74 



So we think that — I thought, I should say, that it was important 

 to have a group of experts have a look at this. So we asked Ed 

 Hayes, Vice President Chemist at Ohio State University, to chair 

 a panel which we put together to help us with realistic budgets 

 over the next several years and tell us how best to set up this pro- 

 gram. 



I think it was an outstanding report. I had people tell me it was 

 a model of what future task forces dealing with these complex 

 problems really ought to look like. 



We followed their recommendations really quite closely. We took 

 to the Board the recommendation of a new program, which any- 

 body can compete for, that spreads out a little bit the base, that 

 takes advantage of this broader capability now out around the 

 country, which in fact was caused by NSF's efforts in advanced sci- 

 entific computing for the past decade. 



We want to take advantage of that. We want to build that into 

 the partnerships. So the new program will do that. 



We are very optimistic about it. We think it is an excellent pro- 

 gram. We simply want to ensure that, while we go through this 

 transition, that the science, in fact, remains as exciting and that 

 the scientists are as well-supported as they ever have been. So we 

 are optimistic and we are very excited about it. 



Mr. Boehlert. Dr. Lane, that is a very diplomatic response, and 

 I would expect that from someone as skilled as you, but it seems 

 to me we are diminishing the commitment to our centers of excel- 

 lence, and sort of diversifying more. I like the idea of diversifica- 

 tion, but if I could draw an analogy. 



The baseball season is starting shortly. I can recall from history, 

 not from first-hand experience but from history, reading about the 

 famous "murders row" for the New York Yankees back in the late 

 1920s, and I'll tell you what. Nobody thought in terms of sitting 

 Ruth or Gehrig down because we wanted to bring up some rookies 

 from the Minor Leagues. 



The point is, I think we should build upon it. As we are looking 

 at priorities, it seems to me you are lessening the commitment to 

 the Supercomputer Center initiative by virtue of the commitment 

 of dollars at a time when probably we should think in terms of ex- 

 panding the commitment. 



I know that dollars are tight. Believe me I know that. I stand 

 ready to vote for more dollars for some of the programs that have 

 a high priority, just as I am willing to say to some people, sorry, 

 you cannot have as much as you want, and I am willing to cut 

 other programs. 



Thank you very much. I know my time is up. 



Dr. Lane. Thank you, Mr. Boehlert. 



Mr. SCHIFF. Thank you, sir, for your fine questions. 



Mr. Baker? 



Mr. Baker. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for 

 holding the hearing, and thank you for the Doctors being here to 

 explain their budget. 



This is probably one of the least partisan committees both under 

 Mr. Brown and now under Mr. Walker, but the commitment to a 

 balanced budget has been universal. 



In each of Bill Clinton's speeches he talks about it. 



