Contact: Chris McManes IEEE-USA,
CNSR Seek Increase to Washington (12 June 2002) — Because homeland security has never been more important, Dr. Allan C. Schell, a member of IEEE-USA’s Research and Development Policy Committee, asked the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense on Wednesday to provide funding of at least $11 billion for the Department of Defense Science and Technology Program (accounts 6.1 – 6.3) for Fiscal Year 2003. Funding for FY ’02 is $9.89 billion. Schell, speaking on behalf of IEEE-USA and the Coalition for National Security Research (CNSR), asked the subcommittee to fund the DoD S&T Program accounts for basic research (6.1), applied research (6.2) and advanced technology development (6.3) at 3 percent of the overall department budget. The funding plays a critical role in ensuring the national security of the United States and the safety and effectiveness of our armed forces, Schell testified. The S&T Program supports the fundamental research, development and demonstrations in sciences and technologies identified as important to military capabilities and operations. This includes the development of our nation’s high-tech weapons systems and the technology base upon which they rely. The S&T Program also supports a major share of university research, including a majority of total federal investment in electrical and mechanical engineering. Schell noted that this research pays dividends beyond the battlefield. “These defense science programs contribute to the research enterprise of the country and to the education of tomorrow’s scientists, engineers and policy makers,” Schell said. “The Defense Department provides a critical investment in several disciplines — including engineering and physical, math, computer and behavioral sciences — vital to our future national security.” Schell's testimony can be accessed at www.ieeeusa.org/forum/policy/02June12.html. 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. CNSR is a broadly based coalition united by a commitment to a stronger defense science and technology base. Participants include scientific, engineering, mathematical and behavioral societies, academic institutions and industrial associations. Visit www.cnsr.org for more information.
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April 2002 |
