Promoting Electrotechnology Careers and Public Policy

September 8, 1999

The Honorable Dennis Hastert
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Rep. Hastert:

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - United States of America (IEEE-USA) urges you to fully fund science and engineering research and development programs in the FY2000 budget. The proposed cuts to NASA, DOE, and NSF could well have a devastating effect on our nation's scientific leadership.

The science and engineering community is distressed that science and engineering research is noticeably absent in the current discussion concerning the federal budget surplus. This is alarming given that it is widely accepted that over half the nation's economic growth in the last fifty years can be attributed to technological advances based on science and engineering research. The research conducted at the nation's laboratories and universities is now one of the prime underpinnings of the new economy. We are concerned that sharply reducing the federal support for these programs will have a very detrimental impact on sustaining this growth for future generations. In other words, without adequate support for research today, we cannot expect to realize budget surpluses in the future.

The link between basic research and the development of new technology that is the prime driver of today’s economy is increasingly being recognized. The Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan, has noted in recent speeches and testimony to Congress that he sees a high-tech economy as a natural inflation fighter and spurs longer-term growth. The Wall Street Journal cites that "For every dollar spent on basic research, we can expect a 50 cent per year increase in national output". We hope that you will also recognize this link and support full funding for the federal government's science and engineering research and development programs in FY2000.

IEEE-USA urges you to ensure the future health and vitality of our nation's economy by restoring funds to these vital research programs.

Sincerely,

Paul J. Kostek
President
IEEE-USA

(Note:  This letter sent to all Members of Congress, along with letters from 24 other science and engineering societies as part of an effort coordinated by the Science, Engineering and Technology Working Group)

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - United States of America
1828 L Street, N.W., Suite 1202, Washington, DC 20036-5104
Office: (202) 785-0017 * Fax: (202) 785-0835 * E-mail: ieeeusa@ieee.org

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Last Update: Sept. 8 ,1999
Staff Contact:  Raymond Paul, r.paul@ieee.org