AAU and APLU sent a letter to House and Senate Defense Appropriations Leaders thanking them for their efforts on the FY20 bills and and urging they complete their work to prevent further harm to our nation’s military men and women and defense enterprise. In the letter, the associations ask lawmakers to make strong investments in research and development programs, which are “necessary to spur innovations that safeguard our military personnel and help the U.S. maintain international military leadership.” Specifically, the letter requests: $3 million to fund a National Academies Science, Technology, and Security Roundtable established by the Securing American Science and Technology Act (SASTA); at least $2.6 billion for 6.1 basic research programs; and $3.5 billion for the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency.