Video: Rep. Stevens Convenes Subcommittee Hearing to Review National Science Foundation FY2020 Budget Request
WASHINGTON—Today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) convened a hearing as Chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Research & Technology. The hearing, called “A Review of the National Science Foundation Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request,”examined the Trump Administration’s proposal to cut $1 billion from the Fiscal Year 2020 budget for the only federal science agency that supports basic research across all fields of science and engineering.
“It worries me that this Administration is eager to talk about science and scientific innovation in platitudes, and yet it fails to put forward a strategic investment plan that would enable us to compete and win in global marketplaces,” said Congresswoman Stevens. “The current proposal represents a vision for science that, if realized, would be disastrous for our nation’s long-term welfare, security, and competitiveness.”
The National Science Foundation has several active research grants with academic institutions and businesses in Michigan’s 11th District. In 2016, NSF’s Advanced Technological Education program awarded a $309,206 grant to Oakland Community College in MI-11 to create a “Learning Program for Cobots in Advanced Manufacturing Systems.” In March of this year, NSF’s Small Business Innovation Research program awarded a $714,707 grant Plymouth’s Advaita Corporation to research “a multi-omics data integration approach for precision medicine and improved clinical trial success.”
Click HERE to read Congresswoman Stevens’ opening statement in full.
“In Fiscal Year 2020, the National Science Foundation will continue to support the science, technology, innovation and workforce development that drives this Nation’s economy, ensures the security of the American people, and guarantees the United States’ place as a global power for generations to come. To achieve these goals, NSF will make strategic investments across the agency to support basic research, while putting an emphasis on convergence—interdisciplinary research that spans and integrates all areas of science,” said Dr. France Córdova, Director, National Science Foundation, in her written testimony.
“In 1960, government spending on research and development was 1.69% of our GDP. Today, that number has fallen to only about 0.7% as the economy has grown. As we said last year when we came before this Committee, this is particularly challenging for our leadership in science and engineering. […] We remain mindful that we cannot hope to continue to be preeminent in science and engineering, and compete with the world’s best, if we are leaving potentially game changing ideas on the table for others to find,” said Dr. Diane Souvaine, Chair, National Science Board, in her written testimony.
Click HERE to watch the full hearing on YouTube.
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