Congress loses valued science ally

Science News, July 31, 1999

Science lost a respected advocate on July 15 with the death of Rep. George E. Brown Jr. (D-Calif.). The 79-year-old lawmaker succumbed to a postoperative infection following surgery to replace a heart valve.

Long a member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, Brown headed it from 1991 until Republicans took over leadership of the House in 1995.

A committee statement notes that Brown focused on conservation, environmental degradation, technology transfer, renewable energy sources, the hazards of burning fossil fuels, destructive effects of Freon, and the importance of keeping space science separate from the military--many years ago, "when there were few listeners and fewer converts." During his 18 terms in Congress, Brown played an active role in establishing the Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Technology Assessment, and a permanent presidential science advisory body--the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Last year, in challenging several major facets of a National Science Policy report issued by the Science Committee, Brown laid out some longstanding concerns. He argued that "we need to do a more rational job of identifying specific social needs that science can help us remedy.... To put it simply, science for what end? It isn't enough to declare science a public good and walk away from the table. When we use public resources to support science and technology we should clearly identify the public purposes which we desire."

"I am particularly concerned," he said, "that increasing technological sophistication and maldistribution of educational opportunity could create a two-tier society ... of technological haves and have-nots."

Recalls National Science Foundation Director Rita R. Colwell, Brown was Congress' "most articulate spokesperson for continuing investments in science and technology."