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Science Funding for 2007

Anyone who believes that funding scientific research is a worthy and important goal of our government should be concerned that, to this point, Congress has done nothing except continue funding at 2006 levels. If increases are not passed and funding is left at 2006 levels, the following consequences may arise:

There will be a significant reduction in operations or a complete shutdown at some key national user facilities that academic and industrial researchers from around the country rely on. (See this DOE analysis for a more detailed discussion of the DOE situation.)
Scientific and technical staffing at the national laboratories may suffer reductions in force, since the FY06 funding levels do not account for salary-adjusted inflation.
University grants will be notably reduced
At NSF, there will be a 10% reduction in the number of new research grants, a loss of 40 planned Graduate Fellowships and $439 million in missed opportunities for scientific discoveries. (See this report for a more detailed list of the effects that will be felt by NSF)
At DOE, university grants could be cut by 10% or more. Due to the significant cut in funding of the Office of Science in FY06, DOE has been operating below FY05 levels. The proposed Continuing Resolution would extend these difficult levels through October 2007.

To do something, write or email your US Represenative and Senators. The following link allows you to send a form letter to them. You don't have to personalize the letter (other than putting your address so that the letter goes to your represenatives). The more people that raise this issue with their representatives then the more likely it is to come to a positive resolution.
Congress Web.