NCSE Testifies in Support of Environmental Research and Education

May 18, 2007 -- The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) called upon Congress to increase investments in environmental research and education in fiscal year 2008.  NCSE’s written testimony is summarized below and the complete text is available here.

National Science Foundation .  NCSE urges Congress to appropriate at least $6.8 billion for the National Science Foundation (NSF) in FY 2008, an increase of $892 million or 15.1 percent relative to FY 2007.  NCSE supports this increase in order to put NSF on the five-year doubling track authorized in the America COMPETES Act (S. 761), which passed the United States Senate by a vote of 88-8 on April 25, 2007. 

The President’s budget request would increase funding for the National Science Foundation by $513 million or 8.7 percent to $6.43 billion in fiscal year 2008.  This proposal is the second installment of the President’s American Competitiveness Initiative, which would double the budgets of three science agencies over ten years.  

Under the President’s budget proposal for NSF, the growth rates for mathematical and physical sciences (8.9 percent), computer science (9.0 percent), and engineering (8.7 percent) would be above than the ten-year doubling trajectory, but the growth rates for geosciences (6.3 percent), biological sciences (4.1 percent), and social sciences (3.9 percent) would be below the ten-year doubling trajectory.  At a minimum, NCSE encourages Congress to boost funding for NSF’s disciplinary directorates that would fall below the ten-year doubling trajectory. 

The growth rates proposed for NSF’s geosciences, biological sciences, and social sciences directorates are not sufficient to meet the nation’s needs.  For example, NSF provides 68 percent of federal support for basic research in non-medical biological sciences at academic institutions in the United States and this research is critical to environmental stewardship, human welfare, and economic competitiveness.  The grant funding rate for NSF’s Biological Sciences Directorate has decreased significantly from over 20 percent in FY 2003 to an estimated 13 percent in FY 2007.  Over the past several years, the research grant funding rate for the Biological Sciences Directorate has been lower than the NSF-wide funding rate.  When adjusted for inflation, the proposed FY 2008 funding level for NSF’s Biological Sciences Directorate would be nearly equal to the FY 2003 level.  An increasing number of scientists have sought research support from this directorate as real funding has remained nearly constant.  Stagnant funding will not invigorate the nation’s innovation enterprise. 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .  NCSE joins with other members of the Friends of NOAA Coalition to strongly encourage Congress to appropriate $4.5 billion for NOAA in fiscal year 2008 – the same level recommended by the Senate for fiscal years 2006 and 2007 and the same amount recommended by the House Oceans Caucus.  NCSE urges Congress to appropriate sufficient funds for NOAA to carry out its formal and informal educational activities at all levels, including development and implementation of the science education plan required under the America COMPETES Act. 

NOAA provides important services to all Americans and it is time for Congress to demonstrate its commitment to NOAA for providing programs that are vital to our economy and to the health and well being of every resident.  An investment of $4.5 billion in NOAA averages out to $15 per person annually.  For that small amount, each American receives weather forecasting, hurricane tracking, tsunami warnings, navigational information, fisheries management, hazard mitigation, scientific research, and local community assistance.  Weather and climate sensitive industries account for about one-third of the nation’s gross domestic product. 

An investment of $4.5 billion in NOAA would represent significant progress toward addressing recommendations contained in the reports of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission, the report card recently issued by the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative, and the interagency Ocean Research Priorities Plan and Implementation Strategy.

U.S.Geological Survey.  The USGS budget has declined in real dollars for five consecutive years and is targeted for another cut in FY 2008.  In real terms, funding for the USGS is currently at its lowest level since FY 1996, when the National Biological Service was first integrated into the USGS. 

Proposed budget cuts would adversely affect the ability of the USGS to achieve its mission.  For example, more than $20 million would be cut from the Mineral Resources program, a devastating decrease of more than 40 percent.  The proposed budget would eliminate all funding for the Water Resources Research Institutes ($6.4 million in FY 2006), which are located in all 50 states.  Under the President’s FY 2008 budget proposal, net funding for the USGS would decline by approximately $8 million or 1 percent to $975 million. 

As a founding member and co-chair of the USGS Coalition, NCSE joins with numerous other organizations in recommending an appropriation of $1.2 billion for the U.S. Geological Survey in FY 2008.  This level of funding would enable the USGS to restore the science cuts proposed in the budget request, accelerate the timetable for deployment of critical projects, launch new science initiatives that provide the scientific basis for addressing emerging national needs, and begin to reverse the cumulative effects of the long-term funding shortfall that has left the USGS budget stagnant for the past decade.  After years of stagnant funding and absorption of uncontrollable cost increases, the USGS has a large and growing backlog of science and monitoring needs.  The USGS benefits every American every day.  It deserves the continued support of Congress. 

Environmental Protection Agency .  In order to fulfill its mission, EPA needs increased investments in both its intramural and extramural science programs, as well as such associated services as environmental education and information.  EPA’s strategic plan calls for science-based decisionmaking, but the agency will be unable to achieve this goal if its capacity to conduct science is not improved. 

EPA’s research and development portfolio has declined while the nation’s environmental challenges continue to grow.  EPA’s funding for R&D is at its lowest level in nearly two decades in real dollars and would fall even further under the President’s budget request for FY 2008.  After several years of steady declines, EPA’s R&D funding level in FY 2008 would be 27 percent below the FY 2004 funding level in real dollars, according to data compiled by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.  EPA’s extramural research grants program has suffered disproportionate budget cuts since FY 2002. 

NCSE recommends a minimum appropriation of $700 million for EPA’s Office of Research and Development (bringing it back to FY 2004 levels), including at least $150 million for EPA’s STAR research grants program and $20 million for EPA’s STAR graduate fellowship program.  NCSE recommends a total of $900 million for EPA’s Science and Technology account. NCSE also urges Congress to restore full funding for the Office of Environmental Education at a level of at least $10 million.

Craig Schiffries, Ph.D.
Director of Science Policy and Senior Scientist
National Council for Science and the Environment
1707 H Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20006
Tel: 202-530-5810
E-mail: policy@NCSEonline.org