Vernon Ehlers: “first of all, I have to make a correction. The gentleman from New York keeps saying that he is not cutting NSF.…”

“first of all, I have to make a correction. The gentleman from New York keeps saying that he is not cutting NSF. Actually, the National Science Foundation appropriation under this bill is still less than fiscal year 2004 due to the large cut last year. Furthermore, the Research and Related Activities account, which we have been discussing with this amendment, will be cut $60 million below fiscal year 2004 levels by this amendment. We have not only started to eat our seed corn, I read an article last week that said the seed corn is almost gone. Because other countries are making this a high priority, they are doing much better than we are in research. Let me illustrate the importance of research activities. When I was a graduate student fifty years ago, a friend of mine, Charlie Townes, was working on development of a laser. Today I hold in my hand a laser which I purchased downstairs in the stationery shop for $15. That is how far we have come in 50 years. The laser industry, which rose from a simple grant to Dr. Townes from the National Science Foundation of a few million dollars, is today a multi-multibillion-dollar industry in this country. That is the kind of rate of return we get on our investment in research and our funding of the National Science Foundation. Reject this amendment. It goes in totally the wrong direction. The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner).…”