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PCAST 2001 budget to POTUS

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December 10, 1999




President William J. Clinton
The White House
Washington, DC  20500

Dear Mr. President:

The members of PCAST believe, as you do, that investment in scienceand technology contributes to national goals such as global stability,a strong economy, a healthy environment, and a high quality of life forall Americans.  We write to commend your efforts to date, and urgeyou to expand your support for a strong S&T portfolio in the FY 2001budget.

Your actions over the past seven years have helped to sustain America'sability to capitalize on creativity and innovation.  For example,you funded increases in the federal research and development budget evenas you steadily brought the budget into balance and, ultimately, surplus. The R&D budget has grown as a percentage of discretionary spending,a clear indication that you consider investment in S&T a high priorityfor the nation.  Your economic policies have encouraged substantialgrowth in private sector R&D investment, such that we are rapidly approachingthe goal you established in 1994:  national R&D investment equivalentto 3 percent of GDP.

Your strong support for the 21st Century Research Fund led to an 8 percentincrease in these vital programs in the FY 2000 budget.  We hope tosee similar progress in FY 2001, with considerable emphasis on strengthening fundamental science and engineering research.  It is our hope thatthe FY 2001 budget will bring us closer to achieving the all-important balance among the scientific disciplines you spoke of in your December3, 1999, speech on the economy.

We have also worked closely with your National Science and TechnologyCouncil to develop R&D initiatives that will serve many national needs,including:

· A national strategy for energy R&D and for internationalcooperation on diffusion of advanced energy technologies worldwide.
· Improved understanding and management of biological resources
· Improved education, training and educational research.
· Improved protection, management, and disposition of nuclearweapon materials.
· A national information infrastructure protection institute.
· A strategy to ensure world leadership in nanotechnology.

Like fundamental research in science and engineering, these initiativesserve broad goals, such as economic prosperity, environmental quality,and international political stability.  As integral parts of the 21stCentury Research Fund, they also serve your S&T investment goals, suchas stewardship of critical research fields, preparation of the next generationof scientists and engineers through university-based research, and promotionof international cooperation.  Perhaps most importantly, substantialfunding of these initiatives would help restore balance in the nation'sresearch portfolio.

We recognize the constraints on resources available for the FY 2001budget.  We applaud your efforts to restore the bipartisan supportfor investment in science and technology that helped overcome those constraintsin FY 2000.  We are ready and eager to support your efforts to reaffirm the centrality and importance of S&T to our nation through strong and balanced investment in the 21st century.



President's Committee of Advisors
on Science and Technology
(PCAST)
1600 PennsylvaniaAve, N.W
Washington, DC 20502
202.456.6100
Information@ostp.eop.gov


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Reports

Teaming with Life: Cover Page

Report to the President on the Use of Technology

National Nanotechnology Initiative - PCAST

PCAST Review of the Interim Report

Federal Energy R&D for the Challenges of the 21st Century

Fusion Energy Report 1995

PCAST Letter - November 8, 1995

PCAST Letter - December 6, 1996

PCAST Letter on Educational Research

PCAST - Consistent priority for American policy

PCAST Letter - January 7, 1997

John A. Young Letter to the President

PCAST letter on the 2000 Budget

PCAST Principles

PCAST - Nation's Investment in Science and Technology

PCAST 2001 budget to POTUS

PCAST - Entire national science enterprise