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IEEE-USA Supports House Bill to Strengthen NSF

Washington (7 May 2002) — IEEE-USA supports the Investing in America's Future Act of 2002 (H.R. 4664), legislation to be introduced Thursday, 8 May to authorize funding increases for the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The bill, introduced by Nick Smith (R-Mich.) and cosponsors, would authorize 15 percent annual increases at the agency in FY 2003-2005. This would put the NSF budget on track to double in five years.

"NSF funds cutting-edge research in engineering and computing that are of tremendous interest to U.S. IEEE members, and ultimately beneficial to all Americans," IEEE-USA President LeEarl Bryant said. "NSF investments support our economy, not only by advancing the engineering sciences that fuel innovation, but through development of the nation's technological workforce."

An independent agency established by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 to advance scientific and engineering progress in the United States, NSF supports 46 percent of the basic research in engineering performed at universities and colleges, and helps train more than 25,000 graduate students each year.

"These funding increases would help NSF address new challenges, including information technology, nanotechnology and homeland security, and could help offset the recent declines in Defense Department support for electrical and electronics-related research at universities," IEEE-USA Vice President for Technology Policy Ralph W. Wyndrum said.

Added IEEE-USA R&D Policy Committee Chair Ron Hira: "This legislation would help to restore much-needed balance to federal funding of engineering and the physical sciences, which have begun to lag dangerously behind federal investments in health-related research."

IEEE-USA is an organizational unit of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers created in 1973 to promote the careers and public-policy interests of the more than 235,000 electrical, electronics, computer and software engineers who are U.S. members of the IEEE. The IEEE is the world's largest technical professional society. For more
information, go to http://www.ieeeusa.org.

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Last Updated: 24 April 2002
Staff Contact:  Chris McManes, c.mcmanes@ieee.org