May 27, 1999 The Honorable William Cohen Dear Secretary Cohen: On behalf of the 240,000 members of the IEEE-USA, I am writing to urge your support to maintain the technological superiority the US currently possesses and assure our future strength by submitting a request for the DOD’s Science and Technology Program sufficient to achieve these objectives. The Defense Science Board Task Force on Defense Science and Technology Base for the 21st Century recommended a funding level of $8 billion for this program in FY 2000. We are concerned with the administration's request to fund these vital research activities at $7.4 billion, which continues a downward trend in this research area. Continuing cuts and reduction in R&D momentum cannot be imposed without jeopardizing the nation's future security. DOD’s S&T Program supports research in the nation’s universities that is the bridge between fundamental science discoveries and future military applications. These activities make essential contributions to national defense by fueling innovation and training the scientists and engineers of tomorrow. The S&T Program also funds research in the DOD laboratories and private sector industries that focus on technologies to support future DOD systems. This focus on the long-term revolutionary changes in military technology will keep US forces ahead of future adversaries and enable a quick response to emerging threats such as chemical and biological agents. We fully understand the difficult position facing you and your colleagues of "doing more with less" that includes providing appropriate compensation to the men and women of our armed forces and adequate training to maintain our current superiority. However, we strongly encourage that an appropriate balance between current and future needs receive the highest priority. We therefore strongly endorse the Defense Science Board's recommendation raising the R&D funding level to $8 billion. We also urge that these funds be devoted exclusively to technology base activities and not to systems development. If you have any questions, please contact Raymond Paul at IEEE-USA, (202) 785-0017. Sincerely, Paul J. Kostek cc: The US Senate Committee on Armed Services
The Institute of
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