Woolsey (D-CA) proposed this amendment to the bill reauthorizing the National Science Foundation-a government agency that provided support for scientific research across the country. Woolsey's amendment added funding for a "Biosafety Research" program that would investigate the impact of new organisms on biological systems. "New organisms" could be existing organisms introduced to a new environment, or wholly new organisms created through breeding or genetic manipulation. Progressives supported the amendment because they worried about the impact of such organisms on both humans and the world's ecosystems. However, their position was outvoted by a combination of several Democrats and all but one Republican. The amendment was rejected 165-259.