In Congressional Testimony, Leshner Says Outlook for Federal R&D is Mixed

While applauding the Bush administration's continued effort to boost funding for the physical sciences, AAAS CEO Alan I. Leshner told Congress that overall investment in basic and applied research would decline in constant dollar terms for the fifth year in a row under its proposed 2009 federal budget.

"AAAS believes strongly in the importance of a broad, balanced portfolio of R&D investments," Leshner said in written testimony submitted for the record to the Senate Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Innovation. The panel held an 11 March hearing on the importance of basic research to U.S. competitiveness.

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