78 



I am hopeful that next week we will produce a budget that the 

 President can sign. But if we cannot, I hope we can at least in the 

 next Continuing Resolution provide full-year funding for these sci- 

 entific enterprises because it is really starting to hamper and hurt 

 the scientific enterprise in this country. 



Having made that impassioned plea, Mr. Chairman, I will not 

 ask any questions, since you are anxious to cut short the time, and 

 I yield back the remainder of my time. 



Mr. SCHIFF. I am not that anxious, Mr. Ehlers. 



Mr. Ehlers. That is fine. 



Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Barton? 



Mr. Barton. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



I have only got one question. I am not going to talk about the 

 numbers. You have been asked about that a number of times, I am 

 sure. 



I want to read a few statements from your budget summary and 

 then ask one question. 



The first sentence in the statement says: "The National Science 

 Foundation requests $3.3 billion for fiscal year 1997 to invest in al- 

 most 20,000 research and education projects in science and engi- 

 neering." 



I want to skip down to the second paragraph. "That mission, to 

 promote progress in science and engineering." 



I want to skip down to the third program. ", ... certain activities, 

 notably investments in research facilities, have been held constant 

 in order to strike the balance necessary to extend the frontiers of 

 science and engineering." 



The fourth paragraph. "Fundamental science and engineering". 



The fifth paragraph. "Providing ... the United States to uphold a 

 position of world leadership in science and engineering". 



So that on the first page, the words "science and engineering" is 

 mentioned in every paragraph. I offered an amendment to change 

 the name of the National Science Foundation to National Science 

 and Engineering Foundation. Chairman Walker called you and said 

 that you opposed the name change. 



In the first page of your statement, everywhere you mention the 

 word "science" you also mention the word "engineering." 



I am a registered professional engineer. The National Society of 

 Professional Engineers very much wants to have the name 

 changed. My Texas Society of Professional Engineers very much 

 wants to have the name changed. We will raise the money to 

 change the letterhead. 



[Laughter.] 



Mr. Barton. We will raise the money to change the name on the 

 building. 



So, Mr. Director, I would like for you to seriously consider next 

 year, or this year I guess, when I offer the amendment again to 

 think about being supportive. And if you have got some comments, 

 I would be happy to hear your comments. 



Dr. LANE. Thank you, Mr. Barton. 



We clearly take engineering as an important part of our charge, 

 and that is why it is in there and all the places that it is. 



