Members of the Science & Technology Action Committee, a nonpartisan coalition of non-profit, academic, foundation, and corporate leaders, and 68 leading institutions, including AIBS, have sent a letter to congressional leadership urging them to swiftly conference on the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act or USICA (S. 1260) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the Future Act (H.R. 2225), and pass a joint bill that includes essential science and technology (S&T) funding.
The letter calls for the final bill to include a “critical infusion of resources in the S&T enterprise to meet and address societal and global challenges” and the “prioritization of STEM education to ensure a pipeline of well-trained students and researchers and a more diverse STEM workforce.”
The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF)—an alliance of more than 130 professional organizations, scientific societies, including AIBS, universities, and businesses—has also sent a letter to lawmakers urging that the final conferenced bill includes “robust sustainable growth in authorized funding for both existing NSF programs – including research, education, and infrastructure efforts across all areas of science and engineering – as well as for a proposed new directorate.”
“Many of the NSF provisions in both House and Senate legislative approaches will require new or changed activities at the Foundation,” reads the CNSF letter. “We encourage Congress to ensure that the final conference agreement provides the agency with sufficient flexibility to implement these activities, and that appropriations in future years allow growth to fully realize the authorized activities.”
Stay current on the latest science policy news. Subscribe to our bi-weekly AIBS Public Policy Report.