WASHINGTON – The Science Coalition released the following statement in response to the Senate Committee on Appropriations’ markup of fiscal year (FY) 2020 appropriations for basic research programs at the Department of Defense and across the service branches:
“The research partnerships between universities and federal defense research agencies are linchpins in America’s economic and national security. Funding for basic research across service branches is critical to university-based defense research and innovations. We are pleased to see increases in funding for overall basic defense research, and look forward to working with Senate leaders to boost support for University Research Initiatives.
“We are also encouraged to see the Senate finally taking action on appropriations measures after a budget deal was reached in July. We urge Senate leaders to follow through on the chamber’s remaining spending bills and reach an agreement with the House before the end of this fiscal year on Oct. 1. Without predictable, sustained funding, projects that support national security, grow the economy, and expand scientific understanding are in jeopardy of being unnecessarily disrupted or cut off completely.”
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.