Kerry speaking at Commerce Committee hearing on basic research funding

[karynnj]

He is chairing this.
http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.ByMonth

There's a link to a live web cast

[karynnj]

1. Kerry giving his opening statement

Kerry is co-sponsoring a competitiveness bill (Inohe/Stevens).

Kerry spoke of the fact that people like Gates have spoken of how our education system is failing - our high schools, even when they work as they are designed to, are obsolete.

He spoke of other countries having joint investment into research. Says more research should be funded - government should fund some high risk basic research.

He spoke of research into green technology.

[karynnj]

2. Ensign gave his speech - Innohe speaking now to give support

He says 1/5 of 8th graders can't do basic math - he compared China's and India's number of engineers versus ours.

Sununu is speaking now - complimenting everyone. He supports the bill - he wants to double the funds for basic research. Makes case that gov't has responsibility - payoff long term, widely spread - not something that can be done by venture capital. Says problem is too many committees in Senate (4) have jurisdiction.

He says that no grants should go to any company selling a commercial product - specifially disagreeing with a Kerry example of an LCD manufactor. Sununu wants all to go to basic research - he says he is only engineer in the Senate. He says interest in math/science begins in grade school - if it doesn't happen in 6th - 8th grade, it doesn't happen in hs or college. (As a scientist, he is breaking his own rule - generalizing from his own experience. I know one exception personally - me! )

[karynnj]

3. Kerry speaking

Spoke of board he sat on as Lt Governor that allocated money to fund technology projects that wouldn't have been funded otherwise. As soon as they became profitable, the state withdrew. He spoke of how many companies paying taxes in MA got their start this way - and they have more than repaid the initial funding.

The ATP has funded projects that otherwise could NOT get funding.

[karynnj]

4. An administration guy speaking now

speaking of how much the budget is being increased. Listing lots of stuff they are doing - very quickly.

NASA - says the CR is below the President's request for NASA

National Science Foundation guy speaking now.

(both read their statements - which I assume will be available so I am not trying to detail.)

Now - NIST (not sure of acronym) guy speaking. They set new measurements and standards.

[karynnj]

5. Kerry questioning the National Science Foundation guy

NSF budget inreases, but the education buget decrease. Very confusing - Kerry is pointing to money going down and the NSF administation guy is saying that Bush is behind this. Kerry threw the question to the director of NSF. How to reconcile.

The decline is in the Math Partnership program - that Kerry and the NSF people say is effective. They are doing peer reviewed research. They are now suppose to partner with the states. (Net result in NSF part, but increase in education part.)

[karynnj]

6. Sununu up

Speaking of innovation. Wants them to define how you teach innovation. He's now rambling about a gifted inventor he worked for four years who was a college dropout. Speaking of 4th - 6th grade. Gates is a college dropout. Now, saying that you shouldn't refer that you should drop out.

The NSF guy says that no one has a problem with this research and is against Congress creating carve outs. I think short answer is he dissed Sununu. Next guy spoke of early learning. Sununu then spoke against micromanaging.

[karynnj]

7. Thune up

Asked about Department of energy funding

We did not invest enough in the department of energy last year, but Bush is correcting this. (My comment - dosen't this mean Bush lied in his 2006 SOTU then) The expert also said that on some initiatives funding in 2007 is not enough.

Thune asked about wind - which he says SD was suppose to have the ability to produce a large amount.Speaking about this and other SD projects - wants to know how pojects are chosen in their merit review.

Should Congress direct agencies to focus their energies? the expert favors letting the scientist direct research - because you don't know which part will succeed.

Thune says their are clusters of research in NE, west coast ... , Thune wants to know if it should be more broadly spread geographically. The answer was they do fund people across the nation. (He is all what's in it for SD - there are synergies of having a big science community)

Asked about immigration - answer was that you need the best and the brightest. Second guy says the barriers should be low.

[karynnj]

8. Kerry summary

Lab experiences in science poor in a recent report - NSF guy says he agrees with report and recommenditions. Kerry is there a program - answer ITEST, wants to bring in Information technology, but that's the only example. Kerry says science teachers have complained - expert says they are also working with the states - on the agenda. He agrees with Kerry.

Manufactoring Effectiveness - Bush trying to cut, but MA has used it to retain jobs. Answer - question of priorities - then he is speaking of a different project (prefer basic science).

[whometense]

9. Thanks for this -

I haven't been able to tear myself away from the Gonzalez hearing.

[karynnj]

10. It was a hard choice for me

even though most of my work experience was in the Research arm of a major company - I figured the Gonzales stuff would be easier to find later and read about it.

I'm watching the Gonzales thing now. Feingold was great. Sessions - is beyond redemption.

[whometense]

11. True -

but the worst so far was Cornyn. Imagine. Even worse. Specter was good, but then he always is - up till the voting.