What Others Are Saying: The Passage of the FY 2018 Omnibus Bill and its Impact on Scientific Research

“We thank Congress and President Trump for investing in scientific research and development by signing the FY 2018 omnibus funding bill into law. Many Members of Congress recognize that funding science and technology is critical to our nation, economic growth and public wellbeing. According to AAAS estimates, total federal R&D spending will reach its highest point ever in inflation-adjusted dollars.” – Rush Holt, chief executive officer, American Association for the Advancement of Science (03/23/2018, Press Release)

“By providing increased science and student aid investments, the omnibus will strengthen America’s extraordinary government-university partnership, which has for decades led to improved public health, innovation, economic growth, and unmatched military superiority. The significant funding increases for NIH, NASA, and the Department of Energy’s Office of Science are especially important to advancing American leadership in biomedical and physical sciences.” – Mary Sue Coleman, president of Association of American Universities (03/22/2018 Press Release)

“Congress is on its way to making significant and critical investments that will improve Americans’ lives. By providing funds to address the opioid crisis, furthering commitments to federal clean energy research and infrastructure, strengthening the low-income housing tax credit, increasing funding for child care and development block grants, and enhancing public health emergency preparedness and biodefense, this legislation takes many positive steps forward on policy, in line with recommendations BPC has made.” – G. William Hoagland, senior vice president at Bipartisan Policy Center (03/22/2018 Press Release)

“Like a welcome thaw in a spring snowstorm, Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress came together to reach a bipartisan Fiscal Year 2018 omnibus appropriations deal that provides much-needed and much-appreciated funding increases for research and higher education. Investments in research and higher education are necessary to grow our economy, advance our national security, improve public health, and prevent an innovation deficit.” – Peter McPherson, president of Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (03/22/2018 APLU News)

“As we confront daunting health challenges from Alzheimer’s disease to the opioid epidemic, it is our responsibility as a nation to advance the discovery, development and delivery of new treatments for patients anxiously waiting for the next medical breakthrough. The increase will enable the NIH to expand and sustain innovative initiatives that will deepen our understanding of complex diseases, furthering efforts to eradicate many of these health threats…The omnibus bill is a positive step forward in strengthening our global competitiveness and our nation’s commitment to research and public health.” – Mary Woolley, president and CEO of Research!America (03/22/2018 Research!America News)

“While the process to develop the budget this year was unusually convoluted, in the end, it was gratifying to see significant congressional support for funding that will enable greater scientific understanding, technological innovation, STEM education, U.S. competitiveness and security, and ultimately, improvements in the human condition.” – American Physical Society