WASHINGTON – The Science Coalition (TSC) issued the following statement in response to the House Committee on Appropriations’ action for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations on Defense, Energy and Water Development, and Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, which includes funding for fundamental research at the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Defense (DOD):
“Institutions across the country work hand in glove with these agencies to combat climate change, protect the nation’s food supply, and develop robust security technologies that keep our country safe. While the committee’s effort to provide targeted increases where possible is commendable, inconsistent funding prohibits agencies and their university partners from maintaining a consistent rate of scientific innovation,” said TSC President Laura Kolton. “Although Congress faces difficult decisions about how to allocate resources over the next two years, American voters strongly support federal research investment, even in constrained fiscal times. As the appropriations process continues, and our global competitors ramp up their own research spending, we urge legislators to prioritize robust, consistent funding that will keep the U.S. at the forefront of discovery.”
A recent nationwide poll conducted by The Science Coalition found the American public overwhelmingly supports increase federal investment in fundamental research, and a majority of voters believe scientific investment should increase annually.
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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.