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Note: the Defense Appropriations conference was completed on July 17. The chart linked below has been updated to include the results of the conference, final FY 2001 funding levels for DARPA's computing programs. Thanks to all of those who responded to this alert.

ALERT re: Proposed Budget Cuts in
DARPA's Computing Research Programs

Tuesday, 13 June 2000

To the Computing Research Advocacy Network:

The House has passed and the Senate is about to pass FY 2001 Defense Appropriations bills that contain deep cuts in funding for the Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency computing research programs. The House bill would cut $61 million and the Senate bill would cut nearly $50 million from the $446 million budget request for these programs. An Excel chart with details about the proposed cuts can be downloaded via the link below. If you can't access it for any reason, please contact me and I will fax it to you.

Status of Appropriations for DARPA's Computing Research Line-Items (.xls)

Following is some information on how you can help. If you're not familiar with DARPA's computing research programs, please forward this note to colleagues in your institution who might be concerned about them.

Recommended Actions

Please check here to see if there are any members of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittees from your state:

Contact Information for Members of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittees

If so, please call his/their Washington office(s). If you don't already have a contact in the office, ask to speak to the legislative assistant for defense appropriations. Briefly explain who you are, why you're calling and how important DARPA's computing programs are to the health of your department/center/lab.

Follow up each call by faxing a copy of the relevant CRA letter below and the chart referenced above to the person with whom you spoke:

CRA Letter to Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee leaders
CRA Letter to House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee leaders

Talking Points

• I am concerned about the adverse impact on the future of national security of proposed budget cuts in computing research programs at the Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency. These DARPA programs represent the DOD's investment in long-term, high-payoff research to push the frontiers of information technology in ways most likely to benefit the national defense.

• Rapid advances in defense-related information technology are critical to meeting the DOD's objectives in maintaining information superiority over adversaries and other strategic challenges. Ensuring a flow of new capabilities and innovations in IT requires a strong investment in university-based computing and related research.

• [Describe the importance of DARPA funding to your department/center/lab and of the research it supports there.]

• I urge the Senator/Representative to work to restore these funding cuts that threaten DARPA's computing research programs — the Computing Systems and Communications Technology program and the Extensible Information Systems program — as the defense appropriations bill moves through conference. I will fax you additional information.

Once again, thank you for your involvement in these crucial advocacy activities. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments. Thanks!

Lisa A. Thompson
Director of Government Affairs
Computing Research Association
1100 17th Street NW, Suite 507
Washington, DC 20036
202-234-2111 / 202-667-1066 fax
thompson@cra.org