Because while we are grappling with the budget to try to restrain the growth in spending. we want to make sure we dont squeeze out investments in science and technology that give us the standard of living we enjoy today. The next reason that higher education may be at some risk is national security. Tight visa rules and other national security restrictions are making it harder for the more than onehalf million foreign students and additional researchers who now come to our universities and laboratories. More importantly. scientific conferences are being held overseas. We have taken for granted that we have been insourcing brains.