FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-- DECEMBER 15, 2004

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Bush’s DOE Secretary Nominee Good for Science, Say APS Leaders

American Physical Society leaders praise nomination of Samuel Bodman as Secretary of Energy

Washington DC – December 15, 2004 – Dr. Helen Quinn, president of the American Physical Society praised President Bush’s selection of Dr. Samuel Bodman to be the next Secretary of Energy. Noting that the Department of Energy provides more funding for research in the physical sciences than any other federal agency and is the steward of many of the nation’s largest science facilities, Dr. Quinn said that she believes the secretary-designate would be an effective administrator and a strong promoter of scientific research and innovation.

"Sam Bodman has the right credentials for the job," Dr. Quinn said. "He would be coming to the Department of Energy after time at Treasury and Commerce, where he was well respected for his knowledge and abilities. He would also bring to his new position at the Department of Energy an ideal resume: a strong background in science, engineering and technology and a great understanding of how discovery and innovation move into the marketplace and benefit the economy."

"Secretary Spencer Abraham [whom Dr. Bodman would replace] deserves extraordinary credit for raising the visibility of science within the DOE portfolio," said Burton Richter, Chair of the APS Physics Policy Committee and a Nobel Laureate. "He raised the status of the Office of Science greatly through his tireless promotion of the Department’s strategic report on science and the Facilities for the Future of Science plan. Dr. Bodman, with his experience in academia, finance and industry, will be at least as strong of a supporter of DOE’s S&T portfolio," Richter concluded.

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Pete V. Domenici and House Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman David Hobson, also attracted strong praise from the APS leadership. "Facing extraordinary budgetary pressures and advocacy for other priorities, Domenici and Hobson came through for science in a big way this year," APS President-Elect Marvin Cohen said. "They deserve tremendous praise."

In spite of the budgetary strictures, the APS leadership expressed hope that with the support of DOE’s science allies in Congress, among them Representatives Biggert and Visclosky and Senators Alexander, Bingaman, and Reid, Secretary-Designate Bodman would be able to make funding of the Office of Science an Administration priority.