Welcome everyone. Let's begin the FY 2000 Research and Development Budget Rollout. I'm sure most of you are acquainted with the individuals here with me on stage, but just in case, I would like to introduce:
You'll hear from all of these folks in just a minute, but I want to provide a brief overview of the R&D budget highlights.
I think you all know -- this has been a tough year to put a budget together -- and Elgie will say more about that in a minute.
21st Century Research Fund
The FY 2000 Budget includes $38 billion for 21st Century Research Fund. That's a 3% increase in FY 2000. It provides for overall budget stability and for growth in the highest priority research programs. This year the Research Fund includes Defense basic and applied research programs, further evidence of the Administration's commitment to effective integration of the Nation's university-based research portfolio.
Within the Research Fund, we have emphasized a number of areas, including: Information Technology, Environmental Research, National Security, Protecting Human Health, and the Space program.
IT2
This year's budget proposes a bold new initiative; Information Technology for the 21st Century (IT2), which is funded at $366 million, a 28% increase. IT2, which the Vice President rolled out at the AAAS annual meeting in Anaheim on January 24th, responds to the recommendations of the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee that we increase support for fundamental long-term research aimed to advance IT. Several of the people who are here with me on stage today form the NSTC principals committee that will oversee the progress of this initiative. IT2 has been a team effort -- WH and agencies. It is a high priority with the President and the Vice President.
Environment
The President and Vice President have also made substantial investments in environmental research. Included in these efforts are:
The President' s FY 2000 budget includes substantial R&D increases to defend America against 21st century threats. It provides:
The budget continues the Administration's requested increases for R&D for protecting human health:
Finally I want to talk about the space program:
ORDER OF THE DAY
I would now like to invite Elgie Holstein, to discuss the overall FY 2000 budget picture. When Elgie has concluded his remarks, Secretary Richardson, Mr. Goldin, Dr. Colwell, Dr. Gansler and Dr. Baker will give you thumbnail sketches of their agency's R&D budget. Each of them will be providing a more detailed look at their entire agency's budget this afternoon, which we encourage you to attend. We will take all of the Q&A after the brief presentations.
[Dr. Lane turns podium over to S&T
Agency heads for their presentations.]
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Thank you all very much, it has been a remarkable six months of effort to make IT2 , indeed this entire R&D budget, come together. And without your help it could not have been successful.
True, it's not all good news this year. The overall R&D budget declines by 1% from FY 99 enacted levels, due largely to a 6% decrease in DOD development programs. But the Presidents FY 2000 budget for R&D continues the important trends established early-on by the President and Vice President: