NRI competitive research grants improve the quality and increase the quantity of USDA's farm, food, and environmental research. The budget also proposes increases for high priority research in areas such as nutrition, food safety, climate change, air and water quality, food quality protection, agricultural genomes, sustainable ecosystems, and the Forest Service's Forest and Rangeland Research program. An additional $120 million in mandatory funding will be available in 2000 under the Agricultural Research Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The budget provides $535 million for EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD), which performs the majority of EPA's research and provides a sound scientific and technical foundation for environmental policy and regulatory decision-making ORD also provides technical support for EPA's mission, integrates the work of its own scientific partners, and provides leadership in addressing emerging environmental issues, thereby assisting EPA in protecting human health and the environment. In the last year, EPA researchers discovered a method to render lead-contaminated soil safe for humans, thereby potentially decreasing the number of children suffering from lead poisoning.
Department of the Interior's U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): The budget provides $838 million-a five-percent increase over 1999 - for science that supports natural resource and environmental decision making. In 1998, USGS science efforts provided critical information to restore the Florida Everglades and respond to Hurricane Bonnie and Harricane Mitch. The budget supports research on enhanced understanding of species habitat, invasive species, and declines in amphibians and coral reefs. The budget also supports research and technical assistance on the scientific needs of land managers and local land-use planners. In 2000, this information will promote local planning and conservation efforts to protect the most valuable open spaces and critical habitat. USGS will use its mapping, remote sensing, and natural resources monitoring capabilities to develop new ways to improve the availability and disassemination of domestic natural disaster hazard and earth science information, as well as to support NASA's Earth Observing System satellites.
Department of Veterans Affairs' Medical Research: The budget provides $316 million - about a third of the Department's overall $1 billion research program - for clinical, epidemiological, and behavioral studies across a broad spectrum of medical research disciplines. Among the agency's top research priorities are improving the translation of research results into patient care, geriatrics (including end-of-life care and Alzheimer's disease), and treatment of Parkinson's disease and Persian Gulf Veterans' illnesses.
Department of Transportation: The budget proposes a total of $390 million for the Highway Research and Deployment Initiative - a $228 million increase over the 1999 level. This funding will support activities such as improving the durability of pavement and bridges, enhancing pedestrian safety, and refining air quality analysis models. The budget also includes $271 million for the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) initiative - a package of technologies to enhance the safety and efficiency of surface transportation infrastructure. This ITS total includes $113 million for continued deployment of integrated "intelligent infrastructure," such as interactive traffic signals, traveler information systems, and advanced electronic motor carrier toll clearance systems in urban and rural areas and the commercial vehicle industry.
Department of Education: The budget proposes a $45 million increase for the National Education Research Institutes. The increase includes $25 million for the agency's contribution to the second year of the Education Research Initiative, a collaborative effort with NSF. The initiative will continue to support large-scale research focused on the best approaches to raising student achievement. Activities will focus on applying the latest research findings to the development, implementation, and evaluation of new program models in three areas increasing readiness for reading and mathematics, sustaining reading and mathematics skills in grades K-3, and improving teacher preparation. The proposed increase for the Institutes will also support additional research on comprehensive school reform, and new research on English language skills acquisition for children with limited English proficiency.
