President Barack Obama's $3.55 trillion federal budget is a creating "a major shift in federal spending priorities designed to boost the U.S. economy by investing in research and education along with healthcare and competitiveness initiatives."
President Obama's budget invests heavily in scientific and technological research.
WIRED SCIENCE has summarized the following areas of scientific and technological research as having received substantial increases in funding:
* "A $2.7 billion increase in the Environmental Protection Agency's budget. That's a 35 percent increase that will push the agency's budget to $10.5 billion. The EPA also got $7 billion in the stimulus package.
* "The National Science Foundation, which builds the big, cool tools for American science, will get an 8.5 percent bump to its budget. Combined with the $3 billion it got stimulated with, it'll have $10 billion to play with.
* "NASA will only get to tack $700 million onto its $18 billion budget from last year but they picked up an extra billion dollars in stimulus cash, too.
* "The Department of Energy raked in $39 billion from the stimulus package. In comparison, the $2.4 billion bump it would get from Obama's budget isn't much. More importantly, we don't know how much more money the DOE's Office of Science will get to add to its $4.8 billion budget. One interesting tidbit: the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy, an energy research unit modeled on DARPA" ( a Pentagon research agency), "finally got $400 million to start up. Former President Bush officially created ARPA-E last year, but it received no funding until Obama's stimulus package provided funds.
The $787 billion stimulus bill that was signed into law last week included $400 million to fund the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E).
Meanwhile Energy Secretary Steven Chu has been taking steps to ensure that the stimulus monies are directed into "a variety of conservation and R&D programs" that will bring the greatest bang for the funds spent.
"The Obama administration has pledged to closely monitor stimulus spending while at the same time seeking to overcome bureaucratic hurdles so stimulus funds can be used to create jobs. President Obama is reportedly set to name Earl Devaney, the Interior Department's inspector general, to help oversee stimulus spending. Devaney, who investigated disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, is expected to be named chairman of the new Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board. Devaney, along with Vice President Joe Biden, will coordinate oversight of stimulus spending. The stimulus package contains about $43 billion for energy efficiency and technology programs, including $4.3 billion for smart power grid R&D. Industry groups and companies large and small are already lining up to win federal energy funding. Whoever is selected to head ARPA-E must be confirmed by the Senate, meaning the nominee will likely have to wait to get on a crowded Senate confirmation schedule. The director will report to Chu."
"The chief congressional promoter of ARPA-E in Congress is Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), chairman of the House Science Committee. Backers said the new energy R&D agency would act as a "broker" that would bring together industry and university researchers with U.S. national laboratories. The stimulus package will fund "renewable energy technology development, standards-setting and deployment of smart grid technologies, demonstration of carbon capture and storage, grants for companies producing advanced batteries and loan guarantees for the deployment of existing clean technologies," Gordon said in a statement."
"Gordon's panel has created a Web site designed to track federal R&D spending. Along with federal research agencies, the committee is also tracking funding designated for the America COMPETES Act, the legislation that created ARPA-E."
Obama budget request targets technology R&D, education
"The Obama administration's first budget blueprint released on Thursday (Feb. 26) proposes $3.55 trillion in federal spending. It also signals a major shift in federal spending priorities designed to boost the U.S. economy by investing in research and education along with healthcare and competitiveness initiatives.
"This moment is one of great paradox and promise," President Obama said in releasing his spending plan for next year. "While there are millions of Americans trying to find work, there is also so much work to be done. That's why the [American Recovery and Reinvestment] Act and our budget will make long overdue investments in priorities—like clean energy, education, health care and a new infrastructure."
"According to budget documents released by the Office of Management and Budget, the Energy Department request for fiscal 2010 totaling $26.3 billion will fund a range of clean energy research initiatives. Included are funds for a DoE Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability to drive a U.S. "smart power grid" initiative.
"As part of the administration's attempt to double federal investment in basic R&D, the department's Office of Science also would receive a budget increase. The science office is expected to oversee the creation of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, which will focus on high-risk energy research.
"The proposed DoE budget also contains funding for loans guarantees for energy efficiency programs and deploying new clean technologies.
"NSF's proposed budget increase to $7 billion in fiscal 2010 would help fund graduate research fellowships in science and engineering as well as "support for the education of technicians in the high-tech fields," according to budget documents. The spending plan would also fund "high-risk, high-reward" science and technology research.
"The Commerce Department's $13.8 billion budget request includes $70 million in new funding for a Technology Innovation Program and $125 million to revive the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The budget request would also give the overwhelmed U.S. Patent and Trademark Office "full access to its fees to improve its efficiency and safeguard intellectual property."
"Earlier this week, industry groups praised the nomination of former Washington governor Gary Locke to be commerce secretary. "Governor Locke has a clear record of cracking down on intellectual property theft in his home state, while advocating for enhanced global engagement as a means of improving IP enforcement, particularly with respect to China," the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said in a statement released on Wednesday.
"NASA's fiscal 2010 budget request totaling $18.7 billion includes funding for manned and robotic space exploration as well as funds to complete the International Space Station.
"The House approved a catch-all appropriations bill earlier in the week that would fund the government through the end of fiscal 2009 (Sept. 30). The spending bill allocated funding for technology programs authorized in the current fiscal year. The budget bill funds the manufacturing competitiveness and technology innovation programs overseen by the National Institute of Standards and Technology as well as Energy Department and NSF R&D programs.
Obama's Budget Blueprint Increases Tech Spending
"U.S. President Barack Obama's new budget blueprint includes millions of new dollars for health IT and for technology research, according to the budget document.
"The budget documents also note that the recently passed economic stimulus package includes $19 billion to drive adoption of electronic health records.
"In addition to the budget increases, the blueprint stresses the importance of technology improvements.
"To create a platform for our entrepreneurs and workers to build an economy that can lead this future, we will begin to rebuild America for the demands of the 21st Century," the budget says. "We will repair crumbling roads, bridges, and schools as well as expand broadband lines across America, so that a small business in a rural town can connect and compete with its counterparts anywhere in the world. And we will invest in the science, research, and technology that will lead to new medical breakthroughs, new discoveries, and entire new industries."
"The budget refers to the $7.2 billion in broadband grants and loans approved in the economic stimulus package."
"The budget includes $70 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Technology Innovation Program, which invests in tech research. Obama's budget also includes funding increases for cybersecurity efforts at the Department of Homeland Security, new money for technology at the Securities and Exchange Commission and new money for the Government Accountability Office to make information on government contracts available to the public.
"In addition, the National Science Foundation's budget would increase from $6.1 billion in fiscal year 2008 to $6.9 billion in 2009. Part of the budget increase will go into the NSF's Advanced Technological Education program, which works with two-year colleges to improve science and engineering technician education.
"Several Republican lawmakers ripped into Obama's budget, saying it was fiscally irresponsible. The budget will increase the U.S. budget deficit to $1.75 trillion in 2009, but Obama's goal is to cut the deficit by more than two thirds by 2013.
"Unfortunately, this budget plan is once again a missed opportunity for American taxpayers -- it raises taxes on all Americans, implements massive new spending, and fails to make any tough choices to control the deficit and long-term fiscal crisis posed by the huge entitlement programs," said Senator Judd Gregg, a New Hampshire Republican. "Where is the spending restraint? Instead, government spending continues to grow and expand, while the economy continues to suffer."
Truly hilarious fake outrage from a senator whose party turned a huge budget surplus left by former president Clinton and promptly turned the surplus into a deficit that Obama is straddled with as he tries to repair a nation's economy that was neglected by a Republican Congress and Administration for 12 years.
