President highlights spending, energy, and education in State of the Union address

Searching for common ground with Congressional Democrats, President Bush focused his 2007 State of the Union address on balancing the federal budget, reducing U.S. dependence upon foreign sources of oil, and improving America's public school system.

President Bush set an ambitious goal of reducing the federal budget deficit in the next five years. "In the coming weeks, I will submit a budget that eliminates the federal deficit within the next five years," he said. "I ask you to make the same commitment. Together, we can restrain the spending appetite of the federal government, and we can balance the federal budget." Bush also made earmark reform a priority, calling on Congress "to cut the number and cost of earmarks at least in half by the end of this session."

Education policy also featured prominently in the speech. The president asked Congress to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act, arguing that the measure has reduced the student achievement gap and promoted more accountability. Bush highlighted the need to use the law to strengthen science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, and thus, further his American Competitiveness Initiative. "We can make sure our children are prepared for the jobs of the future and our country is more competitive by strengthening math and science skills," he said.

The president also unveiled his "Twenty in Ten" plan, an ambitious energy package meant to reduce U.S. use of gasoline by 20 percent in 10 years. "Let us build on the work we've done and reduce gasoline usage in the United States by 20 percent in the next 10 years. When we do that, we will have cut our total imports by the equivalent of three-quarters of all the oil we now import from the Middle East."

"Twenty in Ten" calls for a mandatory alternative fuel standard to require 35 billion gallons of non-fossil fuels by 2017, a boost in funds for advanced energy technology research, reform of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standards, and expanded domestic oil production. The president recently signed Executive Order 13327, which would in effect boost government use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The entire State of the Union address can be read at www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070123-2.html. More about the administration's energy initiatives can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070124-4.html.

NSF director warns of continuing resolution's long-term effects

Arden L. Bement, Jr., director of the National Science Foundation, warns of the possible long-term consequences of a continuing resolution on the agency's ability to fund activities planned for the current fiscal year. In an open letter to members of Congress, Bement wrote:

"Most Federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), are operating under a Continuing Resolution (CR) through February 15, 2007. Under the terms of this current CR, NSF is being funded at the FY 2006 level, roughly $400 million below the administration's FY 2007 request.

"The outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year remains highly uncertain, with one possibility being an extension of funding at the current level. While we are acutely aware of the tight constraints on the available budgetary resources, NSF is continuing to issue program announcements and solicitations as previously planned.

"It is likely, however, that NSF may be unable to fund a number of activities planned for this fiscal year. We believe it is important for NSF's grantee community to be aware of this uncertainty, as a number of activities may be affected later in the fiscal year.

"We will do our best to keep the science, engineering, and education communities informed of budget developments, and will continue our efforts to minimize any negative impacts to our nation's scientific capability and economic competitiveness."

For additional information, see www.nsf.gov/about/congress.

ASME Center for Public Awareness endorses SPEAK Act

On Jan. 11, the ASME Center for Public Awareness endorsed the Standards to Provide Educational Achievement for Kids (SPEAK) Act, recently introduced by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and Rep. Vernon Ehlers, R-Mich. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would create rigorous, voluntary core standards for children in grades K–12 in math and science, and would provide incentives for states to adopt these standards in an effort to ensure that all students, regardless of where they live, are taught to common, rigorous education standards.

In its endorsement letter, the ASME Center for Public Awareness said, "ASME has long been encouraging the adoption of rigorous curriculum standards that cultivate high student performance, and foster creativity, experimental problem-solving, and critical thinking. With the current variability in the measures, standards, and benchmarks for student academic achievement in STEM education across states, America's highly mobile student-aged population moves through the nation's schools gaining widely varying levels of knowledge, skills and preparedness. Developing these academic content standards and providing incentives for states to use them, all American students could be given the same opportunity to learn to a high standard no matter where they reside in the future."

To view the entire letter, please visit http://files.asme.org/asmeorg/NewsPublicPolicy/GovRelations/
PositionStatements/11142.pdf.

More information about the SPEAK Act can be found at www.newamerica.net/events/2007/preparing_u_s_students_for_
the_global_economy.

 

House S&T chair reintroduces innovation bills

House Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., has reintroduced three bills he authored in the 109th Congress. The trio of measures will serve as the cornerstone of the Democrats' competitiveness and innovation agenda.

"Innovation and competitiveness are just buzzwords until Congress takes action to make them a reality," said Gordon. "These bills are familiar and their provisions are widely acknowledged. They serve to enact measures to strengthen the standing in the global community, make sure our kids are prepared for the careers of the future, and usher in bold changes to this country's approach to energy research."

Gordon plans to move the three bills through the committee early this year:

• "10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds" Science and Math Scholarship Act (H.R. 362) would increase the number of U.S. math and science teachers by 10,000 annually by providing scholarships to science, math, and engineering students who commit to becoming science or math teachers at elementary and secondary schools upon earning their degrees.

• Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act (H.R. 363) would authorize a 10 percent funding increase per year for basic research in the physical sciences at key federal agencies.

• Advanced Research Projects Agency — Energy (ARPA-E) Act (H.R. 364) would provide funding for innovative research projects carried out by industry, universities, and consortia of groups.

For additional information, including a section-by-section analysis of the three bills, go to http://science.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1238.

ASME Federal Fellow applications now being accepted

ASME is accepting applications for the 2007–2008 Federal Government Fellowship program. This program enables selected ASME members to devote a year working in government as they provide engineering and technical advice to policy makers in Congress, federal agencies, and the White House.

Established engineers or scientists may apply for the following 2007–08 Federal Government Fellowships:

Congressional Fellowships
Congressional Fellowships are designed to provide a unique public policy learning experience, demonstrate the value of science-government interaction, and bring technical backgrounds and external perspectives to the decision-making process in Congress. Fellows would spend one year working with members of Congress or congressional committees. Congressional Fellows may serve from January through December or September through August, at their option. The deadline to submit an application for this Fellowship is April 1, 2007.

Office of Science and Technology Policy Fellowship
An applicant chosen to serve as a Federal Fellow in the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President, would articulate the policies and priorities of the administration, plan and coordinate interactions with federal and state agencies, and interact with industry and Congress. Candidates who possess (or can easily obtain) a security clearance are encouraged to apply. Information about OSTP is available at www.ostp.gov.

Department of Homeland Security
Applicants interested in serving at DHS must be well-versed in the area of risk analysis. Potential activities with which the ASME Fellow could provide technical assistance include: creating and implementing preparedness plans; developing procedures and policies that will guide the nation's actions in the event of a terrorist attack; conducting training and exercises to ensure that first responders possess a necessary level of preparedness; and enhancing partnerships with state and local governments, private sector institutions, and other organizations. Candidates who possess (or can easily obtain) a security clearance are encouraged to apply.

Because of the limited number of Fellowships available each year, the process is very competitive. A stipend of $50,000 will be awarded to each Fellow/Congressional Fellowship. A Fellowship applicant must be a U.S. citizen and an ASME member at the time of application. The following credentials are encouraged: at least five years of professional experience, an advanced engineering degree, professional engineer registration, and some public policy experience.

For additional information about the Federal Fellows program, visit
www.asme.org/NewsPublicPolicy/GovRelations/Programs/
Federal_Government.cfm.

An online application is available at https://secure.asme.org/fedgovfellows/appform.cfm. For additional information, contact Kathryn Holmes, director, ASME Government Relations, (202) 785-7390, e-mail holmesk@asme.org.

— Joshua Craft
ASME Government Relations

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