University Research in Dire Danger!

[DCAS Medic]

CONGRESS SET TO DEAL A SERIOUS BLOW TO THE AMERICAN
UNIVERSITY RESEARCH SYSTEM

A key House subcommittee, chaired by Rep. John Murtha (PA), has 
recommended that the $1.8 billion in Department of Defense research 
grants and contracts to universities be cut by 50% ($900 million)
next year. 
The DOD university research program is less than 5% of the total DOD 
$38 billion research  and development budget-and less than 1% of the
total 
defense budget. Yet, DOD-supported university researchers have been 
singled out by the House Subcommittee to absorb enormous cuts in
their 
programs so that Congressional pet projects can continue. This 
recommendation, if approved, would devastate many university 
research programs, eliminating the equivalent of 9,000 $100,000 per
year 
research grants in such unclassified critical technology areas as
materials 
science, electronics, chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, as
well as in 
new priority areas such as high performance computing and 
environmental remediation. In certain areas such as semiconductors
and 
new materials, DOD funding provides the bulk of the national research

support mechanism. This recommendation, if approved, would eliminate 
the financial support of thousands of science and engineering
graduate 
students in universities, essentially ending their opportunity to 
obtain 
advanced degrees. Far fewer scientists and engineers would be
produced 
as a result of this action, and it would seriously undermine DOD
efforts at 
technology transfer to the private sector. Many universities, already

struggling with large financial difficulties, would also be damaged.
Most 
importantly, a critical component of the technological base for our 
NATIONAL DEFENSE and ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS would be 
severely weakened. This cut in research funding IS NOT to be replaced

elsewhere in the non-defense R&D budget-the money will go to OTHER 
DEFENSE PROJECTS. DOD support of university research in critical
defense 
technologies has been strongly advocated by the Presidents Clinton, 
Bush, and Reagan. The recommended cut is definitely not a part of the

general plan for post-Cold War defense reductions proposed by 
Presidents Clinton and Bush, *nor is it designated for deficit
reduction.* 

If you do not support this drastic, damaging, and unnecessary move by

the House Subcommittee, please call, fax, or write your
Representative 
IMMEDIATELY. The full House Defense Appropriations Committee is 
scheduled to vote on June 30th! TIME IS CRITICAL IN THE FIGHT TO
SAVE THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY RESEARCH SYSTEM! Please Help.

Sincerely,

Gregory A. Voth
Professor of Chemistry
University of Pennsylvania