April 20, 2006, Washington, DC--Members of OSA traveled to Washington, D.C. on March 28 and 29 to meet with Congressional representatives and emphasize the need for increased and balanced federal investment in research and development. The group focused on the fact that federally funded research is critical to securing the nation's economic future. OSA members joined with nearly 300 scientists, engineers and business leaders who made visits on Capitol Hill as part of the eleventh annual "Congressional Visits Days," an event sponsored by the Science-Engineering-Technology Work Group. Society member participants included Robert P. Breault, Peter Delfyett, F. J. Duarte, Alexandre Y. Fong, Wayne Knox, Silvia Mioc, and Carolyn Russell.
While visiting Congressional offices these individuals discussed the importance of the nation's broad portfolio of investments in science, engineering and technology and promoted its role in national security, prosperity and US leadership and innovation. Most importantly, they provided a constituent perspective on the local and national impact of these programs and their significance to optics and photonics. Specifically, members asked for increased investments at the Department of Defense, Department of Energy Office of Science and the National Science Foundation, as well as reiterating the need for continued funding of math and science education.
More than 50 percent of all industrial innovation and growth in the United States since World War II can be attributed to advances pioneered through scientific research, with publicly funded R&D the vital foundation for today's scientific and technological progress. Examples of scientific and technological advances that can be traced back to federally funded science, engineering and technology include global environmental monitoring, lasers, liquid crystal displays, and the Internet. Science, engineering and technology will play an important role in the fight against terrorism. It is also crucial for ensuring economic well-being.
"Members of OSA participated in Congressional Visits Day to emphasize the important role that optics and photonics play in innovation," said Elizabeth Rogan, OSA's executive director. "U.S. funding of basic research in our field is an investment that fuels the economy in the forms of new technologies, products, services and jobs. The OSA members who participated in CVD drove this message home in their visits and will help to keep funding of research and development a top priority for these legislators."
Highlights of the two-day event included remarks by leading science administrators in the federal government, including Richard O. Buckius, Acting Assistant Director for Engineering, National Science Foundation, and David Goldston, Chief of Staff of the House Science Committee and a reception that included awarding the George E. Brown Jr. Science, Engineering, Technology Leadership Award to Representative Frank Wolf of Virginia. CVD participants had a breakfast meeting with Representative Bob Inglish of South Carolina, the Chairman of the House Science Committee, Research Subcommittee, and Representative John Culberson of Texas, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. The attendees then made hundreds of visits to their Senators and Representatives.