Van Hollen Opposes Funding Cuts in NIST and NOAA

Floor Speech

07/23/04

Washington, D.C. - Mr. Chairman, it is with great reluctance that I oppose this bill. However, I cannot support a bill that makes such deep cuts in investments important to our nation.

Mr. Chairman, among the many egregious cuts in this bill, this Commerce-Justice-State Appropriations bill for 2004 decreases funding for two critical agencies-the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST.

The bill appropriates 6 percent less, or $181 million, than the current fiscal year for NOAA programs, and is even 8 percent less than the President's request for 2004.

The bill also funds several distinct programs within NOAA, which will also suffer serious cuts. The National Weather Service, while receiving a small 3 percent increase over the current fiscal year, will actually receive $24 million below the President's request. The National Ocean Service will receive 16 percent less than the current fiscal year. The National Marine Fisheries Service will suffer a 19 percent cut. Funding for programs in Oceanic & Atmospheric Research will decrease by 18 percent. Finally, funding for the National Environmental Satellite Service will decrease by $3 million.

Mr. Chairman, these are programs that serve the public good in a variety of important ways. They help advance America's commerce, promote environmental protection, preserve our fisheries and other natural resources, and protect lives by monitoring the weather. We are doing a great disservice to the American people by slashing these programs.

Cuts to the National Institute of Standards & Technology, NIST, are just as troubling. This appropriations bill provides a staggering 35 percent less than the current fiscal year. This is a terrible blow to scientific research-the key to our future if we are to compete in the global marketplace.

For example, this bill provides no funds for the Advanced Technology Program started by the Clinton administration to assist the development and utilization of new technologies by the private sector. This could result in a reduction-in-force of as many as 250 NIST personnel from a program that works well. GPO's PDF In fact, the net impact of this bill could be a reduction-in-force of up to 300 people, roughly 10 percent of the NIST staff. Cost-of-living adjustments are not fully funded in this bill, forcing other programs within NIST to absorb $6.8 million in costs. This could well result in the loss of 50 NIST personnel through attrition or reductions-in-force.

For my constituents, these are devastating cuts. But these cuts are just as significant to the American people outside my area because these cuts in scientific research will curtail NIST's ability to address America's national priorities.

This bill does not fully fund the majority of NIST's proposed initiatives. In some cases, funding is completely wiped. Delays or under-investment in measurement science now will have significant future impact-delaying the commercialization of emerging technologies. The House Committee's allowance for NIST's efforts related to development of the standards, technology, and practices needed for the cost-effective safety and security of buildings and technical support of fire fighting communities, including emergency response, is less than half of what is required. As a result, the standards and measurements support for upgrading the capabilities of the Nation's fire fighters and the emergency response communities will be significantly delayed. In addition, the shortfall in nanotechnology funding will delay NIST's critical contributions to the National Nanotechnology Initiative.

This bill also does not provide the full funding requested to equip and maintain the new Advanced Measurement Laboratory (AML). Lack of funding for the proper maintenance and operation of the building and the equipment necessary to realize the capabilities of the AML will severely hamper NIST's ability to provide industry and science with the ever more accurate and demanding measurements and standards needed to support advances in nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology, advanced materials, new manufacturing technology, and other key growth areas. To construct this world-class facility, and then to short-change its maintenance, operation, and equipment needs is inconsistent with the $235 million investment made in the construction of the AML.

Mr. Chairman, some of these programs may seem mundane to many of us in this chamber. But these are crucial scientific programs that will have long-range benefits for all Americans.
Mr. Chairman, we need to ask: are we really helping the American people by slashing these programs? The answer, clearly, is no. These cuts are the price we must pay for an ill-conceived budget and tax policy.

Mr. Chairman, I hope to be able to support this bill when it emerges from Conference. I am grateful to the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Mr. Serrano, for agreeing to work with me to address the concerns I have expressed.

Source