It is naturally disappointing to see NSF now propose to abandon 

 it. 



Again, under these circumstances it is my pleasure to welcome 

 you, Dr. Lane and Dr. Petersen, and I will look forward to your tes- 

 timony today. 



Thank you. 



Mr. Schiff. Dr. Lane, you are welcome to proceed. Welcome to 

 the Subcommittee. 



STATEMENTS OF DR. NEAL LANE, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL 

 SCIENCE FOUNDATION, WASHINGTON, D.C.; AND DR. ANNE 

 PETERSEN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND CHIEF OPERATING OF- 

 FICER, NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, ACCOMPANIED BY 

 DR. LUTHER WILLIAMS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR EDU- 

 CATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES 



Dr. LANE. Thank you, Chairman Schiff, Mr. Cramer, Members of 

 the Committee: 



It is a great pleasure for us to appear before you today to provide 

 an overview of our budget request for the coming year. 



I am accompanied this morning by Dr. Anne Petersen, who is 

 Deputy Director and Chief Operating Office of the National Science 

 Foundation. 



My remarks this morning will provide an overview of the ration- 

 ale behind our budget, and some highlights of our request. 



I have attached a summary of our budget request to my testi- 

 mony and ask that it be made a part of the record. 



Mr. Schiff. Without objection, it will be entered as part of the 

 record. 



Dr. Lane. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



This is an extraordinarily exciting time for science. It is an excit- 

 ing time to be at the NSF, and we appreciate the opportunity to 

 share just some of that excitement with you today. 



We are in what we are calling a "golden age for scientific discov- 

 ery" where frequent breakthroughs are occurring in virtually every 

 field — from astronomy, to materials science, to genetics, to elemen- 

 tary particle physics. 



Moreover, the research often moves so seamlessly into applica- 

 tions that we sometimes fail to notice the transition. 



NSF, for example, supports research in optical and 

 electromechanical systems that has potential applications in areas 

 as varied as sensors that detect wear and tear on bridges and road- 

 ways in real time, or that can change the shape and response of 

 an air foil on an airplane to changing air conditions, or perhaps 

 even provide ways to steer aircraft; medical devices that allow doc- 

 tors to conduct surgery without leaving visible scars; new tech- 

 niques for manufacturing integrated circuits. 



The fact that cutting edge technologies like these are being devel- 

 oped in U.S. universities and laboratories is no accident. 



Our national capacity for education and research at the very 

 frontiers of science and engineering remains the envy of the world. 

 It forms the heart of science and technology in this country, an it 

 keeps the U.S. competitive in a global economy. 



Our budget request for this fiscal year 1997 is needed to main- 

 tain the momentum that we have developed. Our requested $3,325 



