Aerospace Division urges conferees to increase NASA R&D funding

The ASME Aerospace Division has sent a letter to Senate and House conferees on the VA-HUD appropriations bill urging support for the provisions in the Senate bill, S.1216, that increase funding for NASA's research and development programs within the Science, Aeronautics and Technology Programs to $7.7 billion for fiscal year 2002.

Of that amount, $2.5 billion would be directed to NASA's aerospace technology programs. The letter also supports language in House Conference Report 107-159 that directs NASA to "reestablish a consolidated aeronautics line in the fiscal year 2002 operating plan that covers all research-based, focused and advanced technology programs, and related test facilities and civil service costs."

To view the letter, go to www.asme.org/gric/ps/2001/01-37.html. For additional information on NASA research and development funding, contact Kathryn Holmes at (202) 785-3756 or at holmesk@asme.org.

'Tech talent' bill introduced in House and Senate

Legislation designed to address the decline in the nation's technical workforce, and to improve undergraduate math and science education, has been introduced in both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

The bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Sens. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn.; Barbara Mikulski, D-Md.; Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and Pete Domenici, R-N.M., and Reps. Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., and John Larson, D-Conn., would establish a competitive grants program through the National Science Foundation to undergraduate institutions pledging to increase the number of U.S. citizens or permanent residents obtaining degrees in science, math, engineering and technology (SMET) fields. A pilot program, which would award three-year grants, is authorized at $25 million in fiscal year 2002, with funding increases anticipated.

The K-12 SMET Coalition, of which ASME's Council on Education is a member, sent a letter to House Science Committee Chairman Boehlert, thanking him for taking a leadership role on this important issue. To view the letter, go to www. asme.org/gric/ps/2001/01-42.html.

For additional information, contact Patti Burgio at (202) 785-3756 or at burgiop@asme.org.

Energy Committee calls on Senate conferees to support nuclear and renewables R&D

The Energy Committee of the ASME Council on Engineering has called on Senate conferees on the Energy and Water Development appropriations bill for fiscal year 2002 to support funding for nuclear and renewable energy research, including hydropower.

The Energy Committee's letter specifically urges that the conference committee accede to the Senate recommendation of $38 million for the Nuclear Energy Research Initiative, as well as the Senate recommendation of $9 million for the Nuclear Energy Plant Optimization Program. With regard to renewable energy research, ASME's Energy Committee recommends that conferees adopt the Senate proposal of $15.3 million for concentrating on solar research, as well as the House proposal of $27 million for geothermal research.

To view the Energy Committee's letter, go to www.asme.org/gric/ps/2001/ 01-36.html. For additional information on energy research and development issues, contact Francis Dietz at (202) 785-3756 or at dietzf@asme.org.

Paper on technology and emission goals to be updated

In response to a request from the ASME Industry Advisory Board (IAB), the Councils on Public Affairs and Engineering have established an Editorial Board to update the Society's 1999 general position paper on "Technology Implications for the U.S. of the Kyoto Protocol Carbon Emissions Goals."

Tom Mancini, chairman of the COE Energy Committee, and Chuck Velzy, past president of ASME, will lead the effort. A draft outline of the update is being composed and will be the basis for a workshop to flesh out details of the new paper. The goal is to have the update completed by mid-2002.

For more information, contact Francis Dietz at (202) 785-3756 or at dietzf@ asme.org.

Task force formed to review ME research figures

The ASME Inter-Council Committee on Federal Research and Development (ICCRE&D) has formed a task force to explore trends in federal R&D funding of mechanical and other engineering disciplines.

The task force was formed out of concern stemming from a recently released report of the National Research Council's (NSC) Board on Science, Technology and Economic Policy that found a significant decline in federal support of engineering research and graduate education.

To view a PDF file of the report's executive summary, go to www.nap.edu. For additional information on the report itself, go to www.nationalacademies.org/step.

For additional information on the ICCFR&D task force, contact Reese Meisinger at (202) 785-3756 or at meisingerr@asme.org.

Public Affairs Leadership Conference rescheduled

Because of the Sept. 11 attacks and the continued closure of Washington's Reagan National Airport, the Public Affairs Leadership Conference (PALC) has been rescheduled for May 5-7, 2002, at the Hilton Old Town in Alexandria, Va. Please look for the new PALC brochure at the Congress meeting this month in New York City or on the PALC Web site at www.asme.org/gric/palc.

For more information on the rescheduled PALC, contact Allian Pratt at (202) 785-3756 or at pratta@asme.org.

— Mary Legatski
ASME Government Relations

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