piner@pur-phy.UUCP (Richard Piner) (03/22/86)
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 1986 11:10 AM EST Msg: BGIG-2214-4632
From: RPARK
To: WHATSNEW
Subj: What's New, Friday 21 March 1986 Washington, DC
1. THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY has not had a budget
authorization from the House in years and has learned to like
it that way. Because of the new discipline imposed by
"Grambo," however, they got an authorization this week that
completely dispelled the fantasy of the Reagan asking budget.
-- Basic Energy Sciences was reduced $50M below the
asking budget, but not before $11M was earmarked by the
Subcommittee on Energy Development for Chairman Don Fuqua's
pet computer project at Florida State.
-- General Science and Research, which includes high
energy physics and nuclear physics, was slashed $l40M below
the asking budget, a staggering 18%. Specifically,
construction funds for CEBAF were cut from $25M to $17M.
-- To prevent the SSC from languishing while more and
more money is poured into studies, Fuqua introduced language
requiring the Secretary of Energy either to make a decision
during FY 86 to proceed with construction or to cease all
funding for the project in FY 87.
Although the authorization is not binding, it is unusual
for appropriations to exceed the authorized levels. This is
the first real look at the FY 87 chicken entrails. The
prognosis is grim.
2. REPRESENTATIVE DON FUQUA (D-FLA), Chairman of the
Committee on Science and Technology, announced last week he
will not seek reelection at the end of this year. It is
rumored that he has been offered a lucrative position in the
private sector. The heir apparent is Robert A. Roe (D-NJ),
the second-ranking member of the committee. His views on
science are a mystery. No one seems to recall having seen
him at committee hearings.
3. THE PRESIDENTS OF 27 SCIENTIFIC, ENGINEERING AND
MATHEMATICS SOCIETIES have responded to an initiative of The
American Physical Society by co-signing letters to each of
the members of the House and Senate budget committees,
expressing their concern over the possible consequences of an
inadequate investment in research. The letter observes that
no amount of spending reduction can succeed in reducing the
deficit without the revenues produced by a healthy economy
and urges Congress to sustain growth in fundamental research
as an essential element of that health. It is unprecedented
for so many societies, representing such a broad range of
disciplines, to cooperate in this sort of activity.
Robert L. Park (202) 429-1946
American Physical Society THAT'S ALL 3/21/86