The Task Force on American Innovation, which includes AAU, last week sent a letter to Congressional Armed Services Committee leaders to highlight vital research and development provisions to include in the final conferenced FY21 NDAA. The provisions include: semiconductor research and development and advanced American manufacturing; the Minerva Research Initiative; the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative; the Traineeships for American leaders to Excel in National Technology and Science (TALENTS) program; and “industries of the future” such as artificial intelligence, quantum information science, advanced communications, advanced manufacturing, and biotechnology. Supporting these areas of research and development is critical to ensure that the United States remains the global leader in scientific research and to the country’s recovery from the impacts of the pandemic, the group says.