Jerry Brown: “We found in our markup before the Committee on Science that the authors of H.R. 3322 have a fundamental misconception of…”

“We found in our markup before the Committee on Science that the authors of H.R. 3322 have a fundamental misconception of what basic research is. The categories of research they have defined as basic do not comport with any other definitions used by the OMB, by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or by any other group that we know of. Yet the definitions that have been fabricated for the purpose of this bill constitute the underlying science policy and budget policy that the authors intend to guide the science establishment. We found, when examining the actual figures in H.R. 3322 and the substitute I am offering, that the Republican bill is virtually identical in fiscal year 1996 levels for overall basic research. My substitute represents an increase of about 3 percent over fiscal year 1996 levels. Thus, contrary to the assertions of its authors, H.R. 3322 offers no increase in basic research over the President or over my substitute. In fact, just the opposite is true. The most significant budgetary problem however, is represented by the nonbasic research programs that include such important activities as weather forecasting, aeronautical research, environmental research as well as personnel levels of scientists and engineers. The Republican bill cuts these accounts by over 7 percent in nominal terms, close to 10 percent with inflation. My substitute provides enough to keep pace with inflation this year.”