MSA Public Policy Committee Reports
Summer 1997
Winter 1998
Summer 1998
Winter 1999
Summer 1999

Public Policy Home

This Committee was authorized in the late summer of 1992 with the goal of increasing Federal instrumentation funding to a level more reflective of the needs of MSA's scientists. In order not to appear self-serving, and to increase our credibility, we have not focused on microscopy alone, but rather on scientific instrumentation, generally in the $100,000 - $2 million range. We emphasize that instrumentation is part of a balanced science policy and should not have to compete with individual investigator grant funding. Until Fall 1996, we were aided in these activities by Kyros & Cummins Associates.

• NIH Shared Instrumentation Grant increased from $8.7 million in FY93 to $35 million in FY99.

• NIH Biotechnology Resource program increased >than inflation (FY93-95); <2% (FY96-97); 20% in FY99.

• NSF Academic Research Infrastructure (now MRI) increased from $12.5M (FY93) to $50M in FY97.

• Mike Isaacson (MSA President) testified on FY94 NSF budget to House Appropriation Subcommittee

• Instrumentation Caucus, "Exploring Inner Space, The Molecular Make-Up of Cells and Materials", held on Capitol Hill in 1994 for staffers and Congressmen, sponsored by MSA.

• Letter from Sen. Harkin and Rep. Porter to NIH Director Varmus and NCRR Head Vaitukaitis questioning low SIG funding and asking them to testify on FY95 plans for SIG. Letter drafted by P. Calarco.

• Letter from Rep. Boehlert to NSF Director Lane questioning safeguards for ARI in the FY97 budget, after ARI $50M rolled into Research & Related Activities. Letter drafted by M. Isaacson.

• Informational meetings averaging 35/year between MSA members and staffers or Congress members up through FY96.

• Off-the-record comments from NIH and NSF staff, and letters from the NIH head of the SIG verifying the positive effect MSA has had on instrumentation funding at their agency.

• Informational meetings with heads of instrumentation funding programs at NSF, NIH as well as members of science policy groups at the Office of Science & Technology and the Office of Management and Budget.

• Yearly programs at MSA meetings (1993-1997) on public policy featuring MSA scientists, agency representatives, Congressional staff and, in 1996, Congressman Luther from Minneapolis.

• Inclusion of importance of instrumentation programs as a policy point for the Federation of American societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB).

• Strong support from several of our biggest exhibitors for this program.