Pa. Congressman calls for information networking

In an address yesterday evening in the Towne Building, U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.) called for the creation of a huge communications network between local governments and research institutes. Weldon, who represents Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional district, was the year's first speaker in the Technology, Business and Government Lecture Series, sponsored by the School of Engineering and Applied Science. The presentation, jointly organized by the Engineering School and the Fels Center of Government, was entitled "Technology and Business in the 21st Century: A Congressional Perspective." Weldon, a senior member of the House Science Committee and chairperson of the Subcommittee on Science, Research and Development, spoke to a crowd of several faculty members and graduate students on the relationship between business and research initiatives. He focused specifically on the Delaware Valley, where he noted there is potential for technological expansion. Weldon also discussed the potential dangers posed by "cyberterrorism" -- or electronic theft or destruction of information -- offering a solution that would protect the nation's information resources while providing a huge economic boost for the region: a massive, secure communications network to extend over the "four-state region" of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. "If you look at the history of [research and development] in this nation, much of it has come from the defense budget," Weldon said, explaining that one method of bolstering the local economy is through military spending. Meanwhile, Weldon condemned the practice of offering financial incentives to large corporations in order to entice them to relocate to the area. His proposal, which calls for an increase in the military budget for civilian-research purposes, rests on an effective relationship between the government and research universities. "We take [U.S. Defense Department] money and we simply send it out to the schools and say 'Do some basic research in information technology,'" he said. "A lot of our spending in the Defense Department is for those programs that provide for basic research." Some observers asked how increased military spending was going to be diverted to non-weapons research functions. In a follow-up statement after the presentation, Weldon said, "That's the critical issue.? That's what we're going to work on." He added that, "Whoever can manage data will become the world's economic leader in the 21st century." Reaction to the presentation was generally positive. Interim Engineering Dean Eduardo Glandt praised Weldon for his foresight, knowledge of detail and support of scientific research. "I think he has a very compelling vision, based on the bringing together of academic and non-academic institutions in the area," he said. "This is where America's creativity is being expressed."