157 



tered a phase of exploration and exploitation of those strengths. The role of the fed- 

 eral government is to permit this evolution by sustaining support, maintaining the 

 public investment, providing incentives for continued private investment and limit- 

 ing regulatory impediments. 



SUMMARY 



Basic research has proven its worth to the nation as an investment and should 

 be supported at the highest possible level during this time of fiscal restraint. 



The existing institutions which perform research and the interrelationships 

 among them provide an effective framework for the performance of science in the 

 United States. A natural evolution of each of these institutions is being driven by 

 market forces, new technologies, and the intriguing scientific questions of the mil- 

 lennium, but their essential strengths should be maintained. In fact, in this fiscally 

 constrained era, it is especially important that we exploit rather than take apart 

 the unique investment that our pluralistic national science and technology enter- 

 prise represents. This investment has succeeded in protecting our democracy and 

 substantially enhancing our quality of life throughout the second half of the 20th 

 century. 



TESTIMONY OF 



ALFRED P. SATTELBERGER 



DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BASE PROGRAMS 



LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY 



COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE 

 UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



February 28, 1996 



Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to supply this written testimony to 

 your committee and to comment on the 1995 report of the Committee on Criteria 

 for Federal Support of Research and Development chaired by former National Acad- 

 emy of Sciences President Dr. Frank Press. The Press Committee's report entitled 

 Allocating Federal Funds for Science and Technology contains thirteen specific rec- 

 ommendations on improving the allocation process for federal research and develop- 

 ment (R&D) funds. Because Los Alamos National Laboratory takes very seriously 

 its roles in both national security and in science and technology for the future of 

 our nation, we welcome the opportunity to share our views of the report and some 

 of the recommendations contained therein. 



Our overall reaction to the work of the Press Committee is positive. The commit- 

 tee members are to be commended for tackling such a difficult subject, and, in a 

 relatively short time, identifying key issues and making recommendations designed 

 to stimulate further discussion. 



In its introduction, the report documents the pivotal role that the federal govern- 

 ment has played in developing the world's most successful system of R&D. For fifty 

 years, this nation supported a huge effort in science and technology, based in part 

 on the vision of Vannevar Bush as articulated in his book Science, The Endless 

 Frontier. 



"Since health, well-being, and security are proper concerns of Government, scientific 

 progress is, and must be, of vital interest to Government. Without scientific 

 progress the national health would deteriorate; without scientific progress we 

 could not hope for improvement in our standard of living or for an increased num- 

 ber of jobs for our citizens; and without scientific progress we could not have 

 maintained our liberties against tyranny." 



The open traditions of scientific research and development in the West fueled 

 ever-expanding opportunities for economic development. Today, in the face of a se- 

 verely constrained federal budget, continued support for science and technology can- 

 not be taken for granted. Federal funding cutbacks, especially the grim outlook for 

 civilian R&D, have the potential to pit members of the nation's science and tech- 

 nology family against each other instead of promoting stronger alliances. We cannot 

 afford to let this happen. 



