``Scientists need to get over the idea that to understand them is to agree with them. A public official can comprehend and respect scientists and still quarrel with their policy agenda... .
``Senator Mikulski's language is a bit stronger than some of us would prefer, but her underlying view---that U.S. science policy has become too unfocussed---is widely shared. The federal science apparatus was established with the explicit notion that research was necessary to accomplish specific national goals---long term goals, to be sure, but goals nonetheless.
``The purpose of the system was not to see that every potential researcher could receive a federal grant. And the purpose of the system was certainly not to underwrite the total eclipse of undergraduate education at America's leading universities'' [Boehlert, 1994].
Senator Jay Rockefeller, Democrat from West Virginia and former chair of the Senate subcommittee on Science, Space, and Technology:
``You scientists and engineers who helped win the Cold War, and... . get funding from the Federal government, are getting a new assignment---help foster long term economic growth that creates jobs and protects the environment... .
``This policy has broad bipartisan support on Capitol Hill... .
``What about science research? In this era, Congress is making clear the old era is over. But that does not mean Congress is criticizing basic research per se, despite the perceptions of some in the university community. Rather we have begun to question budget priorities of the old policy'' [Rockefeller, 1993].
Representative Rick Boucher, Democrat from Virginia and former chair of the House Science subcommittee which oversees NSF, says the Vannevar Bush model is outmoded:
``The real lesson to be learned from the SSC's demise is that we as a nation need to change fundamentally the way we plan, debate, and implement science and technology policy.
[describing a bill he introduced, H.R. 3476] ``This legislation would implement the broad consensus that has arisen in the research community for priority-setting in science and greater ties between science and broader social concerns... . The second major reform in our legislation is to mandate that the president, as part of the annual budget submission to congress, identify major societal goals in which science and technology can play a role and then set funding priorities to achieve those goals.
``This is an important change. After World War II, scientists were essentially given the job of determining how government research funds could best be spent. It was assumed that these decisions would eventually lead to breakthroughs in knowledge and applications that would enhance our economic well-being.
``The need for setting specific goals for science isn't so much an indictment of the past as it is a recognition of vastly changed circumstances... .'' [Boucher, 1994]
One is led to conclude that many in Congress and the Administration have concerns about the performance of science and its delivery of results, and are willing to impose changes. Congressional concern may reflect a broad societal belief that science could help with our problems, if only it would. This represents a changed environment for science.