WASHINGTON – The Science Coalition today released the following statement after the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for fiscal year (FY) 2020. The bill includes funding for several key research agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
“As the only federal agency that supports fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering, NSF is an essential partner with our nation’s research universities in driving innovation and life-changing discoveries. We are particularly encouraged by the Committee’s funding increase for NSF over last year’s levels. This is especially important for supporting university researchers and advancing their projects. We are also pleased to see the Committee’s commitment to increasing investment for NASA and NIST, which are critical agencies in promoting American science and technology.
“Finally, we applaud the Committee for rejecting the administration’s huge proposed budget cuts to NOAA. This important agency monitors weather patterns, coastal restoration, and marine commerce, among many other things Americans rely on. At a time when our physical world is rapidly changing, we are hopeful that funding for NOAA will more closely align with the levels approved by the House as Congress negotiates a final spending package later this year.”
###
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.