WASHINGTON – The Science Coalition (TSC) released the following statement in response to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s hearing on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget:

“NIST is an integral partner for America’s research universities in driving innovation, promoting scientific advancements, training the next generation of researchers, and securing our nation’s role as a global technological leader. Looming sequestration cuts would reduce this small – but critically important – agency’s budget by $88 million next year. It is for these reasons that we are sounding the alarm now. We urge Congress and the administration to raise the caps no later than October 1 to prevent NIST and other federal research agencies from being impacted needlessly.”

The Science Coalition recently joined an effort calling on House and Senate Appropriations leaders to increase funding for NIST’s Scientific and Technical Research and Services programs. The letter also called on congressional leaders to fully fund $80 million for quantum science and technology activities at NIST authorized in the bipartisan National Quantum Initiative Act.

A 9 percent post-sequester cut for non-defense discretionary spending and an 11 percent cut for defense basic research spending (not adjusting for inflation) would account for the following cuts to other federal research agencies, totaling more than $5.1 billion:

  • Department of Energy, Office of Science: $593 million
  • Department of Defense, Basic Research: $278 million
  • National Institutes of Health: $3.5 billion
  • National Science Foundation: $726 million

A recent nationwide poll conducted by The Science Coalition found the American public overwhelmingly supports federal investment in fundamental research, and a majority of voters believe scientific investment should increase.

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About the Science Coalition

Established in 1994, The Science Coalition is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of more than 50 of the nation’s leading public and private research universities. It is dedicated to sustaining the federal government’s investment in basic scientific research as a means to stimulate the economy, spur innovation, and drive America’s global competitiveness.