The following is a statement from Association of American Universities President Barbara R. Snyder on President Biden’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2023:
President Biden’s budget proposal for FY23 contains significant new investments in the nation’s economy and its scientific and innovation enterprise; we commend the president for including these crucial items.
We are particularly pleased with President Biden’s proposal to double the annual maximum Pell Grant award by FY29 and to increase it by $1,775 for the 2023-24 school year. Doubling Pell is necessary to help restore the original promise of this 50-year-old program, making higher education more accessible and affordable for lower- and middle-income Americans.
We also support the president’s request to make strategic investments in key scientific agencies, including the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. We commend the president’s prioritization of climate-related research at multiple federal agencies; these bold investments will go a long way toward helping our nation tackle the current climate crisis and improve adaptation and resiliency measures.
We are also grateful for the president’s continued support for biomedical research and advancing healthcare innovation. We strongly support increased investments to ensure that the National Institutes of Health can continue its life-saving work to end the COVID-19 pandemic and to continue to perform the scientific and biomedical research necessary to improve the health of all Americans.
AAU looks forward to further examining President Biden’s budget and working with Congress to make investments in the government-university partnership that will lead to a more prosperous and healthier future for all Americans.
# # # # #
Founded in 1900, the Association of American Universities is composed of America’s leading research universities. AAU’s 66 research universities transform lives through education, research, and innovation.
Our member universities earn the majority of competitively awarded federal funding for research that improves public health, seeks to address national challenges, and contributes significantly to our economic strength, while educating and training tomorrow’s visionary leaders and innovators.
AAU member universities collectively help shape policy for higher education, science, and innovation; promote best practices in undergraduate and graduate education; and strengthen the contributions of leading research universities to American society.