Dear Speaker Ryan, Leader Pelosi, Leader McConnell and Leader Schumer:
On behalf of the undersigned associations, we write to encourage you to finalize work on the Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) appropriations process in the most expedient and least disruptive way. We are greatly concerned about what any additional delays to the appropriations process may mean for critical student aid and research programs. In addition, we strongly oppose the cuts to FY17 appropriated funding proposed by the Administration, which would rashly target Pell Grants, teacher preparation programs and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), among other programs.