IEEE-USA eNL 2002-11-25

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          IEEE-USA-Supported Bill to Strengthen NSF Clears Senate

    WASHINGTON (25 November 2002) - The National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 2002 (H.R. 4664), which IEEE-USA has supported since
its introduction in May, cleared the Senate on 14 November and heads to the
President for his signature.

     The House Science Committee bill, introduced by Nick Smith (R?Mich.)
and bipartisan cosponsors, authorizes a 15 percent annual increase for the
National Science Foundation (NSF) in FY 2003-2005. This puts the NSF budget
on track to double by FY 2007 to $9,839,262,000.

    "NSF funds cutting-edge research in engineering and computing that are
of tremendous value and interest to U.S. IEEE members, and ultimately
beneficial to all Americans," IEEE-USA President LeEarl Bryant said. "These
funds will help maintain a viable U.S. technology workforce, which is
critical to our nation's economic competitiveness and security."

    Other highlights of H.R. 4664 include authorization of the President's
Math and Science Education Partnership Program in elementary and secondary
schools; new research into plant biotechnology; and the Tech Talent program
to   address the decline in the technical workforce and to improve
undergraduate math and science education.

    "These programs will help NSF address new challenges, including
information technology, nanotechnology and homeland security, and could
help   offset the recent declines in Defense Department support for
electrical and electronics-related research at universities," IEEE-USA Vice
President for Technology Policy Ralph W. Wyndrum said.

    Research Subcommittee Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas)
praised the bill. "This is truly an historic piece of legislation for
science policy in the United States that will have profound and lasting
effect on the future prosperity of our nation," she said.

    An independent agency established by the National Science Foundation
Act of 1950 to advance scientific and engineering progress in the United
States, NSF is the government's premier research agency. It supports 46
percent of the basic research in engineering performed at universities and
colleges, and helps train more than 25,000 graduate students each year.

    "Scientific research at NSF has advanced science and technology and
greatly enhanced our lives," Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) said. "Investment
in the sciences is an investment in our future."

    IEEE-USA is an organizational unit of The Institute of Electrical and
Electronics   Engineers   created in 1973 to promote the careers and
public-policy interests of the more than 235,000 electrical, electronics,
computer and software engineers who are U.S. members of the IEEE. The IEEE
is   the   world's   largest   technical professional society. For more
information, go to http://www.ieeeusa.org.

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