U.S. Rep. Sensenbrenner Visits, Looks at Science and Technology Innovations

Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., named chair in January of the U.S. House Science Committee, will visit UW–Madison on Monday, May 12, for an in-depth look at science and technology innovations.

Sensenbrenner, R-Brookfield, will meet with reporters at 3:30 p.m. in room 106 of the Engineering Research Building, 1500 Johnson Drive. Sensenbrenner will discuss new developments in the fiscal 1998 science budget, the long-term outlook for federal research funding, and answer media questions. Sensenbrenner is the first Wisconsin GOP chairman of a full House committee in 66 years. He has served since 1981 on the House Science Committee, and is currently in his 10th congressional term.

Reporters will also be joining Sensenbrenner at 3:00 p.m. for a demonstration of new virtual reality technology in room 187 of Computer Aided Engineering, 1410 Engineering Drive.

UW–Madison received roughly $300 million in federal research support this year, and a large percentage comes from the agencies Sensenbrenner’s committee oversees.

Rhonda Norsetter, assistant to the chancellor for federal relations, said Sensenbrenner’s agenda for basic science research has been enthusiastically received by the higher education community. He has built strong bipartisan support for the recognition that new knowledge is essential to the nation’s growth, she said.

Legislation recently adopted by the committee calls for a 2.7 percent increase in science and technology budgets next fiscal year. The committee oversees nearly a third of the total federal investment in research and development, including the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Department of Energy and Sea Grant.

For more information on the visit, contact Norsetter at (608) 263-5510; or Brian Mattmiller at (608) 262-9772.