As Far As Most U.S. Scientists are Concerned, House Speaker Pelosi Can Do No Wrong. (April 3, 2009)

The journal Science reports that last week the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, was paid tribute by the nation's scientific community for her successful advocacy of bigger research budgets and, more broadly, the importance of supporting innovation in a time of economic turmoil.

In the course of her "science day," Ms Pelosi agreed to field a few questions from Science. Here are her answers.
 

Science:  Are you worried that pressure to reduce the budget deficit will ultimately force Congress to trim the president's 2010 request for science?
 

Nancy Pelosi:  If we make these investments in science, we will be able to remain leaders of innovation and stay number one in global competitiveness. For example, we will be able to improve health care. And that's the biggest way to reduce the cost of many entitlement programs. It will also help us become energy independent. So these investments will actually help us lower the deficit.
 

Science:  Do you favor making foreign students with newly minted Ph.D.s from U.S. universities eligible for green cards?
 

Nancy Pelosi:  Yes, I'm for that--we want to staple a green card to those diplomas. And I think we have a chance to do it as part of a comprehensive immigration reform bill. But not on its own.
 

Science:  You've talked about the importance of international benchmarking. Do we need a system of national standards in math and science, rather than the current patchwork system across all 50 states?
 

Nancy Pelosi:  We need to take a look at that. I have a great deal of confidence in two people--Congressman George Miller [D-CA], who's chairman of the education committee, and Bart Gordon [D-TN], who's chairman of the science committee. One of the reasons we were able to move some of our initiatives on science education so quickly was because George, who also has jurisdiction over higher education, said to Bart, "You just take the ball and run with it." So between the two of them, I have confidence that they will be able to come up with something useful.
 

Science:  Why has it been so hard to attract and retain minorities in math and science?
 

Nancy Pelosi:  One of the things we did in the [stimulus] package was to recognize that many of our historically black colleges and Hispanic-serving institutions have not been receiving the grants and whatever else they need because they don't have the facilities. So we tried to make them eligible for more funds, to build the facilities that will attract the scientists who will apply for the grants. And their success will attract students, which will lead to excellence. We've also talked to NIH and other agencies about the importance of getting scientists to address the health disparities in our country. But it's a real challenge.
 

Science:  Will this Congress approve a permanent R&D tax credit for industry?
 

Nancy Pelosi:  Yes, I hope so. But we want it permanent, and we want it modernized.

Perhaps the Australian Academy of Science might like to take up a collection and invite Nancy Pelosi to spend a  bit of time in Oz and chat to thems in power.