The 2000 Budget maintains the course established in last year's budget, in which the President proposed and largest increase in history for civilian research programs, plotting a bold course of strategic growth. This budget proposes funding levels across a broad range of civilian agencies consistent with the increases projected in the 1999 Budget. The continuing centerpiece of the Administration's commitment to science and technology is the 21st Century Research Fund, which provides stability and growth for the highest priority research programs. The budget provides $38.1 billion for the Fund - a three-percent increase above last year. (See Table 7-1 for details on the Fund.)
This budget also reflects an effort to reestablish an optimum balance between health care research and other scientific disciplines - a concern voiced in recent years throughout the science community. Substantial recent increases to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have advanced the President's commitment to increase long-term NIH funding well ahead of schedule. The budget adds prudently to the NIH while providing a seven-percent boost for the National Science Foundation (NSF), which supports a broad range of university research in areas other than health.
A Bold, New Information Technology Initiative
The budget proposes a bold, new Information Technology Initiative that will invest in long-term, fundamental research in computing and communications, and will increase development and purchases of extremely fast supercomputers to support a broad range of civilian research and development. Long-term information technology research will strengthen America's leadership in an industry that accounts for one-third of our economic growth, create high-tech, high-wage jobs, and improve our quality of life. This research may also lead to breakthroughs such as: computers that are easier to use, including by people with disabilities, high-speed wireless networks that can bring telemedicine to rural communities; the successor to the transistor; and software that is much more dependable and reliable. High-speed supercomputers will allow scientists and engineers to develop life-saving drugs more rapidly, provide earlier warnings for tornadoes and design more fuel efficient, safer automobiles. The initiative will also provide for fundamental research that could lead to major breakthroughs in the next generation of supercomputers, networks, and applications - research that, without Federal support, would not otherwise be funded. Consistent with the Administration's approach, the initiative emphasizes the inter-dependency of scientific disciplines - that innovation in one field is often made possible by innovations in other fields. And it lays the groundwork for a fourishing of the computational sciences in the 21st Century, and for advances that will contribute to our health and well-being in the future. (See Chart 7-1 for information on computing and communications R&D.)
Science and Technology Themes
Federal investments in science and technology contribute to the Administration's economic, educational, health, environmental, and national security goals. The budget proposes increases for a host of important activities. (For total Federal R&D funding, see Table 7-2, for science and technology highlights, see Table 7-3.)
Increasing Total Support for Science and Technology: The budget proposes $38.1 billion for programs in the 21st Century Research Fund, $1.2 billion, or three percent, more than in 1999, exceeding last year's projected increases. The budget provides an increasing share for civilian R&D investments, which now comprise 51 percent of the total - a substantial increase from 42 percent in 1993, in keeping with the Administration's efforts to place additional emphasis on civilian R&D activities.
Boosting Funding for Basic Research: The budget proposes $18.2 billion for basic research, an increases of $727 million, or 4.2 percent, over 1999. These investments - the highest level ever proposed for basic research - reflect the Administration's commitment to obtaining knowledge that will provide future economic and social benefits and improve our ability to meet economic needs without adversely affecting health and the environment (see Chart 7-2).
