On the recordJuly 13, 2011
The Department of Energy owns world-class facilities and researchers, and we should be taking full advantage of these facilities and not cut this account to where we are not able to use the capital fixed assets we have for this significant request in a reduction in funding. I would point out to my colleagues, in 2006 President Bush made a commitment to double the budget for the Office of Science over a decade. The commitment to double funding for research and development by President Bush in science and technology was a response to stark warnings from a group of government experts and business leaders that warned in their report, known as ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm,'' that the scientific and technological building blocks critical to our economic leadership are eroding at a time when many other nations are gathering strength. I would certainly share the gentleman's concern about some of the myriad programs and ensuring that they do communicate with one another. He had mentioned the hubs. I had been critical of hubs in my past comments. He has talked about management. I have been very critical of the Department of Energy as far as their project management. But I would also point out that in relative terms, I believe that the Office of Science, and particularly given the leadership under President Bush by Dr.…
