John Ensign: “as a fiscal conservative there are very few areas in which I believe Federal funding should be increased. One of those…”

“as a fiscal conservative there are very few areas in which I believe Federal funding should be increased. One of those few areas, however, is that of the National Science Foundation. Funding of the National Science Foundation should be a national priority. Congress established the National Science Foundation in 1950 with the broad mission ``to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the national defense.'' In this capacity, NSF plays a critical role in underwriting basic research at colleges, universities, and other institutions throughout our Nation. Basic research supported by NSF in chemistry, physics, nanotechnology, genomics, and semiconductor manufacturing has brought about some of the most significant innovations of the last 20 years. For example, the World Wide Web, magnetic resonance imaging and fiber optics technology all emerged through basic research projects that received NSF funding. Research supported by NSF accounts for approximately 40 percent of non-life-science basic research at U.S. academic institutions while representing less than 4 percent of the Federal funding for R&D. Support for NSF's efforts to fund basic research is particularly important due to the impact of such research on innovation and global competitiveness. To remain globally competitive in the 21st century, the United States must continue to lead the world's innovation.…”