The Energy Sciences Coalition (ESC) supports a minimum funding level of $4.4 billion for the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science in FY 2008, the amount contained in the Presidents FY 2008 budget request. This funding level is consistent with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Democratic Innovation Agenda announced by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in November 2005, the Presidents American Competitiveness Initiative announced in January 2006, and with recommendations made by the National Academies 2005 report, 'Rising above the Gathering Storm.'
ESC believes that a minimum funding level of $4.4 billion is required to keep United States science and engineering at the forefront of global research and development in the physical and biological sciences, computing and many other critical scientific fields. Strong support for DOE scientific research is essential to advancing a broad array of research subjects in order to improve our economic and national security. It is also important to ensuring our future energy self-sufficiency and as a means to address major environmental challenges including global climate change. Simply put, it is an investment in our future.