piner@pur-phy.UUCP (Richard Piner) (11/15/85)
Posted: Fri Aug 30, 1985 10:45 AM EDT Msg: DGIF-2061-2491 From: RPARK To: WHATSNEW CC: RPark Subj: What's New WHAT'S NEW, Friday, August 30, 1985 Washington, D.C. 1. FUNDING FOR BASIC RESEARCH HAS INCREASED as a proportion of the Gross National Product from 0.297 percent in 1975 to an estimated 0.345 percent in 1985 according to D. Bruce Merrifield, Assistant Secretary of Commerce. While the Reagan Administration has emphasized the need for the federal government to support basic research, the figures are highly sensitive to the definition of basic, since total R&D spending contains relatively little "R." Total US R&D fell from a high of 2.9% in 1964 to 2.2% in 1978, but under the Reagan Administration has climbed back to an estimated 2.72% in 1985. Responding to concerns raised by Gorbachev's speech outlining Soviet economic policy for the next five years (What's New, July 26), Merrifield stated, "I am confident of our ability to maintain our scientific and technological leadership in the face of any Soviet challenge." Representative William Gray (D-PA), Chairman of the House Budget Committee, also commented on Gorbachev's speech. He notes that although the budget resolution recently enacted by Congress assumes level funding for FY86, the budget process allows money to be shifted among programs. He acknowledges, however, that "It is becoming increasingly difficult for the Appropriations Committee to make these funding re-allocations in budgets which are so distorted with large defense spending increases and reduced revenues. . . We must first do everything we can to solve our fiscal problems if we want to have a reasonable chance of properly addressing the legitimate funding needs of our federal science programs." 2. THE UNITED STATES INSTITUTE FOR PEACE was created by an amendment to the Omnibus Defense Authorization Act for FY85 almost one year ago (What's New, October 12, 1984). In addition to a grants program, the Institute will examine the nature and consequences of international conflicts, develop techniques to resolve strife, and provide support and coordination of various organizations involved in peace studies. Peace research was given $4 million in a bill raising defense funding to $297 billion. Supporters of the Peace Institute, however, complain that the Administration, which opposed its creation, is employing a technique Reagan has perfected known as the "andante veto." The law required President Reagan to nominate a 15 member board of directors by April 20, 1985. So far, however, there have been only seven nominations. These include Max Kampelman, chief US negotiator in the Geneva arms control talks, Kenneth Adelman, director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency and Richard Perle, assistant secretary of defense for international security policy. Robert L. Park American Physical Society THAT'S ALL 8/30/85