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Dear Chairman Fleischmann, Chairwoman Murray, Ranking Member Kennedy, and Ranking Member Kaptur:

The Task Force on American Innovation (TFAI)—an alliance of industry, scientific societies, and university organizations dedicated to supporting federally funded basic research—commends you and your colleagues for your work to complete fiscal year 2024 (FY24) appropriations and encourages you to continue your support for basic science research in FY25’s Energy and Water Development bill.

With the FY25 appropriations process underway, we urge you to build upon the successes of earlier budgets by maximizing federal investments in our nation’s innovation ecosystem, which drives our global competitiveness and ensures our national security. We would also like to remind you of the bipartisan Congressional commitment made in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which authorized the funding necessary to continue research investments through agencies such as the Department of Energy (DOE) and its Office of Science (SC).

The Office of Science is a powerhouse for scientific discovery, technological advances, and economic development; more than 40 Fortune 500 companies and dozens of small businesses use facilities and funding from DOE SC every year. As the nation’s largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences, the steward of ten of our vital National Laboratories, and the lead federal agency funding energy production and security research, DOE SC is the cornerstone American innovation.

The Task Force acknowledges the budget constraints imposed by the Fiscal Responsibility Act. However, we will continue to emphasize the importance of fully funding basic science research programs. Global competitors like China have increased their research and development spending by close to 10%; meanwhile, the U.S. is repeating the same mistakes it made after COMPETES and has fallen short of the bipartisan funding targets authorized in the CHIPS and Science Act. If we are to lead the world in critical emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and quantum, we must invest at the levels that Congress established.

Thank you for your leadership and continued support of federally funded research in the physical sciences and engineering. The United States needs stable, sustained, and strong funding for the programs at DOE SC that help bolster the U.S. economy, develop the U.S. workforce, and maintain U.S. leadership in science, technology, and innovation.

Sincerely,

The Task Force on American Innovation