Dear Chairman Leahy, Vice Chairman Shelby, Chairwoman DeLauro, and Ranking Member Granger:

The Task Force on American Innovation (TFAI)—an alliance of industry, scientific societies, and university organizations—commends you and your colleagues for your work thus far in the fiscal year 2022 (FY22) appropriations process. As a coalition, we encourage bicameral and bipartisan support for robust investments in scientific and engineering research and development (R&D) within the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Department of Defense basic research sciences. In addition to robust funding for these programs, we strongly encourage you to complete the FY22 appropriations process in a timely manner. While a short-term continuing resolution may be needed to complete negotiations on final funding levels, please avoid any consideration of longer-term continuing resolutions.

Both the House and Senate have made significant progress in determining FY22 funding levels. The FY22 appropriations bills provide an opportunity to significantly increase our nation’s investment in science and technology, to address national challenges and lead in international competition. In addition, Congress has recognized the importance of R&D investment with the passage of overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation in each chamber to bolster our nation’s research, innovation, and economic competitiveness, including the “U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA)” in the Senate and the “NSF for the Future Act,” the “Department of Energy Science for the Future Act,” and the “NIST for the Future Act” in the House of Representatives. TFAI also strongly supported the inclusion of funding for R&D in semiconductor technologies as authorized by the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). We encourage Congress to build upon that momentum to prioritize funding for critical federal science agencies.

Last week, the National Science Board released a new report titled, “The State of U.S. Science and Engineering 2022.” The report found many of our global competitors are increasing their investments in R&D rapidly, while the proportion of total U.S. R&D funded by the U.S. government is getting smaller. Given the urgent need to recommit our nation to prioritizing S&T research and the increasing global competition we face in emerging technologies, we request that the final FY22 appropriations package include the highest funding levels possible for federal S&T research and research infrastructure.

Thank you for your leadership and continued support of federally funded research in the physical sciences and engineering. The United States needs stable, continuous and robust funding for the agencies that help strengthen the U.S. economy, grow the U.S. workforce, and maintain U.S. leadership in science, technology and innovation.

Sincerely yours,

The Task Force on American Innovation