130 



Dr. Press. You heard my previous criticism of percentage of GDP 

 being an indicator. Those are the only figures that are currently 

 available. Perhaps in the new proposals we're making, there will 

 be some better ways of doing it. 



I would like to add this. 



I don't want you to think that our panel supports decreasing 

 budgets for science. If you ask us, we would like to see increasing 

 budgets because it's the best investment we feel this country can 

 make. 



Nevertheless, facing the reality of deficit control, of both parties 

 agreeing that the deficit will disappear in some seven years, these 

 will be tough budgetary years ahead and we have to be prepared 

 with a better allocation process, just in case science gets hit. 



We think that it's a very good investment and we hope that that 

 doesn't happen. 



Mr. ROEMER. Just in case science gets hit, let me just clarify for 

 you that science is going to get hit under this Republican budget. 



You're saying that the report estimates between $35 and $40 bil- 

 lion. About a third of that would be cut. Isn't that correct, out of 

 that civilian R&D? 



Dr. Press. I'm not sure of that. I've heard those projections. I've 

 also seen the out-year projections of both parties. They don't look 

 terribly optimistic for the whole of the discretionary budget. 



Mr. ROEMER. So with these two trends, one in the domestic budg- 

 et where a third of the civilian R&D may be cut back, and in addi- 

 tion to how that is compared in light of Japan and Germany, this 

 is something that is — I don't want to put words in your mouth, but 

 I'll throw on the table that this is something that is very dis- 

 concerting and of a great deal of concern to scientists across the 

 country. 



Wouldn't that be accurate to say? 



Dr. Press. If it becomes a reality that Western Europe and 

 Japan begin investing much more than we do in science and tech- 

 nology and in training and so on, I would very much be worried 

 about the future of this country. 



Mr. ROEMER. But what I'm trying to say to you, too, is that 

 you're comparing apples and oranges there, too. Not only should it 

 be disconcerting that we're spending less than Japan and Ger- 

 many. That is apparent by your chart. 



But one of the ways by which we've held our pre-eminence and 

 had world-class scholars in this country is by the function of what 

 we invest in those areas on our own as well, and we don't just look 

 at what other countries are doing. 



Isn't that correct as well? 



Dr. Press. I'm not sure I understand the drift. Is that a ques- 

 tion? 



Mr. ROEMER. Well, the statement is — no, you don't have to an- 

 swer it, and I think my time has run out. 



But I think there is two different statements in that question. I 

 appreciate it. 



Dr. Press. Thank you. 



Chairman Walker. Mr. Doggett? 



Mr. Doggett. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



