impact on their R&D programs.

Federal support for Science and Technology represents an investment in protecting and enhancing America’s tenuous technological leadership and competitive advantage in today’s global economy. Congress and the Bush Administration recognize the irrefutable benefits of providing robust funding for the National Science Foundation. The Investing in America's Future Act (Public Law 107-368), which had broad bipartisan support, authorized 15 percent annual increases at the National Science Foundation (NSF) over the period 2003-2005, which should have put the agency on track to double its budget in five years. As the rationale for Investing in America’s Future Act, Congress stated, “The economic strength and national security of the United States and the quality of life of all Americans are grounded in the Nation's scientific and technological capabilities.”

Unfortunately, the actual appropriated levels since that bill was signed have fallen far below the authorized levels. For Fiscal Year 2006, both the House of Representatives levels of $5.6 billion and the Senate levels of $5.5 billion are well short of the $8.5 billion authorized by law. IEEE-USA urges the conferees to put a stop to the continued attrition of NSF funding this year by adopting at least the House of Representatives numbers and we strongly encourage the Congress and Administration to make a commitment in the future for a robust NSF and allocate funding at levels more consistent with those authorized in Public Law 107-368.

Thank you for your consideration. For more information, please contact Bill Williams at (202) 530-8331 or at bill.williams@ieee.org.

Sincerely,

Gerard A. Alphonse, Ph.D.
IEEE-USA President

[Similar letter went to all Members of the Senate Commerce-
Justice-Science Appropriations Bill Conferees.]