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The economic challenges faced by New Congress in United States are described. The issues related to budget, war in Iraq, deficit, antiterrorism and the policies related to homeland security, science, and environment are discussed.

President George W. Bush has proposed a budget for fiscal 2003 which includes some significant increases for research and development spending in areas made more important by the Islamic terrorist attacks, while reducing spending on those agencies not directly involved in this area to only small increases in spending. He also indicated that changes could be made in R and D programs if programs do not measure up.

It is possible that the chemical industry will be facing a ban on chlorine and chlorine products due to possible endocrine damage, cancer, risks to babies exposed prenatally and damage to our wildlife, for example the sea life in the Great Lakes. Chemical companies have begun to cut back chlorine and chlorine products usage and are limiting the amount of chlorine wastes. The paper industry also uses chlorine for bleaching. It is thought that an outright complete ban on chlorinated products would not be possible due to the negative effects it would have on the agriculture industry and therefore the entire population.

A study conducted at Northwestern University indicates that tiny specs of silver are capable of playing a significant role in a sensitive and inexpensive biological detection system. Protein absorption on self-assembled monolayers, and ligand receptor binding events are among the applications appropriate for monitoring.

George W. Bush recently presented his plan for reducing carbon dioxide emissions by offering tax credits for companies which lower these emissions.

Consumer resistance to genetically modified foods has grown during the past year. The European Union (EU) has placed a moratorium on all new approvals of bioengineered crops. The US has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in exports because of the EU's refusal to buy most genetically modified corn. Among the concerns are the effects of transgenic crops on the environment, health and the livelihoods of the world's poorest farmers.