The Task Force On American Innovation, a broad, non-partisan coalition of business, academic, and scientific communities, sent the following letter to U.S. Congressional leadership, regarding the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018:
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Below is the full text of the letter:
The Task Force on American Innovation (TFAI) – an alliance of leading American companies and business associations, research university associations, and scientific societies – writes to thank you for providing robust growth in funding for key research agencies in H.R. 1625, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018.
As ninety-five businesses, scientific and engineering societies, and universities led by TFAI wrote in February, robust and sustained federal investment in scientific research is essential to strengthening our economic and national security. The increased funding provided in H.R. 1625 for science and engineering research at DOD; the Department of Energy; NASA; the National Science Foundation (NSF); and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for FY 2018 will support the development of new technologies to secure our nation, improve our energy security, and generate the new ideas, technologies, and even entirely new industries that will ensure we enjoy sustained, long-term economic growth.
Passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 following the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 is a clear demonstration of the Congress’s longstanding bipartisan commitment to fueling American innovation. As the Congress now turns quickly to FY 2019 appropriations, the Task Force and broader science and technology community look forward to working with you and your colleagues to ensure that federal funding for science and engineering research continues to be a top priority.