The National Science Board recently released the 2008 Science and Engineering Indicators. Along with the statistics, it published a report on R&D in America, arguing that:

1. The federal government should take action to enhance the level of funding for, and the transformational nature of, basic research;
2. Industry, government, the academic sector and professional organizations should take action to encourage greater intellectual interchange or synergy between industry and academia, with industry reserachers encouraged to also participate as authors and reviewers for articles in open, peer-reviewed publications.
3. New data are critically needed, and this need should be expeditiously addressed by relevant federal agencies to track the implications for the U.S. economy of the globalization of manufacturing and services in high technology industry.

I suspect that arguments regarding the need for more money for basic research isn't going to be terribly controversial, but I can't ever recall reading an NSF report that didn't conclude with calls for increased funding.

Research and Development: Essential Foundation for U.S. Competitiveness in a Global Economy: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsb0803/nsb0803.pdf
2008 Science and Engineering Indicators: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind08/
Press Release 08-005: National Science Board Releases Science and Engineering Indicators 2008: http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=110984&govDel=USNSF_51