Sherwood Boehlert: “Mr. Chairman, I want to congratulate Chairman Brown and Chairman Boucher on bringing forward a fine National Science…”

“Mr. Chairman, I want to congratulate Chairman Brown and Chairman Boucher on bringing forward a fine National Science Foundation authorization bill, as usual. We will have debate later on the precise funding levels in this bill--I think they are unrealistic now--but there is no difference on fundamental principles. NSF continues to be a model agency, well run, well organized, carrying out a proper and focused mission. I think it is safe to say that our committee remains unanimous in its admiration for the Foundation's work. I think our committee is also unanimous in its support for the NSF facilities program. This is not a partisan issue. Republican and Democratic administrations have opposed full funding for this program; Republican and Democratic legislatives have supported it. I am not sure why administrations oppose this program--perhaps it is a bit of 'not invented here' syndrome. After all, the data demonstrating the need for facilities improvements has come out of reports requested by the White House--reports by people appointed by the White House. And the need for improved facilities comes up any time any of us are on university campuses. So, I think we will stick with our efforts to build up the facilities program, and I expect the Senate will follow suit. The most important provision in this bill, as far as I am concerned, is title V--undergraduate education.”