William F. Smith: “I commend the Leadership and Members of the Appropriations Committee for bringing this legislation to the House floor…”

“I commend the Leadership and Members of the Appropriations Committee for bringing this legislation to the House floor and in concluding the FY 2003 funding process. This bill provides critical resources for essential and much needed scientific, research and advanced technology initiatives. As a member of the Research Subcommittee of the House Science Committee, I would like to express appreciation for the continued funding of many valuable research programs, both within the government and for the commercial sector. Funding continues for the many federal research programs, including NIH, NSF, NOAA, NASA and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Within NIST, funding for the Advanced Technology Program is provided. ATP assists in the commercialization of promising technologies and provides federal resources that are much needed and scarce in the current economy and investment climate. I would like to recommend an additional category for consideration in the use and awards of ATP funds for FY 2002-03 grants. Important advances in digital holographic technology are being developed, with broad applications for commercial as well as governmental uses, both defense and non-defense.”