05/26 -
TMS Delegation Visits With U.S. Senators and Representatives - Funding Increase Sought
WARRENDALE, PA, USA)… Professional and student members of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) were among a contingent that met with 41 U.S. senators, representatives and staffers in Washington, D.C. on May 11 to push for increased funding for materials science and engineering. The visit, coordinated with the Federation of Materials Societies (FMS), came exactly one week before the House Science Research Subcommittee held a hearing to assess the National Nanotechnology Initiative five years after its inception.
TMS members visited 15 senatorial and 28 congressional offices to underscore the need to increase funding for materials science and engineering research in order to drive innovation in the U.S. and, consequently, strengthen economic growth and security for the nation. “There seems to be a real surge in support for our cause,” commented Iver Anderson, director of TMS Political & Governmental Affairs, following his participation in the delegation. “Now, we would all like to see this turn into legislation.”
Actual funding for the National Science Foundation is far from the authorized levels, according to U.S. Representative Rush Holt, D-N.J., as stated at the Materials Information Luncheon, sponsored by FMS and TMS, on Capital Hill on May 12. Holt and others are vying for an increase of $350 million in President Bush’s $5.75 billion proposed in the 2006 budget.
At the luncheon, Former TMS President Dan Thoma presented the George E. Brown, Jr., Memorial Award for Science, Engineering and Technology Leadership to Senator Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. Also receiving the award was Vernon Ehlers, R-Mich., chair of the House Science Technology Subcommittee.
TMS’ delegation was comprised of six professional members, Executive Director Alexander Scott, two staff members, and 20 students with two student advisors. TMS was the only organization to include students in order to represent the future of materials science and engineering. They hailed from Drexel University, Johns Hopkins University, Iowa State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and the University of Tennessee.
TMS is the professional organization encompassing the entire range of materials and engineering, from minerals processing and primary metals production to basic research and the advanced applications of materials. Included among its professional and student members are metallurgical and materials engineers, scientists, researchers, educators, and administrators from more than 70 countries on six continents. For more information, contact Nancy Commella, communications manager; telephone (800) 759-4TMS (x218); e-mail ncommella@tms.org.
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