Achgill presents testimony on defense research

In his recent testimony before the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, Dennis Achgill, vice president of ASME's Board on Government Relations, emphasized the importance of the science and technology accounts at the Department of Defense (DOD).

"As a result of declining support for defense-related research and development for much of the past decade, the defense industry has had great difficulty in attracting and retaining the best-of-the-best engineering and scientific talents of this nation," Achgill noted.

He applauded subcommittee members who have promoted the continued strengthening of DOD's science and technology programs for the past two years and encouraged their continued support for a balanced portfolio of research investment.

Achgill concluded his remarks by noting, "It will take a great deal of continued attention to defense R&D to ensure that the best engineering and scientific minds are once again willing to apply their talents to meeting the future defense needs of this nation."

For a copy of Achgill's remarks, contact Kathryn Holmes at (202) 785-3756 or at holmesk@asme.org. ASME's position statement on the Science and Technology fiscal year 2002 budget request for the Department of Defense may be viewed at www.asme.org/gric/ps01.html.

Energy Committee releases statement on national policy

The Energy Committee of the Council on Engineering has released an extensive position statement with recommendations addressing the applied research and development needs for energy development over the next 20 years.

"U.S. Energy R&D Needs for the New Millennium" outlines a comprehensive energy strategy to ensure a sustainable supply of energy for the United States, noting that "old approaches based on past technologies and models of energy markets will not solve our emerging energy problems."

The statement offers 10 recommendations for consideration by U.S. policy makers as they begin consideration of a national energy plan and emphasizes that "the United States must reinvigorate its investments in long-term, basic scientific research to provide the necessary scientific and engineering breakthroughs well into the 21st century."

To view the entire statement, go to www.asme.org/gric/ps01.html. For additional information on energy issues, contact Francis Dietz at (202) 785-3756 or at dietzf@asme.org.

ASME Group issues assessment of fiscal 2002 NSF budget request

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Task Force of the Council on Education (COEd) recently released a statement with the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies on the fiscal year 2002 budget request for NSF.

The statement discusses a number of particularly noteworthy items in the fiscal 2002 budget request, including the planned increase in graduate fellowship stipend levels; expanded funding for the nanotechnology initiative; and NSF's participation in K-12 math, science and engineering education initiatives.

However, the statement expresses concern in several areas, including the gross funding imbalance in the federal R&D portfolio between life sciences and engineering and physical sciences, insufficient support for core engineering programs at NSF, and inadequate funding levels for existing grants.

To view a copy of the complete statement, refer to www.asme.org/gric/ps01.html. For questions on specific NSF initiatives, contact Patti Burgio at (202) 785-3756 or at burgiop@asme.org.

Division calls for greater support of bioengineering R&D

In its recent statement to House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor-HHS, ASME's Bioengineering Division strongly urged Congress to provide increased funding for bioengineering research across the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to meet the anticipated future explosion in biomedical engineering research.

Specifically, the division supports the fiscal 2002 budget request of $40.2 million for the newly established National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) and urged that its Advisory Committee, yet to be established, should achieve an equitable balance between radiologists and engineers.

The Bioengineering Division also expressed concern that federal funding of research and development at other science and engineering mission agencies is not keeping pace with support for R&D in the life sciences. The division urged a more balanced federal R&D portfolio to support basic physical science and engineering research that provides the foundation for continued and future biomedical breakthroughs.

The entire position statement may be viewed at www.asme.org/gric/ps01.html. For more information about bioengineering of the NIBIB, contact Mary Legatski at (202) 785-3756 or at legatskim@asme.org.

— Mary Legatski
ASME Government Relations

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