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Washington Coalitions Advocate for Increases in Science Funding
Each year, after the release of the President's Budget, several Washington based associations and coalitions begin working to encourage support from Congress for university research and to influence the final Congressional Appropriations levels for science. To help to better accomplish this goal, these organizations often issue statements concerning the funding levels that they believe should be provided for key science agencies for the coming fiscal year and host exhibitions and lobbying days on Capitol Hill. Some of the most visible and effective of these groups — all in which the University of Michigan is actively involved — include:
The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research Funding
http://www.aamc.org/research/adhocgp
Composed of more than 300 organizations representing patients, volunteers, research institutions, scientists and medical professionals, the AdHoc Group has taken a leading role in efforts to double funding for the National Institutes of Health over five years. To these ends, the AdHoc Group is requesting congressional leaders to provide an appropriation of $27.3 billion for NIH in fiscal year 2003.
The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF)
http://www.cnsfweb.org
The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) is an alliance of over 90 organizations including several scientific societies, higher education associations and individual universities who goal is bolster support for the national investment in the National Science Foundation's research and education programs. For FY 2003 NSF budget, CNSF is recommending an increase of $718 million, or 15%, above the last year's funding level level of $4.79 billion, bringing the agencyÕs budget to $5.508 billion.
The Energy Sciences Coalition (ESC)
The Energy Sciences Coalition (ESC) is a broad based coalition of organizations representing scientists, engineers and mathematicians in universities, industry and national laboratories that are committed to supporting and advancing the scientific research programs of the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE), and in particular, the DoE Office of Science. The ESC is requesting that the budget for the Office of Science be increased by no less the $300 million (not less than $3.58 billion) in FY 2003.
The Coalition for National Security Research (CNSR)
http://www.geocities.com/cnsrweb
CNSR advocates for support for Department of Defense Science and Technology base. For FY 2003, CNSR is encouraging the Administration and Congress to devote 3 percent of the total Defense Department budget, or $11 billion, for DOD basic (6.1), applied (6.2) and advanced technology development (6.3) accounts, which make up the Defense S&T program.
The Association of American Universities (AAU)
http://www.aau.edu
Founded in 1900 to advance the international standing of US research universities, today the AAU focuses on issues that are important to research universities including funding for research, research policy issues, and graduate and undergraduate education. The AAU has supported and endorsed all of the funding levels being advocated for by the Coalitions listed above. They have also taken positions on funding for other agencies including NASA and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and issued statements on a number of other higher education issues. AAU's FY'03 advocacy materials can be found at: http://www.aau.edu/budget/advocacy.html
The Science Coalition
http://www.sciencecoalition.org
The Science Coalition, whose activities are led by steering committee composed of representatives from over 60 universities, is an alliance of more than 400 organizations, institutions and individuals — including Nobel laureates, businesses, medical organizations, scientific societies, and public and private universities — whose goal is "to expand and strengthen the federal government's investment in university-based scientific, medical, engineering and agricultural research."
The Science Coalition was formed seven years ago by a small group of research universities, including UM, in an attempt to increase public awareness of the substantial national benefits of scientific and engineering research, especially in terms of economic competitiveness, technological leadership and quality of life. While the Science CoalitionÕs efforts focus heavily on members of Congress and top-level Executive branch officials, it does not lobby for or against specific legislation or federal spending levels. Instead, it works to constantly remind Washington decision-makers of the important advances resulting from the Federal government's investment in university-based research.
From Tobin L. Smith
Director of Federal Relations for Research
Reviewed: May 2002