AGI Fiscal Year 2008 Testimony to the House Commerce,
Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee
Testimony Submitted by
Linda Rowan, Director of Government Affairs
American Geological Institute
in support of Fiscal Year 2008 Appropriations for the
National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration
U.S. House of Representatives
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science and Related Agencies
Appropriations
April 26, 2007
To the Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee:
The American Geological Institute (AGI) supports fundamental Earth
science research sustained by the National Science Foundation (NSF),
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This frontier research
has fueled economic growth, mitigated losses and sustained our quality
of life. The Subcommittee's leadership in expanding the federal
investment in basic research is even more critical as our nation
competes with rapidly developing countries, such as China and India,
for energy, mineral, air and water resources. Our nation needs skilled
geoscientists to help explore, assess and develop Earth's resources
in a strategic, sustainable and environmentally-sound manner and
to help understand, assess and reduce our risks to natural hazards.
AGI supports full funding as authorized for NSF; full funding for
NOAA's and NASA's Earth observing campaigns; and authorized support
for NIST's and NSF's responsibilities in the National Earthquake
Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP).
The President's American Competitiveness Initiative calls for a
doubling of physical science research funding in key federal agencies,
while Bush's Advanced Energy Initiative calls for significant increases
in energy research support. Both initiatives also include much needed
support for education in the physical sciences and some specific
incentives for education in the energy resources sector. Such initiatives
are strongly supported by AGI.
AGI is a nonprofit federation of 44 geoscientific and professional
societies representing more than 100,000 geologists, geophysicists,
and other Earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information
services to geoscientists, serves as a voice for shared interests
in our profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience
education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital
role the geosciences play in society's use of resources and interaction
with the environment.
NSF: We applaud the President's request for a nearly 8% increase
in the overall budget for NSF. We hope that the Subcommittee shares
this commitment and can continue to strengthen our physical science
research and science education initiatives through annual budget
increases. Although NSF remains under funded, Congress and the Administration
are proposing annual increases to NSF's budget over the next 5 to
10 years. AGI believes that such a forward-looking investment in
tight fiscal times will pay important dividends in future development
and innovation that drives economic growth, especially in critical
areas of sustainable and economic natural resources and reduced
risks from natural hazards.
NSF Geosciences Directorate: The Geosciences Directorate is the
principal source of federal support for academic Earth scientists
and their students who are seeking to understand the processes that
ultimately sustain and transform life on this planet. The President's
budget proposal requests an increase of about 6% (~$47 million)
for a total budget of about $792 million, which AGI strongly supports.
We would encourage increases in funding to allow NSF to strengthen
core research by increasing the number and duration of grants. Now
is the time to boost Earth science research and education to fill
the draining pipeline of skilled geoscientists and geo-engineers
working in the energy industry; the construction industry, particularly
on levees and dams; the environmental industry; the academic community,
particularly on understanding natural hazards and the sustainability
of our natural resources; the primary federal Earth science agencies,
such as the United States Geological Survey; and in all areas of
education.
The President's request for fiscal 2008 asks for $240.84 million
for Atmospheric Sciences, $163.3 million for Earth Sciences, $329.29
million for Ocean Sciences and $58.57 million for Innovative and
Collaborative Education and Research (ICER) within the Geosciences
Directorate. In the Atmospheric Sciences, the almost $14 million
increase will augment the Climate Change Science Program, the Weather
Research Program, the Space Weather Program, atmospheric observing
facilities and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Much
of the geosciences research budget is for understanding that is
critical for current national needs, such as climate change, water
and mineral resources, energy resources, environmental issues and
mitigation of natural hazards and we ask the Subcommittee to strongly
support these essential investments.
AGI also supports the $11.4 million request for the Incorporated
Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) and the about $21.6
million for EarthScope. Both programs provide important research
and instrumentation support for understanding earthquakes and earthquake
engineering to help reduce the potential damaging effects of earthquakes
on property, lifelines, economic growth and most importantly on
the lives of Americans.
NSF Support for Earth Science Education Congress can improve the
nation's scientific literacy by supporting the full integration
of Earth science information into mainstream science education at
the K-12 and college levels. AGI supports a new grant program in
the Geosciences Directorate called GEO-TEACH, which will support
projects to improve the quality of geosciences instruction, primarily
at middle to high school levels. We also support the Math and Science
Partnership (MSP) program, a competitive peer-reviewed grant program
that funds only the highest quality proposals at NSF. The NSF's
MSP program focuses on modeling, testing and identification of high-quality
math and science activities whereas the Department of Education
MSP program does not. The NSF and Department of Education MSP programs
are complementary and are both necessary to continue to reach the
common goal of providing world-class science and mathematics education
to elementary and secondary school students. AGI opposes the transfer
of the MSP from NSF to the Department of Education.
Improving geoscience education to levels of recognition similar
to other scientific disciplines is important because:
" Geoscience offers students subject matter that has direct
application to their lives and the world around them, including
energy, minerals, water and environmental stewardship.
" Geoscience exposes students to a diverse range of interrelated
scientific disciplines. It is an excellent vehicle for integrating
the theories and methods of chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics.
" Geoscience awareness is a key element in reducing the impact
of natural hazards on citizens -- hazards that include earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. For example,
lives were saved in the tragic Indian Ocean tsunami by a 12 year
old girl who understood the warning signs of an approaching tsunami
and warned others to seek higher ground after completing an Earth
science class.
" Geoscience provides the foundation for tomorrow's leaders
in research, education, utilization and policy making for Earth's
resources and our nation's strategic, economic, sustainable and
environmentally-sound natural resources development.
NOAA: AGI applauds the President's request for increased funding
for the National Weather Service and the National Environmental
Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDI) within NOAA. The
National Weather Service budget includes support for weather data
buoys, strengthening the U.S. tsunami warning program, support of
the Air Quality Forecasting Program, support for the Space Environment
Center, support for the U.S. Weather Research Program, and continued
implementation of the Advanced Hydrological Prediction Services.
AGI also supports the proposed increased funding for NESDI for the
development of the geostationary operational environmental satellite
(GOES-R) and the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental
Satellite System (NPOESS). Both satellite systems will maintain
a global view of the planet to continuously watch for atmospheric
triggers of severe weather conditions such as tornadoes, flash floods,
hailstorms, and hurricanes. The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research and the Office of National Ocean Service have large proposed
budget cuts to their overall budgets that would decimate vital programs
related to the health and sustainability of the ocean, protecting
coastlines and atmospheric research. AGI asks that these large reductions
be minimized through congressional consideration of oceanic and
coastal priorities.
NIST: For fiscal 2008, the President's request calls for as much
as about $5 million for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction
Program (NEHRP). AGI strongly supports funding for NEHRP within
NIST. NIST is the lead agency for NEHRP (authorized to receive $6
to $13 million over 5 years), but has received only a small portion
of funding in the past year. AGI strongly supports NEHRP funds for
NIST and we further support the proposed increases in funding for
core laboratory functions at NIST to ensure that NEHRP funds are
protected.
NASA: AGI supports the vital Earth observing programs within NASA.
Currently the topography of Mars has been measured at a more comprehensive
and higher resolution than Earth's surface. While AGI is excited
about space exploration and the President's Vision for Exploration,
we firmly believe that NASA's Earth observing program is effective
and vital to solving global to regional puzzles about Earth systems,
such as how much and at what rate is the climate changing. The Earth-Sun
System within the Science Mission Directorate funds the agency's
Earth science programs. AGI strongly supports the requested increase
in funding for the Landsat Data Continuity Mission, which will ensure
support for the launch of a new Landsat satellite and the transfer
of the data to the United States Geological Survey. Unfortunately
other vital Earth science programs will be cut and missions will
be delayed because of proposed budget reductions within the Earth-Sun
System. AGI hopes these reductions can be restored to ensure NASA's
unique Earth observations.
We strongly urge the Subcommittee to return spending levels for
Earth science within NASA to FY2000 levels (eliminating a 30% cut
over the past 6 years) and implement the priorities of the National
Academies Earth Science and Applications from Space Decadal Survey.
I appreciate this opportunity to provide testimony to the Subcommittee
and would be pleased to answer any questions or to provide additional
information for the record. I can be reached at 703 379 2480 ext.
228 (voice), 703 379 7563 (fax), rowan@agiweb.org, or 4220 King
Street, Alexandria VA 22302-1502.
Please send any comments or requests for information to AGI
Government Affairs Program.
Posted: April 27, 2007
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