The Defense Department last week asked Senate appropriators to reconsider their decision to cut $74 million from its budget request for federally funded research and development centers. DOD, in an appeal sent to the House and Senate Appropriations committees, asks that the House's language on FFRDCs be adopted in the conference bill and report the two panels will produce this summer. The House recommended a cut of only $40 million; more importantly, though, the House language would give DOD more...