While we acknowledge the limited budget allocation for the FY18 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, we are concerned by the proposed cuts of $193 million to NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and $160 million to the National Science Foundation. The university-based research supported by these agencies has kept the United States globally competitive in many areas of science, technology, and innovation; these cuts imperil our ability to maintain this competitiveness.
Despite our concerns, we commend Senators Richard Shelby, Jeanne Shaheen, and members of the Appropriations Committee for avoiding the steep cuts proposed in the Administration’s FY18 budget request. We also appreciate their calls to increase the spending caps for defense and non-defense discretionary programs. Before the end of the fiscal year, we encourage Congress pass a bipartisan budget agreement that will increase these caps and allow for increased investment in NSF, NASA, and other research agencies.
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