Of Note: Selected Quotations from FYI in 2010

“Despite the importance of education in [science and math], we have to admit we are right now being outpaced by our competitors.” – President Barack Obama

“Nearly every job created in the U.S. over the next ten years will require more math and science fluency than the average job today.” – John Castellani, President of the Business Roundtable

“Business as usual is not a viable option.” – Arun Majumdar, Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy

“We live in a world where perception often governs instead of the actual substance.” – Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) on the negative reaction to the Administration’s human space flight proposal

“As we’ve said many times, the spread of nuclear weapons is the greatest threat facing our country. That is why we are working to stop their proliferation and eventually to eliminate them. Until that day comes, though, we will do everything necessary to maintain our arsenal.” – Vice President Joe Biden

“Do you agree that [U.S.] manufacturing is in the tank?” – House Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Frank Wolf (R-VA)

“In short, yes.” – OSTP Director John Holdren when asked if the U.S. will return to the Moon and send humans to Mars

“You are proposing surrendering [Gettysburg’s] Little Round Top.” – Rep. John Culberson (R-TX) when criticizing the Administration’s proposal to cancel NASA’s Constellation Program and his concerns about foreign human space flight programs

“I will never be able to save all the jobs.” – NASA Administrator Charles Bolden when commenting on NASA’s human space flight proposal

“We were living a hallucination . . . I don’t think we would have ever gotten there.” – Administrator Bolden when commenting on NASA previous budgets

“In some states hairdressers are better regulated than people who perform medical radiation procedures.” – Sandra Hayden, American Society of Radiologic Technologists

“It’s been very unclear up to this point.” – House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Ed Pastor (D-AZ) on the differences between the work supported by Energy Frontier Research Centers, national laboratories, Energy Innovation Hubs, and ARPA-E

“I think what it all comes down to is that we need to invest in people with ideas who have a passion for science and education and who are broadly gauged in their views, who have vision, and who have the steadfastness to pursue that vision.” – National Science Board Chairman Steven Beering

“That’s what keeps me awake at night.” – National Science Foundation Arden Bement when describing increasing foreign investment in S&T

“We will find a solution to this problem.” – NASA Administrator Bolden on the differences between the Administration and Congress over the agency’s human space flight proposal

“It was superb.” – House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman James Moran (D-VA) to US Geological Survey Director Marcia McNutt on her testimony

“Frankly, I think NASA has been starved during several Administrations.” – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)

“When it comes to the space program, we are a bipartisan group.” – Senate Commerce, Justice Science Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)

“It is astonishing that DOE did not see this coming.” – House Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight Chairman Brad Miller (D-NC) on severe shortages of helium-3

“In this Congress, in addition to jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs, which is a four-letter word we use all the time, there are four words that describe our agenda. They are: science, science, science and science.” – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

“Many significant pieces of legislation come before this House. We all know that. But, honestly, I feel strongly that this bill is a big deal and it’s important. It’s a big deal and important for our country and for this Congress. It’s a big deal and an important step in leading our Nation’s innovation agenda in the face of growing global competition. It’s a big deal and important for the business community, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the Business Roundtable, which is why they have been so supportive. It’s a big deal and important to our universities and our national labs, and it’s a big deal and important to our children and grandchildren so they will not be the first generation of Americans to inherit a standard of living lower than their parents.” – House Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) on the America COMPETES Reauthorization Bill

“I believe long-term investment in science and technology, coupled with policies that reduce tax burdens, streamline Federal regulations, and balance the Federal budget are very vital for our Nation to remain competitive in the global marketplace. However, we must also put our fiscal house in order to ensure that we’re not leveraging the future of our children and our grandchildren.” – House Science and Technology Committee Ranking Member Ralph Hall (R-TX) on the COMPETES bill

“It’s not everything I wanted. None of us ever get everything we want.” – Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-MI) on the COMPETES bill

“It clearly was time to press the reset button.” – OSTP Director Holdren on the Administration’s human space flight proposal

“This isn’t the America I would like to see for my grandchildren.” – Norman Augustine on future foreign competition

“So what are we doing to revamp our schools to make sure our kids can compete? What are we doing in terms of research and development to make sure that innovation is still taking place here in the United States of America? What are we doing about our infrastructure so that we have the best airports and the best roads and the best bridges? And how are we going to pay for all that at a time when we’ve got both short-term deficit problems, medium-term deficit problems, and long-term deficit problems? Now, that’s going to be a big debate. And it’s going to involve us sorting out what government functions are adding to our competitiveness and increasing opportunity and making sure that we’re growing the economy, and which aspects of the government aren’t helping.” – President Obama