Following is a statement by Association of American Universities President Mary Sue Coleman on passage of the Senate FY18 budget resolution:
We are disappointed that neither the Senate nor House budgets would provide relief from sequester-level nondefense discretionary spending caps in FY18 and beyond. Instead, the Senate budget would keep intact the cut to FY18 nondefense discretionary spending and the House budget would further cut nondefense discretionary spending by $5 billion. Both budgets also contain tax reconciliation instructions that pave the way for tax reform, which we hope will retain strong incentives for charitable giving and promote economic growth without undermining programs that help low- and middle-income families afford higher education.
Our nation faces difficult long-term fiscal issues. The solution is not to reduce investments that help drive our economic competitiveness and provide for our national security and wellbeing. We urge Congress to negotiate a bipartisan budget agreement that raises the Budget Control Act caps for FY18 and beyond to permit sufficient investment in scientific research, higher education, and other important programs that will build a better America and sustain our nation’s global leadership.
# # # # #
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.