Testimonials

“As history has shown repeatedly with science funding, this investment will pay for itself many times over. Americans will save far more on their energy bills than we spend on research.

“With a network of 17 national laboratories and researchers at 300 colleges and universities, the federal government knows how to do this work. Public investment in research has been critical to developing everything from hybrid-vehicle batteries to lifesaving cancer treatments.

“As we have in the past, we will work with the private sector to take breakthroughs on energy from the research lab to the manufacturing plant to the retail store.”
Secretary Steven Chu, Editorial in USA Today, “Research pays for itself: Investments in clean energy will unleash innovations, create jobs,” March 5, 2009

“Mr. President, when I went to college I wanted to be an engineer, in part because 52 years ago the United States was supporting science and engineering on an unprecedented level. America’s competitive spirit helped us meet the challenges of those times.  Thousands of innovations created myriad new opportunities for growth and development.  

“We can do this again.

“The financial crisis should cause a cultural shift back to the strong foundations of innovation and know-how that have always been the American way. 

“And the federal government should again invest strongly in supporting the basic scientific, medical and engineering research that will spur the discovery and innovations to create millions of new jobs and shape a bright American future. 
Senator Ted Kaufman (D-DE), Senator Floor Speech, February 27, 2009

“Thanks to our recovery plan, we will double this nation’s supply of renewable energy in the next three years.  We have also made the largest investment in basic research funding in American history – an investment that will spur not only new discoveries in energy, but breakthroughs in medicine, science, and technology.

“The weight of this crisis will not determine the destiny of this nation.  The answers to our problems don’t lie beyond our reach.  They exist in our laboratories and universities; in our fields and our factories; in the imaginations of our entrepreneurs and the pride of the hardest-working people on Earth.”
President Barack Obama, Address to Joint Session of Congress, February 24th, 2009

“In the economic recovery package, we are going with proposals that we have in general for infrastructure, for innovation, for health care, and for energy independence—and they really are all related. And I said, if you want four words to describe this: science, science, science, and science. The science technology and engineering to build the infrastructure for the future, the science for the innovation to keep us competitive and No. 1 in the world market. This is not our grandfathers’ public works program of the ‘30s.”
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Interview with NPR’s Morning Edition, January 14, 2009

"To keep America competitive into the future, we must trust in the skill of our scientists and engineers and empower them to pursue the breakthroughs of tomorrow. Last year, Congress passed legislation supporting the American Competitiveness Initiative, but never followed through with the funding. This funding is essential to keeping our scientific edge. So I ask Congress to double federal support for critical basic research in the physical sciences and ensure America remains the most dynamic nation on Earth. "
President, George W. Bush, 2008 State of the Union

"The American public, through its duly elected Congress, has made its priorities clear: short-term applied research wins over the full spectrum of long-term basic research.  It is our job to make clear to the American people that our country will “run out of gas” if the latter is not supported.  In the absence of breakthroughs in fundamental science, current technologies will simply not be able to meet the energy and environmental challenges that loom ahead for our Nation.  Progress in basic science is essential to America’s continued prosperity and strength in the twenty-first century."                                              
Dr. Raymond L. Orbach, Under Secretary for Science, U.S. Department of Energy, Universities Research Association, Inc. Council of Presidents Event, January 30, 2008

"It’s important that we stress the importance of investing in the future, and the strong linkage between science investment, economic development, and job creation . . . A nation that saves as little as we do depends very dramatically on educational programs and on our investments in research and development to keep our economy going.”
NSF Director, Dr. Arden Bement


“We need to take the brains that we have in our university system, the entrepreneurial energy that we have in our free enterprise companies, and the long-term view that government can afford to take and meld them together so that we have a constant stream of innovations.”
Former NASDAQ President, Alfred R. Berkeley


"During the last half-century, science-driven technology has accounted for more than 50 percent of the growth of the U.S. economy.  We must continue to financially support basic science research - it is the foundation upon which tomorrow's technological advancements will rest."
Congresswoman Judy Biggert (R-IL)


“It's important that the federal government remain an active backer of our scientific community.  Federally-supported scientific research has not only led to a number of innovations that have met government needs, but also to discoveries that have been adapted to make life better for all of us.”
Congressman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)


"I'm honored to have been selected by The Science Coalition as a Champion of Science.  As Chairman of the House Science Committee, I recognize the importance of a healthy and robust scientific enterprise to our nation's economic well being.  That is why I have led the effort for a sustained investment in science, particularly its new frontiers of nanotechnology and cybersecurity - two fields that hold tremendous economic promise for my Upstate New York district and the entire nation."
Congressman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY)


“The federal investment in scientific research is the driving engine for the innovations, the new technologies, the new methods that are going to improve the quality of our lives and improve the quality of lives for people all throughout the world.”
Senator Christopher S. “Kit” Bond (R-MO)


“It is incredible how far we have come.  Looking back just a few years, the strides we have made in the science world are enormous.  We have opportunities today that were just figments of our imagination years ago, and that speaks to the great commitment we have made to advancing this discipline.  I realize how important this commitment is, and I am proud to be honored as a Champion of Science by The Science Coalition.  Each day can bring a key to unlock a new door – keys that are critical to our future, and we must continue striving towards these advances in the science world.  I will continue working in my role as United States Senator to make sure Congress does not lose focus of this great goal.”
Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT)


“One of the great engines of our growing economy is our Nation’s capacity to innovate.  Through America’s investments in science and technology, we have revolutionized our economy and changed the world for the better.  Groundbreaking ideas generated by innovative minds in the private and public sectors have paid enormous dividends—improving the lives and livelihoods of generations of Americans.”
President George W. Bush


“…if we can remain the most competitive nation in the world, it will benefit the worker here in America.  People have got to understand, when we talk about spending your taxpayers' money on research and development, there is a correlating benefit, particularly to your children.  It takes a while for some of the investments that are being made with government dollars to come to market.  I don't know if people realize this, but the Internet began as the Defense Department project to improve military communications.  In other words, we were trying to figure out how to better communicate, here was research money spent, and as a result of this sound investment, the Internet came to be.”
President George W. Bush


"Science and technology are increasingly important to America.  They caused the economic boom of the 90's, allow us to fight terrorism with very few casualties, and give us many benefits in everyday life, such as improved medicines.  We must also do a better job of educating our children in math and science, because the better-paying jobs of the future will require a good understanding of those subjects."
Congressman Vern Ehlers (R-MI)


"Scientific research and education are crucial to prepare our nation for the future.  Innovative research, new technologies and scientific discovery fuel our economy, our minds and our future.  As a member of the House Science Committee, I have a unique opportunity to help shape the science and technology policies in America and the world today.  North Carolina is fortunate to be home to some of the most technology savvy companies and research universities in the entire country and is well positioned to be a significant force in the global economy of the 21st Century."
Congressman Bob Etheridge (D-NC)


“There is nothing more important to our nation's future than a continued investment in the research and development of new technologies, sciences and medicines, so much of which is being done at our academic institutions in New Jersey.  I’m proud to again be honored by The Science Coalition.  By doubling federal funding for the NIH and continuing to support the NSF, Congress recognizes that a strengthened investment in science and technology is driving our state and nation’s economic strength, job creation and productivity.  You can be sure that I remain committed to this important endeavor.”
Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ)


“Science is really about life and death.  It’s about better medical care.  It’s about better knowledge for the economy.  It’s about better knowledge for national defense.  If you understand that, you’re changed permanently because you never can go back.”
Former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich (R-GA)


"Ensuring our nation remains at the forefront of scientific research should be a top priority for all of us.  It is for me, and that's why I take my position as the ranking member of the House Science Committee so seriously.  New technologies and innovations drive our economy, solve pressing problems and bolster our well-being.  That's why we must make sure universities, government agencies and private industry have the resources they need to conduct cutting-edge scientific research."
Congressman Bart Gordon (D-TN)


"The development of biomedical and technological breakthroughs that benefit our lives and drive our economy begins with scientific research.  I am proud to be a Champion of Science, and I commend this year’s [2004] recipients of the award for their commitment to basic scientific research.”  
Congressman Ralph Hall (R-TX)


“It is an honor to be designated a champion of science by The Science Coalition.  The Science Coalition is an effective advocate of investment in the type of important scientific research that will give birth to the next generation of groundbreaking innovations.  Our nation will be stronger, our people healthier, and our economy more robust due to the scientific discovery that the Coalition’s work will make possible.”
Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ)


"The federal government's unique and extensive resources come with a responsibility to promote scientific research.  It is only through sustained commitment and a strong partnership with public and private universities that we are able to make the break through discoveries that save lives, breach technological boundaries and maintain our country's position as a scientific powerhouse.  I look forward to continuing to work with The Science Coalition to further the federal government's commitment to scientific research."
Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD)


“What keeps our economy growing is entrepreneurial innovation . . . Good public policy can support America’s entrepreneurial growth machine.  Some policy directions are obvious and (hopefully) uncontroversial.  Support for basic research and education and skill development are important priorities.”
Former Chairman of President George W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisors, R. Glenn Hubbard


“Prosperity in an increasingly intense global economic environment requires not only being on the frontier in all the important fields but also creating the yet unimagined frontiers.”  Innovation in university labs across America can bring these unimagined frontiers closer than ever."
Former White House science advisor and a professor at Rice University, Neal Lane


“In my home state of Connecticut, our economy is powered by great people and great ideas – by a highly-skilled, high-tech and nimble workforce with the ability to adapt to the rapidly changing world.  Investments to promote scientific innovation and technological literacy have made all the difference in allowing Connecticut to position itself as a leader in the future global economy, and we must continue to make such investments in order to accelerate economic expansion both there and in the rest of the nation.”
Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT)


“If you think about what’s happened over the last couple of decades – the growth of the Internet, the revolution in telecommunications, the cleaning up of our air and our water and the miraculous improvements in our health care over that period of time, all of that started basically in labs funded by federal research and development.”
Former Clinton White House Chief of Staff, John Podesta


“The basic research is the seed corn that gets to applied research that actually gets to something that you can touch and feel.”
Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS)


“It seems understated to simply say that science is important.  Scientific research contributes meaningful developments and life-changing progress to people’s lives every day.  One of the ways I have supported scientific research is by advocating for increased funding for the National Institutes of Health throughout my legislative career.”
Congressman Martin Olav Sabo (D-MN)

“I am extremely honored to be recognized as a Champion of Science by The Science Coalition.  During my tenure in the United States Senate, I have made it one of my top priorities to be a strong advocate for Federally-supported research and development and worked to establish strong links between our Federal research and development sector, Maryland’s major research universities, and the state’s private high technology firms.”
Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD)


“As a freshman Member of Congress and member of the House Committee on Science, I have strived to be a staunch advocate for sound science policy.  I have made strengthening our nation’s research universities one of my top priorities, and I continue to work to improve our education system to produce more highly qualified individuals to teach our students at all levels, especially in the fields of math, science, and engineering.  I am delighted to win this distinguished award.”
Congressman Joe Schwarz (R-MI)


"It is through advances in science that we make the world a better place.  Scientists, doctors and researchers are continually finding new cures for illnesses, and newer, more efficient ways of producing energy through the work conducted in our labs.  This translates to an improved environment, and a longer, healthier, quality of life for people in Wisconsin and the rest of the nation."
Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI)


"Scientific innovation keeps our country moving forward with discovery and ingenuity.  In my home state of California, scientific developments provide much-needed environmental protections, improve use of our water resources, and serve as vital components to fuel our economy, especially at the two nuclear labs located in my district.  I am honored to be named a recipient of this award again this year, and will continue my commitment to science."  
Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher (D-CA)


“One of my highest priorities is to improve the quality of life for the people I serve.  From the burden of Alzheimer’s on a family to reducing emissions into our environment, investments in science and research yield the highest benefits of any investments the federal government makes.  We must promote science for the good of the free world and future generations."
Congressman Zach Wamp (R-TN)


“Let me show you a device developed by combining robotics, molecular chemistry, imaging and computer chip manufacturing technologies.  In my hand, I hold what's known as a DNA chip.  It can determine in a single experiment which of several thousand human genes are active in a biological sample.  Only a few years ago, it would have been impossible to ask the questions we're now able to explore on a scale unprecedented in history . . . Science is evolving at such a pace and in such a way that cross-cutting initiatives need to be encouraged.”
NIH Director, Dr. Elias Zerhouni