WASHINGTON – The Science Coalition (TSC) released a statement regarding ongoing negotiations in Congress to pass COVID-19 relief legislation:

“We are encouraged to see Congress work toward a bipartisan compromise to provide much-needed relief for the millions of Americans affected by the pandemic. Unfortunately, early drafts of this long-overdue stimulus legislation remain silent on emergency funding for the research enterprise and the nation’s 560,000-strong research workforce. Emergency relief for our federal research agencies is essential for our economic recovery, the STEM workforce, and future innovations. Congress needs to support our researchers through emergency relief now. There is no time to waste.”

The Science Coalition has endorsed the “Research Investment to Spark the Economy (RISE) Act,” which would authorize approximately $26 billion in federal funds to support the research workforce and protect past investment in the research projects the pandemic interrupted.

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About the Science Coalition

Established in 1994, The Science Coalition is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of more than 50 of the nation’s leading public and private research universities. It is dedicated to sustaining the federal government’s investment in basic scientific research as a means to stimulate the economy, spur innovation, and drive America’s global competitiveness.