Following is a statement by Association of American Universities President Mary Sue Coleman.
The Administration’s FY18 budget would effectively cripple our nation’s scientific efforts, undermining our economic growth, public health, and national security. For seventy years, America’s universities have partnered with the federal government to develop cutting-edge technologies and medicines. This partnership created the internet, put a man on the moon, ended polio, blunted the scourge of AIDS, and put the world in the palm of your hand with the smartphone. This budget proposal would devastate the programs that enabled all those things, and hobble our ability to provide tomorrow’s cures and technologies. The Administration’s budget would also harm our ability to make higher education accessible and affordable, sidelining millions of future American innovators and creators.
As our nation faces increasing global competition, we should be growing – not gutting – our investments in research, student aid, and higher education programs. Our economy, health, and national security all depend on the ability to educate the scientists, engineers, researchers, and innovators of the future who will in turn create the medicines and technologies that will drive our economy and wellbeing. America’s research universities encourage Congress to maintain its longstanding and unwavering commitment to our nation’s research enterprise, by appropriating robust funding for federally-funded scientific research.
Founded in 1900, the Association of American Universities comprises 62 distinguished institutions that continually advance society through education, research, and discovery.
Our universities earn the majority of competitively awarded federal funding for academic research, are improving human life and wellbeing through research, and are educating tomorrow’s visionary leaders and global citizens.
AAU members collectively help shape policy for higher education, science, and innovation; promote best practices in undergraduate and graduate education; and strengthen the contributions of research universities to society.