R&D doubling bill all but dead

Abstract

Congress returns to work this week from its spring break, but for those harboring hopes of seeing the federal research and development budget doubled by 2006, the outlook is disturbing. The bill that would provide that increase—S. 1305— is in deep trouble. One congressional analyst says simply: 1305 is dead. The numbers just don't add up. This opinion is based on assessments by the Congressional Research Service, which evaluated the bill against the Senate-passed budget resolution and other spending Congress has already committed to. Originally submitted by the influential Phil Gramm (R-Texas), S. 1305 has gained 15 cosponsors, including Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.), Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.), and Alfonse M. D'Amato (RN. Y.). A crucial date is April 28, when a subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation has scheduled a hearing on the bill. That subcommittee is headed by Bill Frist (R-Tcnn.), who was asked to cosponsor S. 1305. But ...