Update on NSF Budget Effort

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

FYI
The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Science Policy News
Number 61: May 11, 2004

Update on Effort to Increase FY 2005 NSF Budget

There is still time for representatives to sign a letter written by
Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-MI) and Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) asking House
appropriators to provide the "highest possible level" of funding for
the National Science Foundation for FY 2005.  As of today, 91
Members of the House have signed this letter.  A similar letter last
year had 150 signatures.  The deadline for Members to sign the
letter is this Friday, May 14.

The outlook on the NSF FY 2005 budget remains very uncertain.  Key
senators and representatives have been unable to agree on a broad
framework around which the thirteen appropriations bills will be
written.  While the appropriations committees will be able to act on
their bills after this Saturday, there is every indication that the
budget process will be especially long and difficult this year.

As discussed in FYI #46, this letter is being sent to VA, HUD, and
Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman James
Walsh (R-NY) and Ranking Minority Member Alan Mollohan (D-WV).  This
subcommittee has jurisdiction over the budget for the National
Science Foundation.  The leaders and members of this subcommittee
are strong supporters of the NSF, but they are operating under very
stringent fiscal constraints as they write a bill that funds many
important federal programs.

The Administration requested an FY 2005 budget increase of $167
million or 3% for NSF.  There is concern that the final
appropriations bill could provide an increase of even less than this
amount.

The key words in the Ehlers/Holt letter are those in the final
paragraph:  "We are mindful that you will be faced with very
difficult choices this year.  We respectfully request your support
to fund NSF at the highest possible level--we cannot afford to
sacrifice the research and education which current and future
generations need to ensure their economic prosperity and domestic
security."  The full text of the letter can be read at
http://www.aip.org/enews/fyi/2004/046.html

Below is a list of the Members who have agreed to sign this letter,
sorted by state.  Readers who want information on how to contact
their representatives may consult
http://www.aip.org/gov/commcong.html

Arizona:
Grijalva, Raul (D)
Hayworth, J.D. (R)

California:
Berman, Howard (D)
Capps, Lois (D)
Cardoza, Dennis (D)
Davis, Susan (D)
Eshoo, Anna (D)
Honda, Michael (D)
Lantos, Tom (D)
Lee, Barbara (D)
Lofgren, Zoe (D)
Matsui, Robert (D)
Millender-McDonald, Juanita (D)
Miller, George (D)
Schiff, Adam (D)
Tauscher, Ellen (D)

Colorado:
Udall, Mark (D)

Connecticut:
DeLauro, Rosa (D)

Georgia:
Gingrey, Phil (R)
Lewis, John (D)

Illinois:
Biggert, Judy (R)
Costello, Jerry (D)
Johnson, Timothy (R)
Schakowsky, Janice (D)

Indiana:
Hill, Baron (D)

Iowa:
Leach, James (R)

Kansas:
Moore, Dennis (D)

Maine:
Allen, Thomas (D)
Michaud, Michael (D)

Maryland:
Cardin, Benjamin (D)
Cummings, Elijah (D)
Van Hollen, Chris (D)

Massachusetts:
Capuano, Michael (D)
Markey, Edward (D)
McGovern, James (D)
Neal, Richard (D)

Michigan:
Conyers, John (D)
Dingell, John (D)
Ehlers, Vernon (R)
Kildee, Dale (D)
Levin, Sander (D)
McCotter, Thaddeus (R)
Rogers, Mike (R)
Smith, Nick (R)
Stupak, Bart (D)
Upton, Fred (R)

Minnesota:
Oberstar, James (D)

Mississipi:
Thompson, Bennie (D)

Missouri:
McCarthy, Karen (D)

New Jersey:
Holt, Rush (D)
Pallone, Frank (D)
Payne, Donald (D)

New York:
Bishop, Tim (D)
Boehlert, Sherwood (R)
Engel, Eliot (D)
Hinchey, Maurice (D)
Maloney, Carolyn (D)
McCarthy, Carolyn (D)
McHugh, John (R)
McNulty, Michael (D)
Meeks, Gregory (D)
Nadler, Jerrold (D)
Owens, Major (D)
Slaughter, Louise McIntosh (D)
Weiner, Anthony (D)

North Carolina:
Ballance, Frank (D)
Etheridge, Bob (D)
McIntyre, Mike (D)

Ohio:
Brown, Sherrod (D)
Jones, Stephanie Tubbs (D)

Oregon:
Hooley, Darlene (D)

Pennsylvania:
Doyle, Mike (D)
Weldon, Curt (R)

Rhode Island:
Langevin, James (D)

Tennessee:
Cooper, Jim (D)
Davis, Lincoln (D)
Gordon, Bart (D)

Texas:
Burgess, Michael (R)
Frost, Martin (D)
Gonzalez, Charles (D)
Green, Gene (D)
Hall, Ralph (R)
Jackson-Lee, Sheila (D)
Johnson, Eddie Bernice (D)
Lampson, Nick (D)
Smith, Lamar (R)

Utah:
Matheson, Jim (D)

Vermont:
Sanders, Bernard (I)

Virginia:
Moran, James (D)

Washington:
Baird, Brian (D)
Inslee, Jay (D)
McDermott, Jim (D)
Smith, Adam (D)

Wisconsin:
Baldwin, Tammy (D)

###############
Richard M. Jones
Media and Government Relations Division
The American Institute of Physics
fyi () aip org    http://www.aip.org/gov
(301) 209-3094
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