The Task Force on American Innovation applauds your recent efforts to boost funding for scientific and technological research in the FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. For the first time in several years, many research agencies will now receive funding at or near pre – sequestration levels, and the passage of a permanent R&&DD tax credit will help U.S. companies make long – term investments.

As you begin the FY 2017 appropriations process and develop the 302 (bb)) allocations, we urge you to continue making scientific research a top priority. The many companies, universities, and scientific and engineering societies represented by the Task Force agree that America’s role as the world innovation leader is in danger, and unless our nation changes course we will lose not only our lead, but also lose the benefits to our economy and national security that stem from being first in the world in innovation. From 2003 to 2013, according to The National Science Board’s just – released 2016 Science & Engineering Indicators, the U.S. share of the world’s R&D fell from 35 percent to 27 percent , while the share of worldwide R&D performed by Asian countries grew from 27 percent to 40 percent. Other nations have significantly increased their pace of R&D investment at the very time the U.S. has slowed ours.

These developments threaten to create a n innovation deficit, with significant economic and national security consequences for our country. You have an opportunity in the FY 2017 appropriations process to take significant steps to help prevent this innovation deficit and maintain our nation’s in novation and economic leadership. We urge you to ensure that the FY 2017 302 (b) allocations for the Commerce – Justice – Science and Energy and Water Development Subcommittees will support strong investments in scientific research at the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy’s Office of Science and Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy, NASA, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. We also urge you to send a strong signal in the allocations process for needed scientific research investments in other agencies, especially the basic research accounts within the Department of Defense.

Thank you for considering our views.