Science Action Alert: Don’t Let Congress Walk Back Its Commitment to Science Funding

SCIENCE ACTION ALERT

Don’t Let Congress Walk Back Its Commitment to Science Funding

Congress needs to hear from you. Congress has yet to complete any of the FY 2020 appropriations bills.  Federal science agencies are currently operating under a temporary spending measure or Continuing Resolution (CR) until December 20th. Unless Congress acts before this CR expires, the stage is being set for passage of another temporary CR, or worse, a year-long CR. Enactment of a year-long CR would preclude the final full-year funding levels provided by the appropriations committees for science agencies and programs in FY2020.

Let’s be clear.  Congress needs to keep its commitment to science funding and complete the FY 2020 appropriations process. A year-long CR would zero out the proposed increases for federal science agencies, including the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health(NIH) passed by both the House and the Senate, along with the budget increase for the Institute of Education Sciences within the Department of Education provided by the House.

Why are these bills important for APA members?

Completion of the FY 2020 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill would mean:

• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) would receive between $2 billion (House) and $3 billion (Senate) to its current funding level of $39 billion with increases for the following programs:
  • Alzheimer’s – $2.82 billion, a $350 million increase,
  • BRAIN Initiative – $500 million, a $71 million increase,
  • Opioid Addiction, Pain Management – $500 million.

Completion of the FY 2020 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriation bill would allocate to the National Science Foundation (NSF) between $8.6 billion (House) and $8.3 billion (Senate).

Completion of the FY 2020 Department of Defense Appropriations bill would provide between $2.47 billion (House) and $2.6 billion (Senate) in funding for basic research.

Make your voice heard – Write to Congress to ensure that the science agencies receive these critical funds.