69 



Dr. LANE. Mr. Chairman, I think the reason is simply to simplify 

 the accounting. We still have the $5.2 million to pay on the reloca- 

 tion, and we can provide you the detail. We have simply tried to 

 simplify the account structure. 



Mr. SCHIFF. One last thing, Dr. Lane, and this is a matter I hope 

 you were told I was going to ask about before. Timing I guess is 

 everything in government. Just a couple of days ago I happened to 

 be shown an article from The Wall Street Journal which talks 

 about some researchers putting together a proposal for a TV series 

 funded by a grant from the Department of Energy and the National 

 Science Foundation. 



I just kind of wonder if you have any familiarity with a grant 

 that was to produce a TV series funded by the National Science 

 Foundation? 



Dr. Lane. Mr. Chairman, my understanding is we do — we have 

 planned to provide some funding for the development of the con- 

 cept. I believe this is handled in our Informal Education activity 

 within the EHR directorate. If you would like more details on it, 

 Dr. Luther Williams, is here and would be happy to comment. 



Mr. SCHIFF. Well I think the article explains what this is all 

 about. I guess it is a TV drama like some of the police dramas, if 

 you will, or medical dramas to show the life of scientists. I would 

 sure be interested to know who the casting is going to be. 



I would just conclude with this observation, and then I am going 

 to recognize Congressman Cramer. 



I think I can understand what someone is trying to get at, you 

 know, in funding the idea of funding a TV program is intended to 

 provide education; but I would, with respect, offer a caution. 



It is easy for that to go awry. I think that is really on the edge, 

 if not over the edge, of what is appropriate for NSF to be funding, 

 particularly when I am hearing from so many universities about 

 how strapped they are for direct research funds, which is your pri- 

 mary mission, as you know. 



I just want to say, again with respect, there are some grant-giv- 

 ing agencies funded by the Congress that have not been careful 

 over the years about what kinds of projects they have been fund- 

 ing, and in my opinion those agencies are heading towards a very 

 serious problem with the Congress — that they have had one al- 

 ready, and are running into one in the future to the point where 

 I think one or more of them may be de-funded before the process 

 is all over. 



I would not want to see NSF get into that kind of controversy 

 and debate. So I just respectfully point out. It is necessary to be 

 looking in all directions at once. I know that is hard to do, but I 

 think you understand what I am saying. 



Mr. Boehlert. Will the Chairman yield to me on that subject? 



Mr. Schiff. I certainly do yield, Mr. Boehlert. 



Mr. Boehlert. You bring up a legitimate concern. I would think, 

 then, that the Chairman might be enticed to work with me to pro- 

 vide adequate funding for Public Broadcasting, because quite 

 frankly as we look across the country, we are hard-pressed to find 

 any decent programming for young people to simulate their inter- 

 est in the sciences. Public Broadcasting is trying valiantly, but 



